Mormon Stories - LDS: Recent Episodes
Dr. John Dehlin
Mormon Stories is an attempt to build understanding between and about Mormons through the telling of stories in both audio and video formats.
On today's episode of Mormon News, John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes break down another busy week of headlines involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We begin with a major Arizona Supreme Court ruling protecting clergy confidentiality when abuse is disclosed during religious confession. We'll discuss what the decision means, why it matters, and the broader questions it raises about protecting vulnerable people, religious freedom, and institutional accountability.
Links:
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/03/arizona-clergy-child-abuse-confessions-court
We'll also discuss a new column from Jana Riess examining why more than half of young adult women raised in the LDS Church have now left, exploring the data behind the trend and what it may say about the future of Mormonism.
Links:
Religion News Service (Jana Riess): https://religionnews.com/category/opinion/columns/jana-riess/
We'll react to Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings publicly reaffirming his support for transgender people after being pulled into an online controversy, and discuss why his comments have resonated with many current and former Latter-day Saints.
Links:
Them: https://www.them.us/news/ken-jennings-trans-rights
We'll also look at a new documentary telling the story of WordPerfect, the Utah software company that helped transform Utah Valley into today's Silicon Slopes. We'll discuss the legacy of founders Alan Ashton and Bruce Bastian, and why this important chapter of Utah history deserves to be remembered.
Links:
KSL: https://www.ksl.com/article/51602368
Finally, we'll react to a viral YouTube Short featuring Elder Corbridge that's been making the rounds online and share our thoughts on the conversation it sparked.
Links:
YouTube Short: https://youtube.com/shorts/pxgJiJqQTOs?si=jISqasfwWwHTWyZE
Thanks for joining us! If you enjoy Mormon News, Church history, thoughtful conversations, and nuanced discussions about Mormonism and faith, please like, subscribe, and share this episode.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Today on Mormon Stories, we are thrilled to welcome back singer-songwriter Mindy Gledhill, who is returning to the podcast to share the stories behind her newest collection of songs, the PhoneBooth Sessions (vol. 1 & 2), which reflect on her childhood, adolescence, and life after stepping away from Mormonism.
Along the way, she opens up about some of the early questions that challenged her faith and where she stands with her belief today. Mindy will also discuss how inner-child work has helped her heal and become more in-tune with her inner voice. Other topics will also include parenting, relationships, authenticity, and embracing uncertainty.
Whether you've followed Mindy's music for years or are hearing her story for the first time, we know you will love this one!
https://www.mindygledhill.com/tour
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In Episode 80 of our LDS Discussions series, Julia, Kolby, and Nemo the Mormon join together for a deep dive into one of the most significant financial controversies in modern Latter-day Saint history: Ensign Peak Advisors and the SEC’s investigation into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The discussion begins by examining what Ensign Peak Advisors is, why the Church created an enormous investment reserve, and whether maintaining such a fund is inherently problematic. From there, the panel walks through the timeline leading up to the 2019 whistleblower revelations and the 2023 SEC Order, exploring the Church's filing practices, the creation of 13 shell companies, and the legal findings that concluded the Church intentionally obscured the size of its investment portfolio.
Along the way, we analyze statements from Church leaders including Roger Clarke, Christopher Waddell, Elder Ballard, Elder Packer, Joseph F. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, and others, comparing modern financial practices with historical teachings on tithing. We also discuss the evolution of tithing slips, the Church’s growing investment portfolio, estimates of annual tithing revenue, David Nielsen’s whistleblower allegations, and the ethical implications of the Church’s financial secrecy.
Finally, the panel examines the SEC’s findings in detail, asking difficult questions about honesty, accountability, transparency, and whether a church that teaches integrity should be held to the same legal and ethical standards it expects of its members.
This episode provides one of the most comprehensive examinations of the Ensign Peak controversy, combining historical documents, SEC records, Church statements, and primary sources to better understand what happened –and why it matters.
If you enjoy these in-depth historical analyses, please like, subscribe, and share this episode. Your support helps us continue producing thoroughly researched content exploring the history and truth claims of Mormonism.
___________________
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Why are so many young Mormons leaving the Church? Today, we're joined by Hailey Walker to explore that question through the lens of her own Mormon story.
Hailey was raised in the Church in Alaska, where growing up Mormon looked very different from the experience many members have in Utah. As a teenager, she began asking questions about feminism, Church culture, and the role of women, but still considered herself a committed believer. Hoping to strengthen her testimony, she chose to serve a mission and was called to serve in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
What followed would fundamentally reshape her relationship with the Church. Hailey was serving her mission when COVID-19 broke out, and was sent home. She was eventually allowed to return to her mission, but was then informed that her service would be extended by an additional six months. She describes feeling trapped by the decision, unable to simply return home on her own because missionaries do not control their own housing, transportation, or finances.
Throughout the conversation, we discuss why so many young members—particularly young women—are questioning or leaving the LDS Church today. From gender roles and institutional authority to diversity, politics, and personal autonomy, Hailey offers a thoughtful perspective on why an increasing number of young people no longer feel at home in Mormonism.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
On today's episode of Mormon News, Nemo the Mormon and Meggan Hayes break down another busy week of headlines involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We begin with new research identifying seven trends shaping the future of the LDS Church, including changing missionary priorities, evolving member behaviors, and what the data suggests about where Mormonism may be headed.
Link:
https://religionnews.com/2026/07/16/more-about-jesus-less-about-coffee-seven-lds-church-trends-according-to-data/
Next, we examine growing questions about whether the Church's rapid temple-building pace is outstripping its ability to staff those temples, as members continue raising concerns about volunteer shortages.
Link:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wUhf29KocOs
We'll also cover new developments in the Reese Riggin case, including newly released character letters submitted to the court, one of which was written by his LDS bishop, as prosecutors presented additional allegations while arguing he should remain in custody.
Links:
https://theelectricgf.com/2026/07/08/judge-denies-bail-reduction-for-riggin-based-on-new-allegations/
https://www.tiktok.com/@krtvgreatfalls/video/7657320783747878175?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
https://floodlit.org/a/b753/
We'll also discuss allegations against an AI executive and BYU adjunct professor accused of creating deepfake images of friends and children, and what this case says about the growing risks of AI technology.
Link:
https://www.ksl.com/article/51600979/ai-chief-technology-officer-accused-of-creating-deepfakes-of-friends-and-children
We'll also examine a widely shared faith-promoting miracle story involving Briel Adams-Wheatley and discuss some of the ethical questions surrounding how stories like these are presented and used.
Link:
https://youtu.be/uZKXCiAarBs?si=vrli_sl3967u1Bcf
Finally, we wrap up with two stories out of Rexburg Idaho that say a lot about Mormon Culture.
Link:
https://x.com/RealPlantBrah/status/2073394722219942098?s=20
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19G9xk7nbM/
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to LDS Discussions Part 79, where we continue our deep dive into the Book of Abraham, examining one of the most popular apologetic arguments: the claim that Joseph Smith drew on ancient traditions about Abraham rather than translating the surviving papyri.
We begin by exploring the history of the Joseph Smith Papyri and the various theroies proposed to explain the Book of Abraham, including why so many copeting models exist. From there, we focus on the “ancient traditions” theory, looking at stories about Abraham preserved in later Jewish, Christian, and Islamic writings and askign whether they actually support Joseph Smith’s text.
Along the way, we compare the timelines of the Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham translations, disucss the implications of the Church’s Gospel Topics Essay, and examine whether Joseph Smith had access to contemporary biblical commentaries such as Adam Clarke’s. We then compare the Book of Abraham’s narrative --including Abraham’s calls, the famine in Chaldea, Terah, Haran, Abraham’s age, the attempted sacrifice of Abraham, Egyptian idolatry, human sacrifice in ancient Egypt, and Abraham’s knowledge or astronomy --with the historical sources often cited by apologists.
This episode evaluates whether these ancient parallels strengthen the Book of Abraham’s authenticity --or instead demonstrate that Joseph Smith was drawing from ideas available in his own time.
As always, we examine the historical evidence, compare the primary sources, and let the documents speak for themselves.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Thomas Westbrook, creator and host of Holy Koolaid, joins Mormon Stories to share his remarkable journey from growing up in an intensely fundamental Christian environment to becoming one of YouTube’s leading voices for skepticism, science, and critical thinking.
Raised by missionary parents and immersed in evangelical culture from childhood, Thomas recounts life overseas, homeschooling, Youth With A Mission (YWAM), purity culture, sexual shame, biblical literalism, and the constant pressure to evangelize. He explains how years of indoctrination shaped his worldview –and how education, science and asking difficult questions gradually unraveled it.
Thomas discusses the pivotal experiences that led him to leave Christianity, including confronting Young Earth Creationism, discovering contradictions he had never been allowed to examine, and realizing that curiosity was viewed as a threat rather than a virtue. He also reflects on the personal cost of deconstruction, including strained family relationships, fear of hell, and learning to rebuild his identity outside of religion.
This conversation also explores: growing up as a missionary kid and “third-culture kid”, sleep paralysis and supernatural beliefs, the role of science, evolution, and critical thinking in deconstruction, why Thomas started Holy Koolaid, exposing pseudoscience, misinformation, and religious grifters, Christian nationalism and religion’s role in modern politics, building secular community through the Faithless Forum, and what curiosity, uncertainty, and intellectual honest look like after faith.
Whether you’re questioning your beliefs, interested in religious deconstruction, or simply fascinated by how people change their minds, this episode offers an honest and thoughtful look at one man’s journey from certainly to curiosity.
If you enjoy this conversation, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to help support more long-form conversations about faith, doubt, and the pursuit of truth.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
On today's episode of Mormon News, Nemo the Mormon and Meggan Hayes break down another busy week of headlines involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We begin with the Church's announcement that more than 88,500 missionaries are now serving worldwide, which leaders say is an all-time record. We'll examine whether today's LDS missionary statistics are truly comparable to previous Church records.
Links:
Deseret News: https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/07/14/new-record-88500-missionaries-latter-day-saints-why/
2014 Statistical Report: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/04/statistical-report-2014
Additional Missionary Statistics: https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-provides-additional-missionary-statistics
We'll also discuss new research on how lowering the missionary age has affected sister missionaries and their educational outcomes.
Link:
https://www.abc4.com/news/religion/sister-missionary-age-change-womens-college-success-research/
Next, we'll cover new developments involving former LDS bishop Leo Lopshire and former Cache County teacher Patrick Alan Green, including investigators' requests for additional victims to come forward.
Links:
https://floodlit.org/a/b755/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/deputies-seek-additional-victims-spartanburg-204433996.html
https://www.hjnews.com/news/local/former-elementary-teacher-arrested-in-cache-county-for-child-sex-crimes/article_5bfc4b0e-d6e5-43e1-9f95-88b7880ed3cc.html
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-duncan-a404b3b0/
We'll examine BYU's connection to Monster Energy and how attitudes toward energy drinks have changed within Latter-day Saint culture.
Show notes can be found on the Mormon Stories blog here: https://www.mormonstories.org/lds-church-claims-record-88500-missionaries/
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
After years away from the microphone, John Larsen returns to Mormon Stories Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation.
A legend in the Mormon and ex-Mormon podcasting world, John Larsen helped shape an entire generation of critical Mormon thought through Mormon Expression. Now, he sits down with John Dehlin to reflect on the journey that brought him here –from his Mormon upbringing and faith crisis to build one of the most influential podcasts in the space, and ultimately stepping away to build a very different kind of life.
In this candid interview, John shares what life looks like today: living sustainably, growing much of his own food, working in local government, and creating intentional community. He also opens up about his mission, the questions that led him out of the church, why apologetics never worked for him, his fascination with primary historical sources, and how Mormon Expression came to be.
The conversation also explores the rise of Mormon Studies, the challenge of creating content for years on end, community dynamics within the ex-Mormon movement, current events, AI, politics, the future of society, and what it really means to move on after leaving Mormonism.
Whether you’ve followed John Larsen for years or are meeting him for the first time, this episode offers a rare glimpse into one of the most respected voices in the Mormon studies and post-Mormon communities.
If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about Mormon history, faith transitions, and building a meaningful life after religion, be sure to like, subscribe, and share this episode.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
On today's episode of Mormon News, John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes break down another busy week of headlines involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We begin with breaking news involving the family of Apostle D. Todd Christofferson. His brother, Wade Christofferson, has pleaded guilty in federal court to sexually abusing minors and sending sexually explicit letters to a young Utah girl. He now faces a potential life sentence in prison. We'll break down the case, the charges, and why this story is making headlines.
Next, we take a closer look at Domo founder Josh James, one of Utah's most influential tech CEOs and a featured voice in the documentary An Inconvenient Faith. We'll examine newly released bodycam footage from his DUI arrest and revisit his public defense of Mormonism.
We'll also discuss the heartbreaking case of Mitchell and Carrie Murray, an LDS couple who pleaded guilty to child abuse homicide following the death of their toddler. We'll examine the disturbing details released by prosecutors and why this case has shocked so many people across Utah.
We'll examine Mitt Romney's comments that people in their 80s should not be running the country or the world, and ask whether that conversation also applies to leadership within high-demand religions like the LDS Church.
We'll cover the case of Adam Clark, a former LDS youth Sunday School teacher accused of stealing thousands of dollars from an Eagle Mountain youth sports organization. We'll discuss why trust, reputation, and religious identity can sometimes influence how people evaluate character.
We'll also discuss Utah County's new Zoom wedding service, which allows couples to get married online from anywhere in the world. Is Utah becoming the new Las Vegas?
Finally, we'll examine growing concerns over Flock license plate cameras near BYU. We'll discuss the university's use of automated surveillance technology, why some students and former members are raising privacy concerns, and what this debate reveals about safety, trust, and institutional oversight.
Join us live as we provide context behind the headlines, separate fact from speculation, and discuss what these stories reveal about Mormonism today.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
What happens when one spouse loses their faith while the other is serving as an Elder’s Quorum President?
In this episode of Mormon Stories, Devlyn and Randy Day share their remarkable journey through one of the most difficult challenges a Mormon marriage can face: a mixed-faith relationship.
Raised in a deeply faithful Latter-day homes, they built what they believed was the ideal Mormon family. But after Devlyn began studying Church history–including Rough Stone Rolling, the Gospel Topics Essays, and the CES Letter–her testimony unraveled. Terrified of losing her marriage, she struggled for years with guilt, shame, postpartum depression, and the fear of disappointing everyone she loved.
Meanwhile, Randy remained a devoted believer. He served as an Elder’s Quorum President, met regularly with bishops, prayed endlessly for his wife to return, and wrestled with the heartbreaking belief that his eternal family might be slipping away.
Rather than ending in divorce, their story became one of patience, empathy, therapy, and unconditional love. Together they discuss growing up in Mormon culture, temple experiences, the November 2015 policy, church history, navigating depression, serving in callings and the impact those callings had on their family.
Whether you’re experiencing a faith crisis yourself, supporting a believing spouse, or trying to understand the challenges of a mixed-faith marriage, we hope this conversation brings hope, compassion, and understanding.
If this episode was meaningful to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a comment, and sharing it with someone who may need to hear this story.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
Venmo
PayPal
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog
🎙️Patreon
✳️Spotify
🍎Apple Podcasts
🖼️Instagram
📱TikTok
🎮Discord
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
On today's episode of Mormon News, John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes break down another busy week of headlines involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.This week we take a closer look at Elder Ronald A. Rasband's patriotic address, where he claimed God preserved the United States for the Restoration, taught that Noah's Flood fractured the continents to protect the promised land, reaffirmed the Garden of Eden in Missouri, and described America as a stepping stone to eternal life. We'll also discuss the Church's invitation for members worldwide to participate in a unified fast for religious liberty.
Next, we'll discuss a federal lawsuit alleging that Utah prison guards sexually assaulted female inmates, including allegations that one correctional officer's LDS temple garments were found in an inmate's cell and questions about whether prison leaders attempted to cover up the abuse.
We'll also examine the Church's announcement that it is creating 55 new missions, what "new" actually means, why Africa is receiving nearly one-third of them, and the decision to lower the missionary age for women from 19 to 18.
We'll cover the case of a Rexburg man accused of setting his parents' home on fire after allegedly telling police God instructed him to do it, raising questions about revelation, mental illness, and claims of divine communication.
We'll also discuss the dedication of the new Nauvoo Temple Visitors' Center, including the Church's installation of a historic Tiffany stained-glass window that sold at auction for $237,500.
Next, we'll examine the plea agreement involving former LDS Young Men leader Virgil Larson, accused of giving nude massages to minors, and why the amended charges would allow him to avoid registering as a sex offender.
Finally, we'll discuss the viral video: Did the Mormon Church pass the test? We'll explore what that conversation reveals about missionaries and training around child safety in the church.
Join us live as we provide context behind the headlines, separate fact from speculation, and discuss what these stories reveal about Mormonism today.
Show Notes
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Welcome to another episode of LDS Discussions! We are joined again by Bryan Buchanan to discuss the William Clayton Diaries.
The William Clayton Diaries are among the most important firsthand records from Joseph Smith’s final years in Nauvoo. Few individuals stood closer to Joseph Smith than William Clayton, who served as clerk, confidant, and participant in many of the most controversial events of Mormon history.
In this episode, we dive directly into the diaries themselves. We examine what Clayton recorded, what historians can learn from his daily entries, and why these journals have become central to discussions about Joseph Smith’s plural marriages, the Council of Fifty, the Quorum of the Anointed, the Kinderhook Plates, Nauvoo politics, and the final months leading up to Joseph Smith’s death.
Along the way, we explore the lives of Joseph and Emma Smith, Margaret Moon, Sarah Whitney, Lucy Walker, Flora Woodworth, Eliza R. Snow, and many of the other figures who appear throughout these remarkable journals.
We also address modern claims that the diaries were altered, fabricated, or created after the fact, and compare those claims to the evidence available to historians who have studied the original manuscript.
Topics include William Clayton’s relationship with Joseph Smith, evidence for Joseph Smith’s polygamy, Emma’s reactions and resistance to the “P” or “priesthood,” the Moon sister’s involvement in polygamy, the strengths and limitations of Clayton as a source and why historians consider these diaries indispensable.
The William Clayton journals offer an unparalleled window into the inner workings of Nauvoo Mormonism. Whether you are a believer, skeptic, historian, or simply curious about early Mormon history, these records provide some of the most revealing evidence available from the period.
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
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Welcome to another episode of LDS Discussions! Today we are joined by Bryan Buchanan to discuss the William Clayton Diaries.
For decades, the William Clayton Diaries have occupied a near-mythical place in Mormon history. Hidden away in the First Presidency vault, copied in secret, fought over in court, leaked to researchers, and cited in some of the most controversial debates surrounding Joseph Smith and plural marriage, these journals have one of the most fascinating histories of any historical document in the Latter-day Saint tradition.
In this episode, we trace the remarkable journey of William Clatyon’s Nauvoo journals from the 1840s to the present day. We explore how historians such as James Allen, Dean Jessee, Leonard Arrington, Thomas Alexander, Andrew Ehat, Scott Faulring, and others gained access to these records, why the Church restricted them for so many years, and how copies eventually found their way into the hands of independent researchers and critics.
We also examine the legal battle surrounding the journals, the role of Jerald and Sandra Tanner in publishing portions of them, the impact of the Mark Hofmann era, and the ongoing debates over access, transparency, and historical scholarship within Mormonism.
With Yale University Press preparing the first complete scholarly edition of the William Clayton Diaries, this is the perfect time to revisit one of the most important archival stories in Mormon history.
We discuss the discovery and preservation of Clayton’s journals, the First Presidency vault and restricted documents, specific transcripts that were created for the Clayton diaries, how those transcriptions leaked out into the public and the lawsuit on these leaked transcripts. We also lightly discuss the recent news that additional parts of Clayton’s diaries have been released to the public and the debate around whether Joseph Smith was actually a polygamist.
Whether you’re interested in Mormon history, archival controversies, historiography, or the debate over Joseph Smith’s polygamy, this episode provides the essential backstory behind one of the most important historical sources from Nauvoo.
Be sure to join us for the next episode where we share some of the most controversial and exciting entries from William Clayton’s journals!
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
On today's episode of Mormon News, John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes break down another busy week of headlines involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This week we take a closer look at the 2026 Seminar for New Mission Leaders, where Church leaders doubled down on claims of exclusive authority, the "only true church," and what they describe as "true doctrine." We'll discuss what was taught and why it matters.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14idTXmfqam/
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2026/06/18/read-summaries-photos-2026-seminar-new-mission-leaders/
https://youtu.be/FIKqJVU63Pk?si=d3bNWHUMYK8Uc2AP
https://youtu.be/bshDxxlcMu0?si=COTdwPlTv6l87PYO
We'll also cover the disturbing allegations against an Orem dentist accused of abusing a high school intern, along with his connections to the LDS community.
Links:
https://www.ksl.com/article/51540804/orem-dentist-accused-of-abusing-high-school-intern
http://www.youtube.com/@r.brucehowell2847
Next a discussion about bishop interviews, trust, and boundaries after the Church's official Young Women Worldwide page encouraged girls ages 12 to 17 to participate in a "How Well Do You Know Your Bishop?" activity designed to help them feel more comfortable with their bishop. We'll examine why some are raising concerns about normalizing close relationships between young girls and adult male ecclesiastical leaders, particularly in light of one-on-one worthiness interviews and the growing number of bishops listed in the Floodlit database.
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZdSd4mifYC/
https://floodlit.org/lpe/ever-bishop/
We'll also discuss reports that the temple naming system has changed and what could be behind the change.
Link:
https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/s/BHjrL95u1e
We'll examine the case of an Orem man accused of stealing two valuable Minerva Teichert paintings from his elderly mother, replacing them with copies, and selling the originals to help finance a new restaurant.
Link:
https://www.fox13now.com/news/fox-13-investigates/man-accused-of-stealing-paintings-by-famous-utah-artist-replacing-them-with-copies
Finally, we'll discuss BYU-Idaho's new ecclesiastical endorsement policy, which changes what happens when students allow their endorsements to expire, and what that says about accountability and institutional oversight.
Links:
https://byuiscroll.org/changes-to-ecclesiastical-endorsement-process-are-coming-to-byui/
https://web.byui.edu/policylibrary/policy/bf4987db-aa02-4437-be12-54fc93eeb185
Join us live as we provide context behind the headlines, separate fact from speculation, and discuss what these stories reveal about Mormonism today.
___________________
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
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Our Platforms:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
For years, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were taught that violations of the law of chastity were “next to murder” in seriousness. Recently, Jasmin Rappleye defended that teaching (and maybe changed its interpretation) in a viral video, sparking widespread discussion both inside and otuside Mormonism.
In this somehat impromptu epsiode in our LDS Discussiones series, we will examine the historical record and ask an important question: Has this doctrine actually been taught by LDS leaders?
Using General Conference addresses, First Presidency messages, Journal of Discourse sermons, and passages from Spencer W. Kimball’s The Miracle of Forgiveness, we trace more than a century of statements who repeatedly taught that sexual sin was second only to murder in seriousness.
Was this merely cultural rhetoric? A misunderstanding of scripture? Or was it a consistent teaching passed from one generation of church leaders to the next?
Join us as we examine the sources, read the original quotations, explore the history behind one of Mormonism’s most controversial teachings, and even share some of the reactions to Jasmin’s new video!
___________________
Show Notes
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
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Our Platforms:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
What happens when a trusted Mormon leader learns about child sexual abuse –and choses not to report it?
In this powerful and heartbreaking episode, Rebecca Gooden and her son Matthew share their family’s story of abuse, betrayal, and institutional failure within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Years after discovering that her husband, Shawn Gooden, had sexually abused two of her younger brothers, Rebecca found herself confronting a devastating reality: church leaders had known about the abuse and failed to act. Despite allegations involving child sexual abuse, Shawn continued to receive leadership callings, serving in bishoprics, high councils, and eventually as a bishop and stake presidency counselor.
The story becomes even more troubling when Pennsylvania Stake President Rhett Hintze learned of the abuse in 2020. As a mandatory reporter under Pennsylvania law, Hintze was later charged with failure to report child abuse. Although the charges were ultimately dropped, many questions remain about how church leaders handled the case, why victims received little to no support, and why Hintze was later promoted to an Area Seventy.
Throughout this interview Rebecca and Matthew discuss Shawn Gooden’s abuse and eventual excommunication, the impact of abuse on victims and families, mandatory reporting laws and clergy responsibilities, how the Church handles abuse allegations, the doctrine of discernment, and institutional cover-ups. They also discuss why they ultimately stepped away from the Mormon church and Rebecca shares how she has now moved closer to healing, self-discovering (now calling herself Eloise), and greater empowerment.
This episode explores difficult but important questions about accountability, victim protection, and whether religious institutions truly prioritize the vulnerable when abuse is reported.
If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, we encourage you to contact local authorities, licensed therapists, and survivor support organizations.
___________________
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
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Our Platforms:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
This week on Mormon Stories News, we take a closer look at the people, controversies, and events making waves across Mormonism.
We begin with the story of a disturbing abuse case involving a former LDS Priest Quorum Specialist accused of sexually abusing his nephew. The case has prompted conversations about trust, access to youth, safeguarding policies, and whether church members are adequately trained to recognize and prevent abuse within families and congregations.
We also examine a rare public apology from General Authority Seventy Kyle McKay. McKay recently acknowledged that previous statements he made regarding Church history were offensive and offered a correction. We discuss what was said and why the apology matters.
Can AI replace God? That's the question Elder Gerrit W. Gong recently addressed in a viral Church-produced video. We break down his comments, the Church's growing concern over artificial intelligence, and whether AI is becoming a competing source of information, guidance, and authority for members navigating faith questions.
Next, we turn to the appointment of Jay Jorgensen to the Utah Supreme Court. Jorgensen's nomination has sparked discussion because of his employment with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his statements regarding whether he would recuse himself from Church-related cases. We examine the concerns surrounding judicial independence, conflicts of interest, and public confidence in the courts.
We dive into the growing controversy surrounding Jeff Strong's book Torn. Strong's work has generated significant discussion among Latter-day Saints by examining why many members become disaffected or leave the Church. Recent responses from prominent LDS commentators argue that Strong's research methodology is flawed and that he misrepresents faithful members' experiences.
We finish with a brief snippet from Rebecca Bibliotecca about the ongoing temple drama in Fairview Texas.
What are your thoughts on this week's stories? Join the conversation in the comments.
___________________
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In a recent episode on the YouTube channel Hello Saints, Jeff McCullough interviewed Jasmin Rappleye (who got her degree from BYU in Ancient Near Eastern Studies) about one of Mormonism’s most controversial scriptures: the Book of Mormon.
During the discussion, several apologetic approaches to the Book of Abraham was presented. In this episode, we examine three of the most common theories used to defend Joseph Smith’s translation:
-The Missing Scroll Theory
-The Long Scroll Theory
-The Catalyst Theory
Drawing heavily from Dan Vogel’s groundbreaking book Book of Abraham Apologetics, we carefully review the historical evidence surrounding these claims, including the eyewitness accounts frequently cited by defenders of the Long Scroll Theory.
Do these accounts actually support the evidence of a lengthy missing papyrus containing the Book of Abraham? Or have they been selectively interpreted to fit a predetermined conclusion?
Along the way, we examine the work of prominent Egyptologists, discuss the relationship between Joseph Smith’s translation claims and the surviving papyri, and explore why even faithful scholars have increasingly moved away from defending the Book of Abraham as a literal translation of the existing Egyptian texts.
Join Kolby, Nemo, and Julia as they work through the evidence, compare competing apologetic arguments, and ask what explanation best fits the historical record.
In our next episode, we’ll examine a fourth and increasingly popular theory: that the Book of Abraham preserves authentic ancient Jewish traditions about Abraham and may contain an ancient core despite not being a direct translation of the surviving papyri.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
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Our Platforms:
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
What happens when the son of a Pentecostal megachurch pastor decides to become Mormon?
In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we sit down with Lance Kennedy to discuss his unique religious journey from evangelical Christianity to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Raised in Texas as the son of a prominent pastor, Lance grew up behind the scenes of one of the fastest-growing church movements in America, watching firsthand as churches evolved from small congregations into large-scale organizations.
Drawing from that experience, Lance offers a fascinating perspective on Mormonism as both an insider and an outsider. He shares what initially attracted him to the LDS Church, why Mormonism felt like a better fit than the religious tradition he was raised in, and how his background shaped the way he approached questions of belief, culture, and church growth.
Throughout the conversation, we explore the similarities and differences between evangelical Christianity and Mormonism, the challenges facing the modern LDS Church, and the tension between preserving a distinct religious identity and adapting to a changing world. Lance also discusses his experiences as a branch president in rural Texas, his thoughts on church history and transparency, and why he remains an active member despite his willingness to publicly discuss difficult issues.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
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Our Platforms:
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
This week on Mormon Stories News, John Dehlin along with Julia, and Brooklyn of the OSF team, break down some of the biggest stories making headlines in Mormonism.
President Nelson announced the Springfield, Missouri temple on April 2, 2023, yet ground was just broken for it on June 6, 2026. Why the delay? Have other temples been delayed? What is the average amount of time for a temple to be finished between its first announcement to dedication? What are the membership numbers that will fill these temples?
On June 7, 2026 General Authority Seventy Kyle S. McKay spoke at a Stake Conference in Yukon, Oklahoma. Shortly after the video was posted, however, Mormon church leaders quickly removed it. Join us as we go over the most controversial parts of his talk!
June has been dubbed “Fidelity Month” by Governor Cox. Cox did not announce the declaration with a news release, nor did he post it on social media as he has done at the beginning of June in the past years. But does Utah WANT this change? Is Cox trying to replace Pride Month?
On June 4th the Department of Defense made some changes to the recognized list of religions. The list included several “Christian” denominations such as Lutheran, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Methodists, etc. However, The LDS Church was not listed among the “Christian” denominations.
On June 6th Edward Smart, the father of well-known Elizabeth Smart, shared a public Instagram Post about his current status with the LDS Church.
The LDS Church is making changes to the Sacrament Meeting rooms! This story first broke with Rebecca Bibliotheca of Mormonish Podcast who shared that architectural plans for two LDS meeting house remodels reveal that the sacrament altar is now to be placed front and center under the pulpit. The plans will be in place by 2028 and this will be the new structure going forward.
In 2026, BYU Football player Parker Kingston was charged with first-degree felony rape in Utah. The incident was reported by a 20-year-old woman in February 2025. Kingston has pleaded not guilty and the case is proceeding through the Utah court system. News has been released concerning the request for a new judge for the case.
An invested citizen was able to attend a Utah City Council Meeting in which someone shared their concerns about the American Fork Police department in their handling of Reckless Ben (previously covered on Mormon Stories). This insider video gives a closer look at the concerned citizens of American Fork.
The Great Salt Lake is in critical condition with historically low water levels due to long-term drought and heavy water diversion for agriculture and urban use. These changes threaten key ecosystems and create toxic dust storms that impact air quality across the Wasatch Front. Governor Cox said he discussed with President Trump a potential federal funding around $1 billion.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations
Patreon
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Our Platforms:
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Brad Reedy, therapist, author, and founder of “Finding You Intensives”, to discuss his remarkable journey through faith, spirituality, addiction, and personal growth. We are also very glad to be joined by Samantha Shelly (from Zelph on the Shelf) for this uplifting conversation.
Raised outside of religion, Brad spent much of his youth searching for meaning and belonging. After struggling with substance abuse as a teenager and surviving a near-fatal overdose, he encountered Mormonism and found the structure, community, and spiritual direction had been missing from his life.
As his understanding of faith evolved, Brad found himself wrestling with questions about spirituality, identity, parenting, relationships, and what it means to live authentically. Together, we explore the tension between religion and spirituality, the challenges of faith transitions, and why something that once helped a person thrive may no longer fit later in life.
Brad shares his experience as a passionate convert, missionary, BYU student, and later a marriage and family therapist. Along the way, he reflects on the strengths and limitations of high-demand religions, the role that structure can play in healing and growth, and the difference between living from guilt versus living from love.
This conversation is a thoughtful exploration of transformation, self-discovery, and the ongoing search for meaning beyond certainty.
___________________
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
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Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
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In this episode, we expand on ideas presented by Nate Oman during a discussion on Faith Matters and trace the complicated, evolving history of Mormon sealings from Joseph Smith through the 20th century.
Today, “eternal families” are often presented as the central purpose of temple sealings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But historically, the story is much messier.
In this conversation, we explore how early sealings were not originally centered on the modern concept of nuclear families being together forever. Instead, sealing theology developed gradually during the Nauvoo period and often functioned as a way to create dynastic networks, priesthood connections, and systems of authority –what some critics compare to an MLM-style hierarchy of spiritual relationships.
We discuss the evolution of sealing theology from Joseph Smith to Brigham Young, baptisms for the dead and the trauma surrounding Alvin Smith’s death, the rise of dynastic sealings and the “Law of Adoption” where men were sealed to other men. We also discuss the relationship between sealings and plural marriage, how the sealing language changed over time, why Joseph Smith never initially sealed himself to Emma, the story of Jane Manning James and how she was “attached” to Joseph Smith instead of sealed. We also discuss the racial restrictions for Black Mormons, questions of informed consent, authority, and prophetic consistency, and whether the modern LDS concept of “forever families” would have been recognizable to Joseph Smith himself.
We also examine how doctrines once treated as essential and eternal –including the Law of Adoption –were later abandoned entirely, raising larger questions about revelation, institutional change, and the development of Mormon theology.
Whether you’re believing, questioning, post-Mormon, or simply interested in religious history, this episode offers a deep dive into one of the most controversial and misunderstood developments in Mormon history.
___________________
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
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🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
We have a very special guest on Mormon Stories today, who some of our live audience may know as "TrevAnon" on YouTube. He has helped out for many years as a moderator for Mormon Stories livestreams, and he is here today to tell us why a Never-Mormon from the Netherlands would find interest in Mormonism.
This episode will begin with Trev's story, and how he developed his interest in cults and other high-demand religions--especially Scientology. Additionally, he has prepared a presentation that will compare and contrast Scientology to Mormonism. Join along as we hash out all the similarities and differences point by point.
We are grateful to TrevAnon (Corry) for sharing his story and expertise with our audience, and hope you find it as interesting as we did.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Episode 73 in our LDS Discussions series!
In this episode, we explore the long history of fraud, forgery, and "discernment" within Mormon history –from Joseph Smith’s treasure digging and the Kinderhook Plates to the Salamander Letter, Paul Dunn, Tim Ballard, and Jodi Hildebrandt.
We discuss why people believe extraordinary claims, the role of critical thinking and skepticism, and whether church leaders who claim divine guidance have actually demonstrated the “Gift of Discernment” they preach about. Along the way, we examine the Book of Abraham, the Kinderhook Plates controversy, Mark Hofmann’s forged documents, hidden church history, and modern scandals that continue to raise difficult questions for believers and critics alike.
The episode also looks at how faith can remain resilient even after exposure to false claims, and why many argue that institutional dishonesty –rather than belief itself –is the deeper issue.
Topics include: Joseph Smith’s treasure digging, the Book of Abraham facsimiles, how Elder Oaks defended the Salamander Letter, and the hiding of early Mormon documents. This discussion asks a central question: If church leaders claim special spiritual discernment, why were so many frauds, forgeries, and harmful figures embraced or defended for so long?
If you enjoy long-form Mormon history and analysis, consider subscribing and supporting the channel.
If you have thoughts on other topics you wish for us to cover, please leave them in the comments!
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Content Warning: Discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation.
In this episode of Mormon Stories, Gustavo Hernandez from Mexico City shares his experience growing up Mormon in Mexico, discovering difficult church history as a teenager, and ultimately choosing to remain an active, believing member of the Church while navigating doubt, anxiety, and faith crises.
Gustavo opens up about the shame culture surrounding worthiness, pornography confessions, and perfectionism in Mormonism –including how teachings from leaders like Spencer W. Kimball deeply affected his mental health as a young teen. He discusses experiencing panic attacks, existential dread, and suicidal thoughts while trying to reconcile faith, church history, and his desire to feel accepted by God.
Along the way, Gustavo encountered the CES Letter, Mormon Stories, exMormon Reddit, temple controversies, Joseph Smith’s polygamy, the priesthood ban, Freemasonry, and multiple First Vision accounts. Despite everything, he chose to stay active in the Church, serve a mission in Guatemala, and eventually became an institute teacher in Mexico.
The interview includes topics like what it’s like being Mormon in Mexico, growing up in a predominantly Catholic culture, p*rnography shame and bishop interviews, faith crisis as a fourteen year old boy, the CES Letter and apologetics, mission burnout, mental health and suicidal ideation, remaining active after losing certainly, as well as current beliefs about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, polygamy, and LGBTQ issues.
Whether you agree with Gustavo’s conclusions or not, his story offers an honest and nuanced look at faith, doubt, mental health, and what it means to stay.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this episode, John and Meggan examine several major stories shaping the current state of Mormonism, including new research on LDS disaffiliation and decline, increasing institutional strain on local leadership, financial fraud tied to prominent Utah business figures, and the continuing controversy surrounding the Fairview Texas temple.
•Drawing from research and analysis by Jeff Strong and team of researchers, we discuss what current membership and retention trends may reveal about blind spots devout Latter-day Saints have, the primary reasons for disaffiliation, how LDS trends compare with other denominations, gender differences in the decline, institutional trust, and why many members appear to be quietly disengaging from traditional LDS expectations.
•We also examine a recent Salt Lake Tribune report detailing how some Utah County prosecutors notify the church’s law firm when LDS bishops submit letters on behalf of criminal defendants, raising questions about ecclesiastical influence, legal systems, and institutional boundaries.
Additional topics include:
•A Church News livestream acknowledging how overwhelmed many LDS bishops have become while supporting young men
•The Noah’s Event Centers fraud convictions involving active Latter-day Saints and ongoing questions surrounding discernment
• The final public plea from the mayor of Fairview, Texas asking the church to reconsider the height of the proposed temple steeple in an effort to preserve community trust.
•The church battling insurers over sex abuse settlement coverage before the 10th Circuit Court
•And Charlie Bird and Ryan Clifford announced via social media this week that they have already begun the process to add a child to their family.
Together, these stories paint a larger picture of a church navigating growth, decline, public scrutiny, generational change, and increasing tension between institutional authority and individual experience.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In Part 2 of our series on Seventh-day Adventism, Melissa Spiers shares her personal story of growing up as a fourth-generation Adventist in a deeply religious family shaped by strict lifestyle rules, purity culture, and constant pressure to perform spiritually.
Melissa describes her experience navigating SDA education systems, thought control, and the intense expectations placed on young women within the church. She also discusses her eventual move away from Adventism, and the complicated relationship between religion, identity, and personal freedom.
Another major focus of this episode is Melissa’s discovery of abuse within her own family, the response from Seventh-day Adventist leadership, and the broader systems she believes protect abuse within high-control religious institutions. She shares how these experiences affected her relationships, mental health, and eventual religious deconstruction.
Throughout the conversation, Melissa reflects on healing, rebuilding life outside of religion, and the challenges many people face after leaving high-demand faith communities. We also discuss her new memoir, "Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows".
You can purchase it here.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
For the first time on Mormon Stories Podcast, we’re diving into the world of Seventh-day Adventism. John sits down with Melissa Spiers, a former Seventh-day Adventist, to explore the history, beliefs, culture, and practices of the SDA Church—and to compare them with Mormonism along the way.
In Part 1 of this two-part series, Melissa gives an overview of Seventh-day Adventist origins, theology, lifestyle standards, and church culture, while John and Melissa discuss some of the surprising similarities and key differences between the SDA and LDS traditions.
Then later this week in Part 2, Melissa shares her personal story of growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, her experiences within the faith, and the reasons she ultimately chose to leave.
If this topic interests you, be sure to check out Melissa’s book, "Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows."
You can purchase it here.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to our final episode in our Joseph Smith: The Podcast series, where we cover John Turner’s new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” In this episode, we explore the immediate aftermath of Joseph Smith’s assassination and the profound consequences that followed his family, plural wives, and the early Latter-day Saint movement.
The chapter we are covering today is the Epilogue.
We look at the chaotic hours and days after his death in Nauvoo, including how his body and Hyrum’s were handled, the conditions of their temporary burial, and the secrecy surrounding their remains. The episode also examines Emma Smith’s role in the aftermath --her grief, her control over Joseph’s body, and the difficult position she found herself in as both widow and critic of polygamy.
We also discuss how Joseph’s plural wives responded to his death, the emotional and political complexities of their mourning, and the uneasy reality of their realtionships with Brigham Young and other church leaders. From there, we move into the succession crisis that followed --how leadership shifted, why Brigham Young ultimately prevailed over Sidney Rigdon, and how competing visions of the church began to emerge.
Finally, we step back to consider Joseph Smith’s broader legacy, the scale of opposition he faced, and how his influence continued to shape American religious history long after his death.
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Purchase John Turner’s book here.
Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this episode, we dive into the life and legacy of Ernest L. Wilkinson, president of Brigham Young University from 1952 to 1971. Known for rapidly expanding BYU into a major religious university, Wilkinson was also a deeply polarizing figure whose leadership raised serious questions about race, politics, academic freedom, and loyalty within the Church.
Joined by historian and longtime Signature Books publisher Gary Bergera, we explore Wilkinson’s diary collection and what it reveals about his ambitions, fears, and decisions.
From alleged “spy ring”activity among faculty, to clashes with Apostle Boyd K. Packer, to his views on black students, LGBTQ+ students, and the role of capitalism in the gospel, this conversation uncovers a complex portrait of a man who helped shape modern BYU –while leaving behind a legacy still debated today.
Gary Bergera has spent decades shaping Mormon historical scholarship and was a key figure in Signature Books. His work has helped bring forward documents and perspectives that continue to challenge and inform conversations today.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Another Mormon podcaster has been excommunicated for apostasy. In this episode, Landon Brophy of the Mormonish Podcat joins us to share his full Mormon story –from devoted BYU-bound Eagle Scout, missionary, seminary teacher, bishopric member, and military chaplain path… to publicly questioning church truth-claims and ultimately being excommunicated by the LDS Church. And all after seven years of being in-active.
Landon walks through his faith crisis step-by-step: discovering problems with the Book of Abraham, DNA and archeology issues surrounding the Book of Mormon, biblical scholarship, FARMS apologetics, and the moment he realized the evidence no longer supported what he had been taught. He also discusses the rise of Mormon-themed podcasts, the church’s increasing response to public criticism, and why excommunication no longer holds the same power it once did.
We also discuss the apostasy charges against him, the letter from church leadership, Mormon stories and the exMormon community, and Tim Ballard and the origins of the Mormonish Podcast. We also discuss why Landon still considers himself Mormon as part of his culture, how his family reacted to his faith transition and what peace after Mormonism looks like. We also look at how the church has treated critics in the past to how the church has treated those with abuse allegations.
This is a powerful conversation about belief, identity, authority, and what happens when someone chooses honesty over fear.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Episode 72 in our LDS Discussions series! This episode is a treat because for the first time in the history of LDS Discussions, every panelist is actually IN studio!
Today we are doing a deep dive into one of the most foundational (and controversial) questions surrounding the Book of Mormon: What does the text actually claim about itself –and do those claims hold up?
We explore the Book of Mormon’s own statements about its origins, including the assertion that it was written in “Reformed Egyptian,” the idea that Egyptian is more information-dense than Hebrew, and the claim that “none other people knoweth our language.” From there, the discussion expands into linguistics, ancient writing systems, and the internal logic of the text itself.
Along the way, we examine: What Egyptian and Hebrew writing actually look like from a linguistic standpoint, the practicality of engraving dense records onto metal plates, the role of editors like Mormon and Moroni (who abridged the records) and whether their explanation makes sense, and the implications of “unfallisifiable” claims in religious texts.
We also take a close look at historical developments like the decipherment of Egyptian (think the Rosette Stone and Champollion), Joseph Smith’s own attempts at creating or translating languages (including the Kirtland Egyptian Papers), and the broader 19th-century context that may have influenced these ideas.
By comparing the Book of Mormon’s claims to what we know about ancient languages and writing systems today, this episode raises important questions about authorship, translation, and historical plausibility.
If you enjoy thoughtful, in-depth discussions on LDS history and truth claims, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments below!
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
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Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In today's episode, sisters Meggan and Julie share what it was like growing up in a family of 14 children in a very strict Mormon household. They describe a home built around structure, obedience, and high expectations: early morning scripture study, strict rules, limited privacy, and constant pressure to represent the “ideal” Mormon family.
They each re-tell their own experiences growing up in this environment, and discuss why they found their relationship fractured for many years—then reveal how they re-kindled their relationship. They also each discuss their individual faith journeys and where they stand with their beliefs today.
Topics/themes include:
-Family dynamics
-Authority and control in the home
-Modesty and purity culture
-Perfectionism, shame and worthiness
-Faith transitions
Meggan is also the host of her own post-Mormon channel, Generally Unquotable, which can be found here.
This episode is a beautiful example of bridge building and unconditional love, and we are very grateful to Meggan and Julie for sharing their story with us.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
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Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Part 40 of our Joseph Smith Podcast series with Dr. John Turner!
Today we are covering the final chapter of Dr. John Turner’s new book, Joseph Smith; The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. The chapter is titled “Bleeding Hearts.”
In this episode we unpack the turbulent final months of Joseph Smith’s life in 1844. We explore escalating legal pressures, political tensions in Nauvoo, and the controversial events surrounding the Nauvoo Expositor, press freedom, and Smith’s increasingly complex role as prophet, mayor, and military leader.
We also examine the accusations of polygamy and misconduct circulating at the time, the internal fractures within the Latter-day Saint movement, and how Joseph Smith responded through sermons, leadership decision, and public defense.
As tensions rise, we follow the path from legal entanglements and political conflict in Illinois to Smith’s final days, his decision to flee, and the events leading to his death at Carthage Jail. The episode closes with reflections on the aftermath of his killing and its lasting impact on the movement he founded.
This is a deep historical discussion drawing on Dr. Turner’s scholarship and primary source material to better understand one of the most consequential and contested moments in early American religious history.
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Purchase John Turner’s book here.
Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
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Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome back to part 2 of Dr. Michael Coe week here on Mormon Stories Podcast, where we are re-releasing some on the most important episodes in the history of this channel.
The original description for this episode reads:
"We are excited to revisit Dr. Michael Coe at his home in New Haven, Connecticut, to discuss some of the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture.
Dr. Michael Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and Curator Emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central America where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place."
This episode was released in April of 2018.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
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Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Join us today for another re-mastered classic Mormon Stories episode!
This interview with Dr. Michael Coe is one of the most important Mormon Stories episodes to date. In order to introduce this significant conversation to our newer audiences, we have compiled it into a single episode and re-broadcasting it.
The original description for this episode reads,
"Dr. Michael Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy professor emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the school’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central American where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place. In this interview, Coe discusses the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture and his own views on Joseph Smith."
This episode originally aired in August 2011, and was titled "Dr. Michael Coe – An Outsider’s View of Book of Mormon Archaeology" (episodes 268-270). A follow-up conversation was filmed and released in April 2018, which will be re-broadcasted this week as well.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Part 39 of our Joseph Smith Podcast series with Dr. John Turner!
In Chapter 30 titled “The Kingdom (which covers the year 1844), we explore what may be the true beginning of the end for Joseph Smith –politically, socially, and religiously.
This episode dives into Joseph Smith’s unexpected run for President of the United States, including the development of his platform, his views on slavery, and how he attempted to position himself within the broader national debate. We examine the role of figures like William Phelps in shaping the platform, as well as the tensions between abolitionism, racial attitudes, and expansionist ideas in the 1840s.
We then turn to one of the most controversial developments of this period: the Council of Fifty –a secretive body tied to the concept of the “Kingdom of God” on earth. What did it mean for Joseph Smith to be anointed as a king? How did this council blur the line between church and state?
At the same time, opposition is rising. Polygamy is becoming public, creating internal fractures and external outrage. We discuss the growing resistance within Nauvoo, including Emma Smith’s return to the Relief Society and her public pushback against plural marriage.
Finally, we examine the King Follett Discourse, one of Joseph SMith’s most theologically expansive sermons –introducing ideas about the nature of God and humanity that would shape Latter-day theology moving forward.
All of this unfolds amid increasing tension, dissent, and conflict that will soon erupt in dramatic ways.
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Purchase John Turner’s book here.
Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is suing Mormon Stories Podcast and Dr. John Dehlin claiming trademark and copyright infringement. We feel very confident in our standing in this case. We also feel as though the church is mischaracterizing what happened in mediation in a way that is misleading, untrue, and damaging.
Please join us today to learn our perspective on what the LDS church demanded in mediation, what John Dehlin and Mormon Stories did to accommodate reasonable requests, and how you can help support Mormon Stories Podcast.
-
To donate to the Mormon Stories Podcast legal defense fund, please click here: https://www.mormonstories.org/legal/
-
To review a few quick responses to the church's press release, please click here.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this episode, we sit down with Jared Smith –an ex-Christian, former Wheaton College student, and atheist YouTuber –to explore what happens when someone deeply rooted in evangelical Christianity takes a serious look at Mormonism.
Jared shares his journey from devoted believer to skeptic, including his time at Wheaton College (often called the “Harvard of Christian institutions”), where he studied everything from apologetics to exorcism –and even Christian heavy metal.
We dive into his firsthand experiences auditing religions, attending Mormon services, reading the Book of Mormon, and engaging with LDS culture from an outsider’s perspective.
Along the way, we explore what it’s like to WANT your religion to be true –and still lose it, the role of Jesus in Mormonism vs. traditional Christianity, those who take religion most seriously are the ones who seem to be leaving, the emotional and intellectual toll of deconstruction, what he thought when he read the Book of Mormon, and the intersection of belief, identity, and online content creation.
We also discuss broader topics like Jehovah's Witnesses and blood doctrine, charismatic Christianity (including exorcism and speaking in tongues), and the culture of apologetics across faith traditions.
Jared offers a thoughtful, non-combative perspective as someone more interested in understanding belief than attacking it –making this conversation a nuanced look at faith, doubt and everything in between.
Check out Jared’s YouTube channel “Heliocentric”: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS5YtyTzVJo_N-vjub8te3g
Videos to watch in preparation for our next episode with Jared Smith:
- “This Mormon church sucked” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_iAA_Zp-GQ
- His episode with Nemo the Mormon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQSo0aQQkbg
- Jacob Hansen’s response to Jared - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOFghorZj9s
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In Part 38 with historian John Turner we dive into his latest book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. In this episode, we focus on Chapter 29, “Cool as a Cucumber,” unpacking the turbulent years of 1843-1844 –arguably the beginning of the end for Joseph Smith.
We explore mounting legal pressure, political entanglements, and growing internal dissent with Nauvoo. Along the way, we examine controversial and often difficult topics, including Joseph Smith’s relationship with William Law and his wife, accusations of coercion tied to plural marriage, and an alleged physical altercation involving Watler Bagby.
This episode traces how tensions –both inside and outside the church –escalaated rapidly, setting the stage for the final chapter of Joseph Smith’s life.
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Purchase John Turner’s book here.
Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
What would compel a BYU student to resign from the Church immediately after graduation? Join us today as we explore this question and more with our guest, Ryan Huey.
Ryan was raised in Missouri as one of six children in a very devout Mormon family. He served an LDS mission in Texas, worked as an EFY counselor, and later attended BYU–Provo. But at multiple points throughout his Mormon upbringing, the foundations of his faith began to show cracks.
Topics include:
-Shame cycles
-Mission experiences
-Finding identity beyond Mormonism
-BYU student culture
and more
We hope you enjoy this thoughtful conversation about faith, identity, and how to redefine your life beyond Mormonism.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Part 37 in our series with Dr. John Turner covering his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.”
In this episode, we explore one of the most controversial and least understood rituals in early Mormonism: The Second Anointing.
While Emma Smith was away, tensions continued to rise –but when she returned, the conflict between her and Joseph Smith regarding polygamy reached a breaking point. Already furious over plural marriage, Emma confronted Joseph in a series of explosive moments –demanding accountability, destroying symbolic gifts, and treating his reputation, his movement, and even his future.
We follow the fallout from Emma’s return from St. Louis, including disputes involving figures like William Clayton and Eliza R. Snow, as well as the story of Flora Ann Woodworth –whose relationship with Joseph raises difficult questions about power, coercion, and consent.
As Emma pushes back, Joseph faces a real fear: that she could leave him and expose everything.
But then something changes.
At the center of this episode is the introduction of the Second Anointing –a secret, elite ordinance promising exaltation, godhood, and eternal salvation not just for the individual, but for their family line. We break down the ritual itself, the promise that “nothing but the shedding of innocent blood” can prevent godhood, the ability to seal others to eternal life, parallels to religious indulgences, and the spiritual framing of the ordinances for those who received it.
We also examine how this moment may have shifted Emma’s resistance –and why, despite everything, she ultimately remained with Joseph until the very end.
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Purchase John Turner’s book here.
Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
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Join this channel to get access to perks:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Today we are joined by Dr. John Lundwall (PhD, comparative myth and religion), to share what he believes is the BIGGEST anachronism in the book of Mormon – the text itself.
Using his expertise in ancient religions and how they are practiced, Dr. Lundwall offers an analysis of the religious cultures that exist in the Book of Mormon and how they are inconsistent with any other ancient religious practices. He examines early religious expression through rock art, solar deities, and ritual spaces, highlighting how ancient belief systems were primarily oral, symbolic, and embodied—expressed through ritual, chant, and performance rather than writing. He then contrasts this with the Book of Mormon’s highly text-centered nature, beginning with its very first page.
We will also discuss the religious cultures that exist in the Book of Mormon and how they are inconsistent with what we know about ancient societies. Dr. Lundwall explores how writing developed historically, and how religious knowledge was typically preserved and transmitted through oral tradition rather than written records. He will also discuss the “Golden Plates” at length, and share his insight on why their creation would have been highly unlikely for cultures of this time period.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
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Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Part 36 of our Joseph Smith Podcast series with Dr. John Turner covering his new book “Joseph Smith: Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.”
Today we are covering Chapter 28: "Anointed" that covers 1843.
In this episode, we explore one of the most explosive and painful chapters in early Mormon history –Emma Smith’s direct opposition to Joseph Smith over the practice of polygamy. As tensions rise within Nauvoo, Emma confronts the growing reality of plural marriage, leading to deep personal conflict, secrecy, and division.
We examine Joseph Smith’s controversial marriages, including his sealing to Helen Mar Kimball, and the broader system that introduced young women into polygamy –often through pressure, family influence, and religious framing. Through firsthand accounts, journals, and later testimonies, we unpack the human cost of these relationships and the theological justification behind them.
This episode also dives into Doctrine and Covenants 132 –the pivotal revelation on plural marriage –exploring its origins, its impact on Emma, and the broader implications for Mormon theology and authority. We discuss questions surrounding consent, power, sexuality, and the role of women, alongside the cultural and religious environment that allowed polygamy to take root.
As the conflict escalates, Emma begins pushing back –publicly and privately –while Joseph attempts to solidify the practice doctrinally. The episode culminates in one of the most controversial and secretive ordinances in Mormonism: the Second Anointing.
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Purchase John Turner’s book here.
Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
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Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Joining John & Mergi Dehlin today is Chelsey Rencher Liaga, here to share her Mormon story of how she was “groomed” for Mormon motherhood, and how this hindered the development of her own mental health and self identity.
Chelsey was born in Gilbert, Arizona (a heavily Mormon community) and had a typical Mormon upbringing. She suffered from perfectionism as a child, which later led to body dysmorphia issues and an eating disorder that affected her time on her mission in Spokane, Washington.
After her mission she met her husband at BYU, and they quickly started building their perfect Mormon family. Chelsey describes the stress she felt early on in their marriage to cook, clean, and uphold the household, and how she eventually overcame this stressor.
She also details her career as a therapist, her experiences as a working mother, and working at LDS family services.
Topics include:
-Perfectionism
-Purity culture
-Motherhood
-Mixed faith marriage
-Mixed race marriage
-Mental Health
This is a pervasive issue in Mormonism that we know many Mormon women can relate to, and hope that Chelsey’s story can help other LDS women feel seen.
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses eating disorders. Please listen responsibly.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Following the passing of my dear friend and former BYU professor, Dr. William Bradshaw, we are honoring his life today by re-broadcasting my interview with him from 2010.
The original description for this episode is as follows:
"In this episode, John Dehlin interviews one of his former professors and mentors, Dr. William Bradshaw, on a wide variety of topics. Dr. Bradshaw has just recently retired from a rich and fulfilling career as a molecular biology professor at BYU in which he influenced thousands of students to continually be open to the best thinking of the sciences while still nurturing a robust, mature faith and spiritual life. Many report Dr. Bradshaw’s classes and their various interactions with him as pivotal to their finding a way to value the wisdom generated in both their heads and their hearts.
In this far-ranging discussion, Dr. Bradshaw takes us through the arc of his life, including his mission, experiences at Harvard, the circumstances of his career choice, and the surprise call he and his wife Marge received to serve as very young mission presidents in Hong Kong, during which service they had to wrestle with opening and closing missionary work in Vietnam. Dr. Bradshaw relates stories from his career at BYU, talks about science and religion issues, and reveals the way he faces challenges to his faith from Mormon history and scriptural studies.
Many Mormon Stories podcast listeners will already be familiar with one aspect of Dr. Bradshaw’s life from Episode 191, which featured a recording of the most recent lecture he gave at BYU on the biological origins of homosexuality–a lecture he has arranged and given every year for the past several years. Dr. Bradshaw first became prompted to study the research on this subject when his son Brett came out about his homosexuality. Since that time, the Bradshaws have been active members in various LDS groups for families working to support their LGBT children."
Dr. Bradshaw's funeral will be held at the Orem Stake Chapel (365 South 900 East, Orem, UT 84097) on April 3rd at 11:00 AM.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Join us to speak with Bridget Read about her new article in New York Magazine entitled "Under the Mormon Influence: How the Women of Utah Blogged and Posted Their Way Into American Hearts and Wallets."
Bridget Read has been a writer at New York Magazine since 2019 and is the author of "Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America."
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Purchase John Turner’s book here.
Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome back to Part 35 of our series with Dr. John Turner discussing his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.”
In 1843, Joseph Smith began introducing some of his closest family members – including his wife Emma Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith –to the controversial and secretive practice of plural marriage.
This episode dives into one of the most complex and debated periods of early Latter-day Saint history. We explore the story of the Kinderhook Plates –a set of six brass plates that briefly captured Joseph Smith’s attention before being exposed as a fraud –and what that moment reveals about claims of translation and discernment.
We also examine the marriages to the Partridge sisters, the dynamics between Joseph and Emma, and the growing theological framework surrounding celestial marriage, “calling and election made sure,” and eternal hierarchy. As new doctrines emerged, secrecy, trust, and power became deeply intertwined.
This episode raises difficult questions such as: What happened to the Kinderhook Plates –and why didn’t the translation continue? How did plural marriage unfold behind the scenes? What did Joseph teach privately vs publicly? How did those closest to him respond about polygamy?
This is a careful, long-form discussion intended to slow down and examine the historical record in detail.
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Purchase John Turner’s book here.
Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Today, Debora Meireles Ling joins John and Margi to share her journey growing up in a deeply orthodox LDS family in Brazil, where Mormonism shaped nearly every part of her life. As a teenager, Debora felt intense pressure to live the gospel perfectly and struggled with perfectionism as she tried to meet the expectations placed on faithful members.
Debora was called to serve a mission in the São Paulo South Mission, but the experience quickly became overwhelming. After experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks, she was sent home early—a devastating event she initially interpreted as a punishment from God. She reflects on the emotional toll of mission culture and the challenges missionaries can face when mental health struggles arise.
After returning home, Debora worked to rebuild her life while remaining deeply committed to her faith. She eventually married a fellow returned missionary, and together they tried to build the kind of life they had always been taught to pursue within the Church. Over time, however, new questions and experiences began to challenge some of the assumptions she had carried for most of her life.
This conversation explores perfectionism, missionary culture, mental health, and more.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome back to Part 34 of our series with Dr. John G. Turner! Today we are covering most of Chapter 27 in John Turner’s new book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. The chapter is called “Deep Water” and covers the year 1843.
The main topic for today is polygamy.
Join us as we discuss several of Joseph Smith’s wives such as Flora Woodworth, Eliza R. Snow, Sarah Ann Whitney, Lucy Walker, etc. John Dehlin challenges Dr. John Turner on specific aspects such as whether Emma Smith really did push Eliza R. Snow down the stairs and whether or not Porter Rockwell did actually attempt to assassinate Lilburn Boggs. We also discuss the validity of the William Clayton journals and postulate on why the church has yet to publish them.
Throughout 1843, Joseph Smith promised men and women salvation based on their willingness to enter into polygamy. He spent church funds on gifts for his wives, as well as buying some of them plots of land, and even travel expenses for some of the women (from England to Nauvoo). Joseph Smith used language that could be seen as coercive, for example, telling Lucy Walker that polygamy was a command of God and that he would give her “until tomorrow to decide this matter [of polygamy] and that “If you reject this message the gate will be closed forever against you.”
In this episode we tackle hard questions such as: Can people who do bad things also be good? Does good behavior negate seemingly abusive actions? Are people all bad and all good? Can Joseph Smith’s actions be seen as human trafficking?
This chapter in Mormonism is deeply problematic and disturbing, but Dr. John Turner handles it amazingly.
Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Purchase John Turner’s book here.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
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📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In his official 1838 history, Joseph Smith described discovering the golden plates inside a carefully constructed stone box in the Hill Cumorah. According to his account, the box contained the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and a breastplate.
But what happened to that stone box?
In this episode of LDS Discussions, we take a deep dive into the historical record surrounding the stone box narrative. We compare Joseph Smith’s 1838 history with earlier and later accounts, statements from witnesses like David Whitmer, Martin Harris, and Oliver Cowdery, and later retellings from leaders such as Brigham Young.
We explore:
-What Joseph Smith said was inside the box
-Whether early Saints believed there was MORE than one box
-Claims about swords, the Liahona, and other Nephite artifacts
-The evolution of the story over time
-Whether codex-style plates create anachronistic problems
-The “magic worldview” shared by early Mormon leaders
-Comparisons to treasure-digging culture
-Why there is no physical evidence of the stone box today
We also examine 19th century newspaper references discussing the stone box, Whitmer’s later (contradictory) interviews, and the strange disappearance of a stone structure that supposedly survived for over a thousand years.
If the box was real and physically constructed with stone slabs and pillars –as described –why did it leave no trace? Why didn’t believers preserve fragments the way people took pieces of the Berlin Wall? And why does the Hill Cumorah today appear completely undisturbed?
This episode wrestles with a central question: Does the detail of a stone box strengthen Joseph Smith’s credibility –or create new historical and epistemological problems?
This is Episode 71 in our LDS Discussions series!
___________________
Show notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
For the first time on Mormon Stories Podcast, we’re diving into the world of Seventh-day Adventism. John sits down with Melissa Spiers, a former Seventh-day Adventist, to explore the history, beliefs, culture, and practices of the SDA Church—and to compare them with Mormonism along the way.
In Part 1 of this two-part series, Melissa gives an overview of Seventh-day Adventist origins, theology, lifestyle standards, and church culture, while John and Melissa discuss some of the surprising similarities and key differences between the SDA and LDS traditions.
Then later this week in Part 2, Melissa shares her personal story of growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, her experiences within the faith, and the reasons she ultimately chose to leave.
If this topic interests you, be sure to check out Melissa’s book, "Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows."
You can purchase it here.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this deep-dive conversation, we sit down with Chase (from Hulu’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives) to unpack his journey from a traditional Mormon upbringing in Rexburg, Idaho, to becoming entangled in one of the most talked-about TikTok scandals –and everything in between.
We explore the cultural and personal pressures of growing up in the LDS Church, serving a mission, navigating marriage, and ultimately experiencing a faith crisis that reshaped his identity. Chase opens up about the emotional weight of religious expectations, the role of shame, and why he began questioning everything he once believed.
We also dive into his connection to Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (SLOMW), the rise of “MomTok,” and how relationships blurred into controversy during the viral swinging scandal. Through it all, Chase reflects on accountability, self-expression, and the cost of living out of alignment with your true self.
This is a raw and honest look at faith, identity, marriage, and the evolving culture of modern Mormonism.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this in-depth discussion, Cheryl and Michelle explore one of the most controversial topics in Latter-day Saint history: polygamy. Through a structured, multi-stage presentation, they examine the origins, evidence, and ongoing debates surrounding plural marriage in early Mormonism.
From figures like John C. Bennett and the Nauvoo Expositor to Emma Smith’s testimony and the role of primary sources, both presenters offer contrasting perspectives on what really happened –and why it continues to matter today. They also unpack how the Church has responded over time, from the 1852 public acknowledgment of polygamy to modern apologetics and the impact of the information age.
This conversation highlights the tension between belief and historical evidence, raising difficult questions about leadership, narrative gaps, and the evolution of Mormon identity.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Join us as we conclude Carol Lynn Pearson week on Mormon Stories Podcast!
Today we have planned a celebration & Q&A with beloved author, poet, feminist, and activist Carol Lynn Pearson. We will have several guests on to share their dedications to Carol Lynn. And Barbara Brown from Signature Books will join us as we also discuss the new release of: The Diaries of Carol Lynn Pearson--Mormon Author, Feminist, and Activist: Volume 1 (1956-1990).
Please help us support Carol Lynn Pearson and purchase her new memoir, here.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome back to Carol Lynn Pearson week on Mormon Stories podcast, as we re-visit two very important interviews with a one-of-a-kind Mormon woman.
Today's episode was originally recorded in 2018, when we teamed up with Sunstone to do a live recording where we discussed Pearson's book, The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. Special thanks to the Salt Lake City Community of Christ for hosting such a wonderful evening and for the many listeners who came to enjoy the experience.
In our next episode, we will close out the week by welcoming Carol Lynn Pearson back on the podcast to celebrate the release of her new book, The Diaries of Carol Lynn Pearson. We will also be joined on that interview by the director of Signature Books, Barbara Jones Brown.
Please help us support Carol Lynn Pearson and purchase her new memoir, here.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Today, we are thrilled to kick off Carol Lynn Pearson week on Mormon Stories Podcast! Join us for the re-broadcast of two very important interviews with a one-of-a-kind Mormon woman. Then, we will close out the week by welcoming Carol Lynn Pearson back on the podcast to celebrate the release of her new book, The Diaries of Carol Lynn Pearson, where we will also be joined by the director of Signature Books, Barbara Jones Brown.
Carol Lynn Pearson is the author of a 1986 memoir, Goodbye, I Love You, about the death of her gay husband from AIDS.
Her musical, My Turn on Earth, is among the most successful Mormon musicals of all time.
Carol Lynn is an advocate for women and LGBTQ+ Mormons. Her 2007 book, “No More Goodbyes,” tells the stories of gay Mormons (and those of other faiths), coping with family, religion, and, occasionally, suicide.
Today's interview was filmed in 2010, and was originally broken into four parts and released as episodes 173-177. We have compiled them into a singular episode in order to re-introduce it to our listeners.
Please help us support Carol Lynn Pearson and purchase her new memoir, here.
CONTENT WARNING: This series contains discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation. Please listen responsibly.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Today, we are very excited to have back on the podcast Bible scholar and best selling author, Bart Ehrman! Bart has very recently retired as a professor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and he is here with us today to “meet the Mormons” and answer questions on the Old Testament, New Testament, and even offers his professional opinions on Book of Mormon History. Bart and the panel will also discuss his brand new book, Love Thy Stranger, and some of his other works that we believe our audience would love.
We are truly privileged to have Bart with us today to share his thoughts on the history of Jesus and the Bible, and hope you find this conversation as engaging as we did.
You can pre-order Love They Stranger here.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we speak with Christopher Jenkins, a former LDS bishop, about his personal experience with the Church’s abuse hotline. While serving as bishop in Washington, a ward member confessed abuse to him. When Christopher called the Church’s hotline for guidance, he says he was told he was not a mandatory reporter and felt pressured not to report the abuse to authorities.
Christopher walks us through both calls he made to the hotline, the legal framing of the guidance he received, and the lack of follow-up afterward. He also discusses broader issues surrounding clergy confidentiality, how reporting requirements vary by jurisdiction, and what he perceived as the Church’s focus on institutional liability rather than victim care.
We also explore how he now views mandatory reporting laws, the Church’s opposition to certain reporting requirements in Washington, and larger questions about abuse prevention, bishop training, and accountability. Christopher shares how this experience, along with navigating life as the father of LGBTQ+ children, contributed to significant shifts in his faith.
This conversation centers on leadership responsibility, ethical decision-making, and what happens when institutional guidance conflicts with personal conscience.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Part 33 of our series with historian John G. Turner, based on his landmark biography Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.
In this episode, we dive into Chapter 26 (titled “David”) and explore one of the most controversial patterns in Joseph Smith’s leadership: how he responded when trusted insiders became vocal critics.
As pressure mounted from Missouri over the attempted assassination of Lilburn Boggs, Joseph faced internal dissent from figures like John C. Bennett and Orson Pratt. We examine the fallout surrounding Sarah Pratt, the publication of the so-called “Happiness Letter,” and the devastating public denunciation that followed.
Was Joseph defending himself from slander? Or was he fighting dirty in the press?
Today we discuss the allegations surrounding Nancy Rigdon and Sarah Pratt, Joseph’s public rebukes and “Judas” comparisons, the (embarrassing) re-baptism of the Pratts, the role of Brigham Young in publicly acknowledging plural marriage, the publication of John C. Bennett, Joseph’s legal maneuvers to avoid extradition, his complicated and evolving stance on slavery, and the larger pattern of character assassination within early Mormonism.
We also explore Joseph’s interaction with Illinois Governor Thomas Ford, the power of the Nauvoo Charter, and the increasingly emboldened posture of the church leadership as dissent intensified.
This is a complex and uncomfortable chapter –one that forces us to wrestle with competing testimonies, public smears, loyalty under pressure, and the high cost of dissent.
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Purchase John Turner’s book here.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In today's episode, Edward Nachel shares his firsthand account of serving on the High Council that excommunicated Wade Christofferson –and the guilt, questions, and reckoning that followed. Edward served in the same ward as Wade and knew him for over twenty-years.
We begin with the recent arrest of Wade Christofferson and the allegations that have surfaced, including sexually coded letters and reported searches found on his phone. These are allegations until proven guilty in a court of law. But Edward’s story focuses on something broader: how church disciplinary systems operate, how secrecy functions, and what happens when there are no advocates for victims inside the room.
Edward describes being selected for the Disciplinary Council, drawing lots to see who represented the abuser and who represented the church, being sworn to secrecy, the absence of witnesses and the victims, how the final decision was made by the Stake Presidency, and how ward members were never warned.
At the time, Edward believed he was “on the church’s side.” Years later, he sees the system differently.
This episode is not about attacking faith. It’s about transparency, accountability, and protecting children. Edward openly asks: What could I have done? Why didn’t I do more? And what must change to ensure this never happens again?
If you or someone you know has been affected by abuse in a religious setting, you are not alone.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
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Join this channel to get access to perks:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
What happens when a devoted Mormon father and his daughter –who no longer believes –sit down for an honest, loving conversation?
In this powerful "bridgebuilding" episode, Matt and Katie Todd share their story of faith, doubt, and family. Matt is a lifelong Latter-day Saint. Katie began questioning the Church while attending American Heritage School in Utah County –right across from the Timpanogos Temple –and eventually lost her faith as a teenager.
They talk about growing up in Utah County as a Mormon, reading church history and the CES Letter (during class!), controversial topics –such as polygamy, the priesthood and temple ban, and the Book of Abraham. They also talk about what it’s like to lose your testimony as a teenager, the fear that parents feel when their kids leave the church, and how unconditional love can survive even in the face of deep disagreement.
This episode isn’t about winning arguments. It’s about trust, conscience, empathy, and learning how families can stay connected even when beliefs change.
Whether you’re a believer, a former believer, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers a rare and hopeful model for how to disagree without rejecting each other.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Part 32 of our series with Dr. John G Turner, based on his new book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.
In this episode, Dr. Turner response directly to modern claims denying Joseph Smith’s plural marriage to Sarah Ann Whitney. We revisit Chapter 26 of his book, carefully examining the historical record surrounding the 1842 letter often associated with Sarah Ann Whitney, the language of sealing and “fulness of blessings,” the land deed, and the broader documentary context of Nauvoo-era plural marriage.
We also engage with alternative interpretations, including arguments that question whether the letter refers to polygamy at all. Drawing on Turner’s scholarship as well as Karen Hyatt’s analysis, this discussion models how historians weight evidence, examine primary sources, and wrestle with ambiguity. What constitutes strong documentation? How do historians interpret silence, denials, and later public statements? And how should we think about the broader context of Joseph Smith’s practice of plural marriage in Nauvoo?
Along the way, we explore the legal crisis surrounding the alleged assassination attempt on Lilburn Boggs, the Nauvoo writ of habeas corpus, the Sarah Ann Whitney Letter, Public denials and private sealings, sham marriages and the case of Joseph Kingsbury, documentation involving the Partridge sisters and why serious historical inquiry requires both skepticism and careful contextualization.
We invite you to read Chapter 26 alongside this discussion and let us know your thoughts in the comments. To read Karen Hyatt’s interpretation download her free book here: https://josephtoldthetruth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Woe-Unto-You-Scribes.pdf
To watch Karen Hyatt’s video, “The Worst Love Letter… EVER!” click here.
Let us know in the comments how you interpret the evidence.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this powerful and deeply personal episode, we sit down with David Archuleta to discuss his new memoir, Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself. David opens up about his life inside of Mormonism, his rise to fame on American Idol, his mission, his relationship with Church leaders, and the long, painful journey toward self-acceptance as a gay man.
This conversation goes far beyond headlines. David walks us through the internalized shame, religious scrupulosity, and obsessive righteousness that shaped his childhood and young adulthood. He reflects on the messages he received about masculinity, sexuality, and obedience –and how those teachings distorted his understanding of intimacy, trust, and self-worth.
We explore David’s experiences with Mormon apostles, including M. Russell Ballard, the November 2015 Policy, and the unsettling realization that Church leaders often spoke with certainty despite privately admitting they had no answers. David shares what it was like to be counseled to marry a woman, to suppress his identity, and to believe his faith could “heal” him –while quietly spiraling toward despair.
This episode also addresses growing up in a Mormon bubble, religious OCD, messages about LGBTQ people, chastity and sin, fame and unpaid church services, leaving the church and reclaiming agency and what happiness and God look like for him now.
David speaks with extraordinary honest, vulnerability, and compassion –not just for himself, but for the countless LGBTQ people still navigating high-demand religions.
Order his book here.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this special Valentine’s episode, we are joined by Kolby Reddish (a rando on the internet), Nemo the Mormon, Carah Burrell (from Nuancehoe), Julia Sanders from Analyzing Mormonism and John Dehlin for a conversation that might surprise you.
Yes - We are critics of Mormonism.
Yes - We’ve experienced pain, disillusionment, and deep deconstruction.
And yet… we can hold two different truths at once.
In this episode, we model something that feels almost taboo in exMormon spaces: expressing gratitude for the things Mormonism gave us –while still being honest about its harm.
In this episode we discuss:
-
Rituals that shaped our identities
-
Community and why it’s hard to leave
-
Awe, wonder, and valuing the body
-
Agency and free will as an act of faith
-
Why compassion and justice often lead people OUT of the church
-
Whether we wish to destroy the church or make it better
There are so many good people inside the Mormon church. The people are often beautiful while the system is complicated. As Richard Rohr once said: “Nobody does first half of life better than Mormons” –and we all share deep gratitude for that first half.
This episode does not erase the negative things about the church. It doesn’t minimize harm. But it DOES ask whether we can be mature enough to acknowledge the good without surrendering our integrity.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Part 31 in our ongoing series with Dr. John Turner, based on his new book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.
Today we are diving into Chapter 31, “World on Fire,” and the explosive years 1842-1843 in Nauvoo –a period marked by scandal, secrecy, political pressure, and deep internal crisis.
In this episode we cover the rise and fall of John C. Bennett and the “Spiritual Wifery” scandal. We also discuss the attempted assassination of Lilburn Boggs and the role of Porter Rockwell. We also cover aspects of polygamy, namely the Nancy Rigdon controversy and Joseph Smith’s failed proposal, the stories of Sarah Pratt and Sarah Ann Whitney (including the letter sent to the Whitneys in Joseph Smith’s own handwriting with specific instructions to burn the letter), and Emma Smith and the growing concerns in the Relief Society as well as Nauvoo at large.
We also examine how Nauvoo struggled to manage these crises, how accusations and denials shaped public perception, and why John Turner calls this moment a true “world on fire.”
If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
⚠️Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of violence, self-harm, suicide, and religious trauma.
In this deeply vulnerable and wide-ranging conversation, Kyson Dana shares his story of growing up Mormon, serving a mission in Russia, and the lifelong psychological, spiritual, and physical consequences that followed. What was supposed to be the “best two years” of his life became the most traumatic –shaping his identity, mental health, and eventual departure from the Church.
Kyson opens up about generational trauma, internalized shame, self-policing, and suicidal ideation in his youth. He walks us through the intense pressure to be perfect, the weaponization of guilt and obedience, and how Mormonism taught him to disconnect from himself in order to survive.
We dive deeply into the realities of missionary life in Russia: shrinking missions, violence, threats, abductions, murders, leadership silence, and explicit instructions NOT to tell families what was happening. Kyson recounts being told not to come home unless it was “in a coffin,” enduring extreme fasting, psychological abuse, and witnessing acts of violence that were never processed or acknowledged.
Beyond the mission, Kyson shares how this trauma followed him into adulthood –fueling panic disorder, Complex PTSD, and a prolonged faith crisis. He discusses therapy, EMDR, creative work, and the careful, supported use of psychedelics as part of healing. We also explore his work helping teens navigate shame-based purity culture, pornography narratives (“Fight the new drug!”), and the dangerous conflation of morality with normal human behavior.
This episode is about far more than Mormonism –it’s about identity, belonging, survival, and what it takes to come back to yourself after an institution teaches you to turn yourself off.
If you’ve ever felt broken by a system that promised salvation, you’re not alone.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Episode 30 of our series The Joseph Smith Podcast with Dr. John Turner where we discuss chapters from his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.”
In this episode, we dive further into Chapter 24 (“Upper Rooms”) from John Turner’s work and unpack the origins of the LDS Relief Society in May of 1842 –right in the middle of Joseph Smith’s secret practice of polygamy. We explore whether the Relief Society was meant to empower women, function as a stepping stone to priesthood-like authority, or help manage rumors and moral fallout from Nauvoo’s growing scandals.
From Emma Smith’s complicated position, to whispered accusations, to the infamous “Happiness Letter,” this conversation traces how secrecy, power, and polygamy collide –and what it all says about Joseph Smith’s character. We also look at whistleblowers, public denials, internal investigations (or lack thereof), and how victims and critics were treated when scandals became impossible to contain.
This is part Mormon history, part true crime, and part moral reckoning –with big questions about leadership, secrecy, and accountability.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
A new Netflix documentary on the 2002 kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart in Salt Lake City by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee (all Mormons) has been released. To what extent was this kidnapping influenced by Joseph Smith and/or Mormonism? Join John, Samantha, Alyssa, and Taylor as they explore the Mormon connections to Elizbeth Smart's kidnapping.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome back to our Joseph Smith Podcast series with historian Dr. John Turner!
This is Episode 29, where we dive into Chapter 24, titled “Upper Rooms,” from John Turner’s new book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.
In this episode, we focus on Nauvoo in 1842 –a pivotal year when Freemasonry, the Relief Society, secrecy, and the earliest forms of the Nauvoo Endowment ceremony all intersect.
The central question we wrestle with is this: To what extent did Freemasonry shape Joseph Smith’s use of secrecy –and was it intended to protect his authority and reputation?
We explore the anti-Masonic climate of early America and the murder of William Morgan, why the Book of Mormon was once read as an “anti-Masonic Bible,” Joseph Smith’s embrace of Freemasonry, the founding of the Nauvoo Masonic Lodge, Parallels between Masonic rituals and the original Nauvoo Endowment, the secret oaths, handshakes, signs, tokens, and penalties, and Joseph Smith’s evolving theology around power and exaltation.
This conversation is historically grounded, candid, and essential for anyone trying to understand how Mormon temple theology developed –and why it still matters today!
___________________
Show Notes
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On today’s episode, we welcome two very special guests! Leopoldo Larcher and Emily Guincho are a father–daughter duo here to share their Italian Mormon story as the first family to join the LDS Church in Italy.
Leopoldo details his experience of quickly being placed into leadership roles and bearing the responsibility of helping establish the structure of the Church in Italy. Over the years, he worked with many LDS Church leaders, from Ezra Taft Benson to Spencer W. Kimball.
His daughter, Emily, joins us to share her own perspective on what it was like for her and her siblings to grow up in an environment dominated by church service and the immense pressure to represent Mormonism in their community.
Together, Emily and Leopoldo reflect on what it meant to be Mormon pioneers in Italy, how their dedicated service affected their family life, and where they stand with the Church today. They also discuss what the LDS community looks like in Italy within a predominantly Catholic culture, and the challenges the Church faces as it attempts to establish a uniquely American institution in Europe.
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
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Welcome to Episode 70 of our LDS Discussions series!
In this episode, our panel takes a deep dive into one of the most debated questions surrounding the Book of Mormon: were ancient metal plates a known concept in Joseph Smith’s world, and are they truly comparable to the golden plates he described?
We examine historical sources from the 18th and 19th centuries that reference metal records –brass, copper, lead, and stone –and place them within Joseph Smith’s cultural and intellectual milieu. From biblical scholarship and early American speculation about Native American origins to apologists’ use of presentism, this episode carefully distinguishes between general awareness of metal inscriptions and the specific, unprecedented claims of a large golden codex containing extensive narrative text.
Along the way, we explore major figures, books, and ideas circulating before and during Joseph Smith’s lifetime, assess whether these sources were likely known to him, and ask a crucial question: at what point does probability break down –not because of a single anachronism, but because of the sheer scale and complexity of the plates described in the Book of Mormon?
This conversation builds toward a detailed timeline of Joseph Smith’s environment, highlighting how concepts expanded, evolved, and were ultimately synthesized into something entirely new.
Leave a comment letting us know if you like this format with John Dehlin being “not home.”
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we talk with Jean Daniel about his journey from a devoted Mormon convert to a Christian pastor. Growing up in Boston, Jean discovered Mormonism as a teenager and found in it a strong sense of structure, identity, and belonging. He served a mission in San Diego, CA and was later married in the Newport beach temple.
While studying at Harvard and Yale Divinity Schools, Jean began to see the value in many Christian traditions and ultimately let go of the idea of “one true church.” He shares how this shift led him toward a more open, hopeful approach to Christianity grounded in community. Today, Jean serves as the National Pastor of Canada for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
This is a thoughtful conversation about faith after Mormonism and building a meaningful spiritual community with progressive beliefs.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
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Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Part 28 of our John G. Turner series of the Joseph Smith Podcast! Today we continue our deep dive into the Egyptian Materials, the Book of Abraham, and how its theology shaped Mormonism’s most distinctive doctrines –including premortal existence, exaltation, intelligences, and the idea of God becoming God.
This episode explores how Joseph Smith resumed work on the papyri in Nauvoo, publicly introduced the Book of Abraham, and used it as a vehicle for unfolding expansive cosmology and theology. We examine the papyri themselves, the facsimiles, translation claims, the catalyst theory, and why there is little evidence that key scrolls are missing.
More importantly, we trace how the Book of Abraham becomes the theological backbone for ideas that later crystalize in the King Follett Discourse, the Plan of Salvation, the War in Heaven, and the belief that humans can become Gods.
This is Part 2 of our discussion on the Egyptian Materials and their lasting influence on Mormon doctrine.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we sit down with Ceci Hendrickson, who shares her story of growing up in the FLDS Church before the rise of Warren Jeffs and witnessing how the church transformed under his leadership. Warren Jeffs was once her high school principal, long before he became the self-proclaimed prophet of the FLDS Church.
Ceci walks us through her upbringing in a large polygamist family, where strict rules, indoctrination, and obedience were woven into everyday life. She describes how life changed dramatically when Warren Jeffs took power, detailing how religious practices became increasingly extreme. Families were torn apart as church members were regularly sent away, creating a culture of fear and paranoia within the community. We explore the realities of arranged marriages, the phrase “keep sweet,” and the systems that normalized control and abuse—especially for women and children.
As a teenager, Ceci was suddenly told she would be married, launching her into a polygamous marriage that she now recognizes as child abuse. She shares what it was like to be reassigned within families, to live in hiding after crimes were committed, and to witness children—including her sister wife’s 12-year-old stepdaughter—being handed over to Warren Jeffs himself as plural wives. We also discuss the YFZ Ranch in Texas, the 2008 raid, Warren Jeffs’ continued control of the church from prison, and how his actions ultimately contributed to the unraveling of the FLDS community.
We then discuss Ceci’s escape from polygamy, how she managed to reclaim her children from the church, and how she built a new life for her family outside of the FLDS faith.
Today, Ceci is a mother, entrepreneur, and advocate, using her voice to help other women find their way out and reclaim their lives.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to episode 27 of the Joseph Smith Podcast with Dr. John G. Turner!
In this episode, we take a deep dive into Joseph Smith’s early practice of polygamy in Nauvoo, tracing how it began, how it expanded so rapidly, and what it reveals about power, belief, and risk.
We examine the first plural marriages, the people Joseph trusted to introduce the practice, and the recurring patterns that emerge as polygamy spreads among church leadership. Along the way, we ask difficult questions about revelation, consent, secrecy, scripture, and whether Joseph believed his actions were divinely required –or something else entirely.
This discussion also situates polygamy within the broader political and social pressures Joseph faced in the early 1840s, including legal threats, growing opposition, and his increasing confidence and recklessness as Nauvoo flourished. Ultimately, we explore whether Joseph’s polygamy can be understood as sincere belief, institutional experimentation, abuse of authority, or some combination of all three.
If you find this series valuable, consider liking, subscribing, and sharing. More episodes in this series are coming next!
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
What happens when a Mormon woman becomes the primary provider for her family –inside a religion that teaches her highest purpose is in the home?
In this deeply personal and honest conversation, Cate Smith shares her journey growing up Mormon, internalizing the Family Proclamation, and believing her eternal destiny was marriage, motherhood, and supporting her husband. From being voted “most likely to be mom” as a teenager to entering the temple and covenanting to hearken to her husband, Cate explains how clearly her path seemed laid out for her.
But life didn't unfold the way Mormonism promised.
After earning a degree in accounting “as a backup,” Cate unexpectedly became the breadwinner, while her husband stepped into a more nurturing, stay-at-home role. What followed was grief, identity loss, social pressure, depression, and eventually therapy –along with the realization that the only thing wrong with being a working mom was being Mormon.
As Cate began questioning gender roles, authority, and worth, those questions expanded into a full faith crisis –sparked by therapy, church culture, the Family Proclamation, Ensign Peak and SEC fraud revelations, racism in church history, and the fear-based framework of Mormon belief. She shares how integrity ultimately mattered more than certainty, and why she chose to resign from the Church before she even fully believed it wasn’t true.
Cate’s story is raw, thoughtful, and deeply relatable –especially for women navigating faith, motherhood, careers, and self-trust after leaving a high-demand religion.
___________________
Show Notes
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Part 26 of our Joseph Smith Podcast series! In this episode, we continue our deep dive into Chapter 22 of John Turner’s new biography, Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet, as the story moves to the founding of Nauvoo, Illinois in 1840 –a fresh start for the Latter-day Saints and a turning point in Joseph Smith’s theology and authority.
We explore the emergence of baptism for the dead, one of the most distinctive doctrines introduced in Nauvoo, and how Joseph Smith framed proxy ordinances as answers to grief, death, and eternal family bonds. From New Testament passages to Adam Clarke’s biblical commentary, we examine how this doctrine developed, why the Saints embraced it so enthusiastically, and how it eventually became tied to the temple.
This episode also covers the doctrine of re-baptism, a ritual that allowed faithful members to recommit repeatedly, and what this reveals about early Mormon ideas of salvation, renewal, and belonging. We also introduce one of the most controversial figures of the Nauvoo period: John C. Bennett –a charismatic leader with a scandalous past whose rise and fall would have lasting consequences for Nauvoo, Joseph Smith, and the Church’s political and legal standing.
Along the way, we discuss Nauvoo’s utopian hopes, strange theological ideas, spiritual experimentation, the growing power of the Nauvoo militia (and Joseph Smith), and the seeds of opposition that will eventually lead to Joseph Smith’s death.
Join us in the next episode for our discussion on Polygamy!
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Appio Hunter, whose early life as a Portuguese-speaking Mormon kid, his journey through conversion therapy, and his eventual path to love, self-acceptance, and healing make for one of the most profound LGBTQ+ Mormon Stories ever shared on this channel.
Raised between Southern California and Utah by a Brazilian mother and a father with deep pioneer-era lineage, Appio knew from age four that he was different. By adolescence, he recognized he was gay –just as he was absorbing the harsh anti-gay rhetoric embedded in Mormon culture of the era. What followed was years of masking, spiritual turmoil, self-hatred, and the crushing belief that he needed to be “fixed.”
Appio was eventually ushered into LDS-supported Reparative Therapy, including talk therapy, group sessions, “baseball therapy,” and even a type of 12-step program designed to eliminate same-sex attraction. This path led him all the way to the early 1990s offices of senior LDS General Authorities –including Russell M. Nelson and Henry B. Eyring –where he was held up as a "success story" of conversion therapy.
Beneath the surface of being the “poster boy” for Reparative Therapy, the cost was devastating: self-loathing, loneliness, suicidal ideation, and the tragic loss of peers who didn’t survive the program. Ultimately, Appio’s journey brought him toward authenticity and real love.
This is a story of survival, identity, love, and liberation –a must-watch for anyone navigating faith transitions, LGBTQ+ issues, or the legacy of Mormon conversion therapy.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Please join us for a live episode with Roger Hendrix - one of the highest ranking Latter-day Saints ever interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast. Roger served as CES Director, Bishop, Stake Presidency Member, Mission President, and served for 18 years as a Trustee on the board of the Deseret Trust Company (called to the position by President Gordon B. Hinckley).
Today we are discussing the Church’s renewed emphasis on the Atonement, its place in within Western Christianity, and whether recent shifts represent genuine change, pragmatic adaptation, or strategic rebranding. We dig into uncomfortable questions about wealth, humanitarian efforts, racial history, LGBTQ issues, missionary growth, and the Church’s ability (or unwillingness) to acknowledge past harm.
The discussion also looks forward: What is the future of Mormonism? Will the Church change its stance on same-sex marriage, women and the priesthood, or the Word of Wisdom? How are Apostles chosen, how does power function at the top, and what would it take -if anything -to bring former members back into activity?
This episode includes thoughtful pushback from multiple perspectives, audience comments, and a lightning round of predictions that gets very real, very fast!
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In today’s episode, we dive into Chapter 21 titled “Keys” from Dr. John Turner’s new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” This chapter cover the pivotal years of 1839-1840, as the Saints leave behind the trauma of Missouri and begin building a new gathering place in Commerce (soon to be Nauvoo), Illinois.
We pick up the story right after Joseph Smith escapes Liberty Jail, exploring how he reclaims leadership, rebuilds momentum, and introduces new theological ideas that will shape Latter-day Saint doctrine for generations.
Dr. Turner –writing as a never-Mormon historian –gives us a clear-eyed look Joseph’s rapid return to power, the purchase of Nauvoo lands, the arrival of the mummies and papyri, early missionary ambitions in Europe, evolving doctrines about angels and theosis, and Joseph’s bold claims about “keys” –including what Turner calls “the keys of the universe.”
We also get into the politics: Joseph’s 1840 trip to Washington, his audience with President Martin Van Buren, and the Saints’ ongoing fight for redress. And yes –we discuss everything from healings during the malaria outbreak to phrenology, patriarchal blessings, lineage theories, dynastic sealings, and even the perennial question: Was Joseph Smith actually good-looking?
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this in-depth conversation, John sits down with Karen Hyatt to explore her lifelong faith journey in the LDS Church and the research that ultimately led to her excommunication. Karen shares her background as a devoted member -convert parents, mission service, leadership roles, and decades without doubt –before explaining what prompted her to closely examine Doctrine and Covenants 132 and the history of polygamy.
The discussion traces Karen’s deep divine into church history, including the Book of Mormon’s condemnation of polygamy, early revelations, the Nauvoo Expositor, William Clayton’s journals, Emma Smith’s role, and conclusions reached by modern LDS historians. Karen explains why she ultimately rejected D&C 132, why she believes Joseph Smith did NOT practice polygamy, and how she responds to accusations of bias or conspiracy thinking.
Karen also walks through the personal and institutional consequences of speaking publicly: compiling and sending her research to the Apostles (and their wives!), creating videos, disciplinary councils, losing her temple recommend, and being barred from paying tithing –while still choosing to attend church and value her ward community. The episode examines broader themes of authority, misinformation, prophetic fallibility, confirmation bias, and whether faith can exist without institutional silence.
This episode is a candid, emotionally grounded look at belief, dissent, and the cost of challenging one of Mormonism's most controversial doctrines.
Karen has compiled her research into a book titled “Woe Unto You, Scribes: The Hidden History of Polygamy.” You can order a spiral bound notebook online by emailing her: WoeUntoYouScribes@gmail.com
To find a PDF version of her book click here: https://josephtoldthetruth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Woe-Unto-You-Scribes.pdf
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Join Kolby, Nemo, Julia, and Dr. John Dehlin for one of our most in-depth LDS Discussions episodes yet as we unpack “The Other Isaiah Problem” and what it means for the historicity of the Book of Mormon.
In this episode, we explore why scholars overwhelmingly view isaiah as a multi-author work, how the Great Isaiah Scroll challenges the Book of Mormon’s use of Isaiah, and why the text consistently aligns with the King James Version rather than ancient sources. We walk through the history of the brass plates, the transition from school to codex technology, and the anachronisms the Church now quietly acknowledges.
We compare the Great Isaiah Scroll, the Masoretic Text, the Original Manuscript of the Book of Mormon, and the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, revealing where Joseph Smith appears to be pulling from later biblical scholarship –including Adam Clarke’s commentary –and where verses in the Book of Mormon simply did not exist in ancient manuscripts. We ask the question: What does this mean for believers who want the text to be historical?
Whether you’re deeply familiar with LDS scholarship or just starting your faith journey, this episode lays out the evidence clearly, accessibly, and respectfully –while still asking the hard questions.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Today we welcome Greg Matsen, a believing member of the LDS Church, to talk about what the Church means to him and how he tries to live out a healthy, thoughtful approach to Mormonism.
Host of the podcast Cwic Show, Greg joins us today to share his Mormon story–from growing up in a “practical” orthodox family in Southern California and serving a mission in Mexico City, to navigating marriage, parenting, and personal belief in the LDS church today.
We dive into his experiences with doubt, why he believes questioning can actually strengthen faith, and what led him to start the Cwic Show on YouTube. Along the way, Greg shares his thoughts on church misconceptions, LGBTQ issues, politics, and tough questions like the role of women in the Church–all from the perspective of an active and believing member of the LDS church.
We hope this episode will be beneficial to anyone trying to stay faithful to the Mormon Church, even after doubts arise.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome back to Part Two of our deep-dive coverage of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 3!
In this episode, John is joined by Alyssa Alexander and Samantha Shelley to continue unpacking the plot-points this season that highly represent Mormon culture. We will take a closer look at Mikayla and Jace’s relationship, the cast's opinions on LGBT+ issues in Utah, Demi’s claim of sexual-assault , and Taylor and Dakota’s baby blessing. From complicated relationship dynamics to the cultural tensions woven through these episodes, we examine what’s really going on behind the drama.
Whether you’re watching along with us or just here for the commentary, settle in and join the conversation as we dive even deeper into the season’s most emotional and culturally revealing moments.
Watch the series on Hulu here.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
We are back today with Part 2 of our epic interview with Heidi Bruno. In Part 1, Heidi shared her story of suffering sexual abuse as a teenager at the hands of the Elders Quorum President in her ward.
In Part 2, we shift the focus to Heidi’s daughter, Holly, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of eight and tragically passed away in March of 2018. Heidi describes the inspiring movement that Holly started during her treatment, called “Love Is Everywhere,” and the wide-reaching impact it had on many communities.
While the gospel was a great comfort to Holly and her family during this heartbreaking time, Heidi also shares how her views on the LDS Church began to shift after experiencing the death of her daughter as a devout Mormon mother.
We are extremely grateful to Heidi for her strength in sharing this sobering story and hope that it resonates with all of you as deeply as it did with us.
You can listen to Holly and her sisters singing "This Is My Song" on YouTube here.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Join us today for the start of an epic two-part episode with Heidi Bruno, who is here to share her story of abuse within the church and her experience of losing a child as a Mormon mother.
In Part 1, Heidi details her history of sexual abuse as a teenager by the Elders Quorum President in her ward—while her father was serving as bishop. We discuss how her abuser groomed her using highly manipulative tactics and by abusing his authority in the ward. For years afterward, Heidi carried the shame of this abusive relationship, not understanding until much later that she had been a victim. She also shares what ultimately led her to speak up about the abuse once she gained the awareness that she had been victimized.
Then, join us later this week for Part 2 of Heidi’s story, where she discusses the loss of her eight-year-old daughter to cancer and the effect this devastating loss had on her LDS faith. You will not want to miss this powerful and important Mormon Story.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this episode (Part 24), we dive into one of the most dramatic and painful chapters in early Letter-day Saint history: Liberty Jail.
Joseph Smith was arrested on December 1, 1838 and eventually taken to Liberty Jail. Today we will cover his imprisonment, the chaotic legal proceedings that followed, and the eventual “escape” that allowed him to reunite with his family as the Saints resettled in Quincy, Illinois.
We explore how internal conflicts, political pressures, treason charges, and widespread anti-Mormon hostility shaped Joseph’s experience –and how his letters from Liberty Jail become some of the most cherished passages in Latter-day Saint scripture. We discuss betrayal, leadership crises, the brutality of Missouri’s expulsion, and the Saints’ struggle to survive amidst violence, sickness, and dislocation.
This chapter also raises hard questions:
Was Joseph Smith’s trial fair?
What role did dissenting church leaders play?
How much of the Liberty Jail narrative has been “whitewashed”?
What does Joseph Smith’s behavior tell us about his character?
We conclude by following Joseph’s escape, his emotionally charged reunion with the Saints in Illinois, and the lasting trauma and financial strain the Missouri experience left behind. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to another episode of our LDS Discussions series! In this episode, we take a detailed, evidence-based look at one of the most repeated claims in Latter-day Saint apologetics: that Joseph Smith was incapable of producing a well-written text –and therefore could not have authored the Book of Mormon.
Drawing from Joseph Smith’s three earliest letters (written in 1829-1830), historical context, church manuals, apologetic arguments, and modern scholarship, we critically explore where the evidence leads. We don’t care where you land on the belief spectrum –our is clarity, transparency, and accuracy.
We are joined today by Kolby Reddish and Julia (Nemo couldn’t make it), who walk us through the major claims, the apologetic narratives, and the documents themselves. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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We at Mormon Stories Podcast worked super hard to deliver quality programming in 2025. We have great plans for 2026 which include:
- More high quality, in-depth, classic, long form faith journey stories with Margi Dehlin.
- The completion of the "Life of Joseph Smith" series with Dr. John Turner (including SEVERAL chapters on Nauvoo Polygamy!!!). John says you won't want to miss these.
- A further reboot of the LDS Discussions series with Kolby Reddish, Nemo, and Julia.
- A continuation of the Mormon Bridgebuilders panel series with Beau Oyler, Dr. Julie Hanks, and Jana Spangler.
- We are also possibly facing additional legal costs (which I am not able to discuss at present). If you would like to help us financially prepare for potential legal costs, we would love your support.
Donating is easy! Just click here: https://www.mormonstories.org/donate/We literally cannot survive with our donors. If you are a donor - thank you. If you are not a donor - it may be helpful for you to know that we lose at least 1-2 dozen recurring donors each month, so if you value our content and want to see it continue, please consider becoming a monthly donor today!Thanks to everyone, and happiest of holidays to you!
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Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!
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Welcome back to our deep-dive coverage of Secret lives of Mormon Wives!
In this episode, we break down every twist, confession, and jaw-dropping moment from Season 3 with honest reactions, analysis, and plenty of laughs along the way. Our panelists today are: Hayley Rawle (of Girl's Camp Podcast), Alyssa Alexander, Smantha Shelley (of Zelph on the Shelf), Brooklyn Alden and Dr. John Dehlin. If you've ollowed our previous reviews, you alreaedy know -we're all about thoughtful commetary, behind-the-scenes context, and pointing out the details you may have missed.
In Part One of our Season 3 review, we're exploring the storyline, relationships, and "revelations" that kick off the season. Whether you're a longtime fan of the show or jumping in for the first time, we'll help you make sense of the drama, the dynamics, and the secrets simmering under the surface.
So grab a snack, get comfy, and join us as we unpack it all -episode by episode!
Watch the series on Hulu here: https://www.hulu.com/series/the-secret-lives-of-mormon-wives-58cd73be-408d-4eed-8e3d-82339f3f93e2
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to Part 23 of our Joseph Smith the Podcast series with Dr. John G. Turner. Today we are continuing our discussion of Chapter 19 of his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet” that covers the years 1838-1839 in Missouri.
Today we will dive deeper into one of the most volatile and consequential moments in early Latter-day Saint history: the escalating conflict between the Mormon settlers and the Missourians in the late 1830s. In this episode, we examine how political tensions, misinformation, vigilante actions, and religious absolutism collided to create a crisis that would lead to the infamous extermination order and some of the darkest events of the Mormon-Missouri War.
We explore the political landscape of Missouri, Joseph Smith’s rising militancy, the Danites, the allegations made by Thomas Marsh and Orson Hyde, the tragedy at Haun’s Mill, and the forces that brought both sides to the brink. From mob violence to theological justifications, from desperate settlers to governors refusing to intervene, this chapter shows how a religious movement and a frontier state found themselves locked in a spiral neither could escape.
If you’ve been following the series, this episode continues directly from Part 22 and sets the stage for the next chapter: Liberty Jail.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In part two of this important series with Rebecca Lucero Jones, we explore the question: What happens when a Mormon widow tries to be sealed to two men? In the LDS faith, a man can be sealed to a second wife if his first wife passes away. But, as we will learn from Rebecca’s story, Mormon widows do not receive the same treatment.
After the death of her first husband, Rebecca describes what it was like to find a second chance at love and marriage. She then shares her experience requesting a “second-sealing clearance” from LDS Church leaders (in order to be sealed to her living husband), and what their ultimate response to this request was.
We also discuss how current policies complicate questions of the afterlife for these families. These policies leave widows feeling uncertain about their place in eternity and, in turn, often undesired by Mormon men who hope to avoid this existential confusion.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Today we are kicking off our two-part series with Rebecca Lucero Jones, who is here to share her story of losing her husband and the unique complications widows face within the Mormon faith. We will be examining the question of what the Mormon afterlife looks like for widows.
In Part 1, Rebecca describes her Mormon upbringing and her eventual marriage to her first husband, Isaac, with whom she had two children before he was tragically killed in a car accident.
Be sure to join us again later this week for the conclusion of Rebecca’s Mormon story and her efforts to obtain a second-sealing clearance from LDS Church leadership.
This is a fascinating and important issue faced by widows in the Mormon church—one we feel deserves to be brought to light.
___________________
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Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome back for Part 22 of our Joseph Smith the Podcast series with Dr. John G. Turner as we continue to cover his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.”
In this episode, we explore one of the most controversial and lesser-known chapters in early Latter-day Saint history –the rise of the Danites, a secretive paramilitary organization formed during the turbulent Missouri period of 1838.
We trace tensions between Mormons and non-Mormons escalated into organized violence, how Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and other church leaders responded, and what this meant for the future of the Latter-day Saint movement. Along the way, we discuss excommunications, failed settlements, political conflicts, and the enduring question: Did Joseph Smith authorize the Danites’ violent actions?
This is the first half of Chapter 19 of the book, covering the years 1838-1839 in Missouri –where “Zion” collided with the American frontier.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
00:06:35 The Mormons settled in Caldwell county, little Zion00:10:50 Joseph doesn’t want a repeat of what happened in Kirtland, Ohio00:15:15 Many of the Brethren no longer have confidence in Joseph Smith00:26:20 The true crime was disloyalty00:30:07 Is it possible that Oliver falsely accused Joseph with Fanny Alger?00:36:54 Adam-ondi-Ahman and the Garden of Eden00:40:18 Did Joseph Smith think the Book of Mormon geography expanded down to MesoAmerica?00:47:46 Rapidly growing Mormon settlements and non-Mormons object to it00:50:30 The Danites in Mormon history01:03:22 People fighting in the temple and everything was falling apart01:07:37 Joseph Smith authorizes violence against non-Mormon Missourians01:08:36 Who were the Danites and did Joseph Smith authorize it?01:21:49 Salty speech from Sidney Rigdon01:29:44 Danite sign of distress01:31:19 Closing remarks - lead up to Missouri mob violence01:36:09 If the Saints had always acted peacefully, could they have been left alone to thrive in Missouri?
___________________
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this fascinating interview, author and journalist Alex Beam joins Mormon Stories to discuss his new biography titled Wallace Stegner: Dean of Western Writers –published by Signature Books. Alex Beam is an acclaimed journalist and author known for his insightful historical biographies. Historian and executive director of Signature Books, Barbara Jones Brown is also joining us today!
Beam explores the life, legacy, and complex relationships Stegner had with Mormonism, the American West, and figures like Joseph Smith and Gordon B. Hinckley. From Stegner’s friendship and literary achievements to his nuanced understanding of Mormon culture, this conversation dives into history, literature, and faith.
Buy his new book from Signature books: https://www.signaturebooks.com/books/p/wallace-stegner
00:00:00 Introductions00:01:13 Who was Wallace Stegner?00:04:25 Who is Alex Beam?00:12:08 Who was Joseph Smith and his character?00:17:37 Why did Signature publish this book?00:20:10 Professor Vardis Fisher was a talent spotter00:24:47 Mormon adjacent life of Wallace Stegner00:34:07 Stegner had old fashioned values and dating Mormon women00:37:47 His experience at the University of Utah00:47:18 Stegner’s career and the main books he wrote00:57:07 His mother and brother died in Salt Lake City00:57:32 The picture of his mother’s gravestone01:04:08 Stegner on polygamy01:10:08 Stegner’s work on Bernard DeVoto01:19:35 Stegner won the Pulitzer Prize for his book “The Year of Decisions 1846”01:23:21 Four historians whom he has complete trust in (including Juanita Brooks)01:30:06 Stegner wasn’t there to quarrel with the Mormon church01:32:17 Closing remarks
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
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Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this explosive deep-dive, John Dehlin and Carah Burrell unpack the shocking rise, fall, and reinvention of Tim Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad and former ally of the LDS Church, as well as the self-styled hero of the Sound of Freedom movie.
From his alleged misconduct and excommunication to conspiracy claims about “The Deep Church,” Tim Ballard’s story intertwines faith, politics, and power in ways that continue to shake the Mormon and evangelical words.
Join us as we trace the full timeline –from his early missions and fundraising empire to the lawsuits, psychic consultations, and his recent pivot toward Christian nationalism and political ambition.
Watch till the end for breaking developments, exclusive insights, and what this all means for the future of Mormonism, OUR, and Ballard’s next moves!
___________________
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
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Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
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✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
We are back today with part 21 of our Joseph Smith Podcast series with Dr. John Turner, discussing his new book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.
In this episode, we explore one of the most fascinating and consequential moments in early Latter-day Saint history –the Kirtland Bank Scandal. Chapter 18 titled “Follies” (1836-1837), captures a turbulent period when Joseph SMith and the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, faced financial ruin, internal dissent, and the unraveling of faith and community.
We trace how the ambitious completion of the Kirtland Temple left the Saints deep in debt and how Joseph Smith’s attempt to solve these financial woes through the creation of the Kirtland Safety Society Bank (or “anti” Bank) spiraled into one of the earliest crises of the Restoration. Against the backdrop of President ANdrew Jackson’s anti-bank crusade and the Panic of 1837, the Saints’ experiment with banking, prophecy, and faith would test their loyalty, their leadership, and their limits.
The story unfolds through dramatic events: Joseph and Sidney hiding from sheriffs, treasure-digging expeditions to Salem in search of divine relief from debt, and the chaotic collapse of confidence in the unchartered “anti-bank.” We discuss how this episode intertwined religious revelation and financial desperation – and how it triggered what became the largest apostasy in early church history.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Is Nahom really the strongest evidence for the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon? In this episode, we take a deep dive into noe of the most cited archaeological “proofs” of the Book of Mormon -the discovery of altars inscribed with the letters NHM in Yemen.
John Dehlin and attorney and former clerk from the Idaho Supreme Court, Kolby Reddish examine what the text of the Book of Mormon actually says about Nahom, where it’s supposed to be located, and whether the archaeological evidence matches up. Along the way, we look at how apologists, scholars, and critics have each interpreted this find -and what it really says about the historicity of the Book of Mormon.
We also examine whether or not Joseph Smith could have known about Nahom (or Nehem) from maps or Biblical references, and how issues like confirmation bias and faith-based reasoning play into the debate.
This conversation aims to be evidence-based, thoughtful, and respectful -seeking understanding amid polarization in the Mormon and ex-Mormon communities.
00:00:00 Introduction00:03:15 Does the Book of Mormon need to be historical?00:04:31 John’s intentions for these episodes00:09:30 What is Nahom? - Introduction to First Nephi00:11:34 The place “which was called Nahom”00:14:10 What the Book of Mormon text says in 1 Nephi 16:34
00:18:35 S Kent Brown calling the issue of Nahom “basically settled”00:26:10 Photos of the altars with “NHM”00:27:30 How apologists are characterizing this00:29:27 Clip on an Inconvenient Faith on Nahom00:33:05 Where are “NHM” altars located and is it where the Book of Mormon says?00:36:45 What the Book of Mormon says about the location of Nahom00:43:48 Another map from Scripture Central page on an ancient tribal region00:46:00 The Site for the NHM altars (The Barran Temple)00:50:59 Brief introduction to the Sabaeans, a group of people much larger than those at Jerusalem00:52:15 The inscriptions on the altars01:00:24 Where this temple site is, 25 miles from the Nihm region01:02:56 Clip - Did Joseph Smith find “Nahom” on old maps01:09:40 Maps that include Nahom/Nehem01:13:50 Occam’s Razor01:15:43 Nahum in the Bible01:19:52 Oliver Cowdery purchased a Bible01:23:44 All the problems you would have to overlook to accept Nahom01:27:38 Parallelism - Chiasmus argument01:41:57 Closing remarks
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this episode of Mormon Stories, John and Margi Dehlin sit down with Sharon Beesley, a therapist, writer and former Mormon “mommy blogger,” to explore the evolution of her faith journey in Mormonism.
Sharon was brought into the church as a child in Florida when her mother chose to convert. She discusses the warmth and community she found in her ward there, and the early testimonies that grounded her. Yet her story also weaves through deep loss with the death of her mother, and how that grief initially drew her closer to the Church.
Sharon attended BYU, got married, and set out to live the ideal Mormon lifestyle. Their family ultimately ended up in New York city, where Sharon began to find relationships with people outside the church. With this move, her worldview began to shift as she encountered new ideas about faith, feminism, and authenticity.
Topics Include:
-Growing up Mormon in Florida
-Coping with grief through faith
-Marriage, motherhood, and mixed-faith relationships
Feminism
This episode offers a gentle, wise, and grounding perspective for anyone navigating faith transitions, loss, or rediscovering joy beyond belief.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to part 20 of our epic series on Dr. John G. Turner’s landmark biography, “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.”
Things are really heating up as we enter the mid-1830s in the life of Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter-day Saint movement. This episode dives into one of the most controversial and debated episodes in early Mormon history –Joseph’s relationship with Fanny Alger, a young woman employed in the Smith household in Kirtland, Ohio in 1836.
Was it adultery? Was it an early form of plural marriage? Or was it something else entirely –a “scrape”?
Join us for Part 1 of Chapter 18, where we unpack Turner’s detailed treatment of this scandal, explore how it fractured relationships within the early church (especially between Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery), and trace how it shaped the theology of polygamy that would later emerge in Nauvoo.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
00:00:00 Introductions00:02:55 How do you pronounce Fanny Alger’s name?00:04:25 New headings to the Doctrine and Covenants00:09:53 The Book of Mormon caveat on polygamy and linking it to the Bible00:13:58 When Joseph Smith met Fanny and when the affair began00:15:35 What do we know about Fanny Alger?00:21:34 Had Joseph not received the keys for sealing in 1836?00:24:12 How does this scandal erupt?00:27:54 Why did it take two years for this all to come out?00:29:16 Levi Hancock background on sealing Joseph to Fanny Alger00:36:02 The nature of the relationship00:40:09 “Dirty nasty filthy affair" vs “scrape”00:45:49 Eliza R. Snow considered Fanny to be Joseph’s first wife00:47:29 Was Joseph Smith trying to justify his feelings for Fanny?00:51:55 Another possible interpretation01:00:08 What happens to Fanny?01:02:58 Fanny’s final testimony on the matter01:07:12 Apostles hear rumors that Joseph has committed adultery01:14:15 The reasons Kirtland collapsed01:19:19 Why this breach between Joseph and Oliver becomes irreparable01:21:44 How Joseph Smith got away with this?01:26:24 One thing that doesn’t seem to have happened is that no one asked Emma01:33:46 Does this make Joseph Smith a fraud?01:45:25 Closing Remarks
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
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Join this channel to get access to perks:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Sandra Tanner is back with us on LDS Discussions to conclude our conversation on three new church essays recently published by the LDS Church. In this episode, we’ll finish our coverage of the essay on polygamy and move on to the final essay, which addresses the character of Joseph Smith.
Topics include:
-Joseph’s failed prophecies
-Joseph’s treatment of Emma
-Joseph’s 21 criminal cases
Join us as we unpack these final issues and reflect on what they reveal about Joseph Smith and early church history.
00:00:00 Introduction00:05:32 What did Emma know about JS’s practice of Plural Marriage?00:12:26 If these were righteous marriages, why doesn't the church publicize who the plural wives are?00:27:38 Sharing clips from Julia’s channel - Eliza Snow and the gold watch00:33:24 Next Clip - Joseph’s treatment of Emma00:39:57 How did women experience plural marriage?00:53:45 How did plural marriage end in the church?01:01:34 Next Essay - Joseph Smith’s Character01:11:17 Church claims Joseph “recognized his weaknesses”01:16:15 Discussing Joseph’s failed prophecies01:19:45 What did Joseph’s contemporaries say about his character?01:22:55 Brad Wilcox clip01:26:16 Can a person with flaws still be a prophet?01:34:09 Russell M. Nelson clip01:49:02 If you’re offended by Joseph’s actions you’re not spiritually mature?02:00:05 Discussing Joseph’s 21 criminal cases02:19:27 Did Joseph pay his debts?02:24:24 Did Joseph exercise undue political power?02:34:49 Summarizing the essay on Joseph’s character02:45:11 How to make sense of the conflicting views of Joseph Smith according to the church03:06:44 What grade would we give these essays?03:08:10 Conclusion
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
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Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Caroline Barrow was raised in a typical Mormon household in Louisiana. While she was a faithful believer in the Church, she always had questions about certain teachings but was often encouraged to halt her critical thinking on these issues. She chose to attend BYU and serve a Mormon mission, but continued to be plagued by questions—particularly around polygamy and the treatment of women in the LDS faith. Caroline also found herself struggling with scrupulosity, perfectionism, and the many pressures placed on women in the Church.
Listen as she shares her story of how she confronted these questions and learned to trust herself and her instincts as an analytical woman within the Mormon faith.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In part 19 of our deep-dive into Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet by Dr. John G. Turner, we explore the fascinating events surrounding the Kirtland Temple dedication (that took place in 1836) in Kirtland, Ohio.
This episode focuses on Chapter 17, examining key developments in early Latter-day Saint ritual practice –including solemn assemblies, washings and anointings, the washing of feet, and even ritual cleansings (in cinnamon whiskey!). We also discuss internal church conflicts, prophetic authority, spiritual manifestations, and the powerful endowment promises given to early Church leaders.
We also explore Joseph Smith’s institutional genius, visions and heavenly visitations, Hebrew studies and the Adamic language, early temple worship and spiritual ecstacy, and controversies and personal reflections from John Turner’s biography.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
00:00:00 Introduction00:03:44 Comment on the case of Lucina Elliott00:11:58 Launching into the conflict in Chapter 17 - William Smith00:18:08 Joshua and Joseph’s study of Hebrew00:30:20 Solemn Assembly in the Kirtland Temple00:33:16 What Joseph did in response to conflict - introduce rituals00:45:46 The origins of the washing and anointing part of the LDS endowment00:59:35 Powerful moment when the First Presidency confessed their sins01:04:34 Visions and the heavens being opened01:10:17 Visitations of Christ, Adam, Abraham, Michael, etc.01:15:35 Kirtland Temple Dedication01:30:08 The practice of speaking in tongues in the 1800s01:36:00 The use of wine during these rituals01:40:49 The washing of feet01:51:36 A vision of Jesus Christ standing at the pulpit in front of them02:08:48 How Dr. John G. Turner ended the chapter02:11:05 Final remarks
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
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Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome back to Part 17 of our Joseph Smith Podcast series covering Dr. John Turner’s new biography on Joseph Smith titled: Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.
In this episode, we begin part one of our deep dive into the Book of Abraham –a controversial and fascinating text within Latter-day Saint history. We’ll trace its origins in 1835 Kirtland, explore Joseph Smith’s acquisition of Egyptian papyri and mummies, and discuss the Egyptomania of the time that fueled public curiosity.
With guest scholar Dr. John Turner, we set the stage for how the Book of Abraham fits into the broader story of Mormonism, how Joseph Smith interpreted the papyri, and why questions of translation, sincerity, and inspiration still matter today. This is just the beginning of our discussion –the Nauvoo period will follow in later chapters!
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
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Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
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🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
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Contact us:
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📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome back to part 16 of our Joseph Smith Podcast with Dr. John G. Turner! In this episode, we cover chapter fifteen of John Turner’s new book titled “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet” which covers 1834-1835 in Kirtland, Ohio and parts of Missouri. We discuss the rise of patriarchal blessings, the creation of new church offices –like the Twelve and the Seventy. We also discuss the challenges posed by critics like E. D. Howe and his problematic book published in 1834. These years were formative for Joseph Smith and the Latter-day Saint movement.
We explore such topics as:
-The publication of E. D. Howe’s Mormonism Unveiled
-The 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (and the Lectures on Faith)
-The creation of the Quorum of the Twelve and the Seventy
-The beginning of the Law of Adoption
-How Joseph Smith used blessings and promises to help people follow him
Did this first anti-Mormon publication get under Joseph Smith’s skin? What power did early church members believe they were receiving through blessings and ordinances? How did Joseph Smith transform crises into opportunities to strengthen his movement? Join us as we seek to answer each of these questions!
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In Part Two of our conversation with Claire and Marc Headley, we dive into the details of how they finally escaped the Sea Organization and the events that led up to that decision. We will also discuss other topics such as the FBI's investigation into Scientology, why they have spoken out against the church since leaving, and how Scientology responds to critics.
Claire and Marc also open up about their ongoing mission to help others break free, including their work with the Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation, which provides resources and support for those leaving Scientology.
You will not want to miss this captivating story of escape from a very dangerous organization.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Prepare yourself for an EPIC non-Mormon story! This week we are introducing Claire and Marc Headley, who were born into the Church of Scientology and have a remarkable escape story that we are excited to share with you.
Both Claire and Marc were members of the Sea Organization within Scientology, where the church’s elite-level leaders work and are required to sign a billion-year contract of servitude. During their time there, both worked closely with David Miscavige, the current leader of Scientology, and witnessed his brutality firsthand.
In this first part, Claire and Marc discuss the foundations of Scientology, what it was like to be raised in it, and how they came to join the Sea Org. They also share insider information on high-profile members such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and even address the mystery of what happened to Shelly Miscavige.
Then, join us on Wednesday for part two of this interview, where they share their incredible story of escaping the Sea Org and talk about their work with the Mike Rinder Aftermath Foundation.
So strap in and enjoy this stranger-than-fiction story!
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
We are back again with Dr. John Turner in part 15 of the Joseph Smith Podcast, covering his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” Join us as we explore the dramatic events of 1834 when Joseph Smith led Zion’s Camp, from Kirtland, Ohio to Clay County, Missouri. This episode dives deep into the historical and spiritual implications of Zion’s Camp –including Joseph Smith’s controversial prophecies, the hardships faced by the Saints as refugees, the question of prophetic failure, and the lasting theological impact on the Latter-day Saint movement.
Topics covered today include:
-The story of Zelph the White Lamanite
-Joseph Smith’s dog “Major”
-The thunderstorm that may have saved Zion’s Camp
-The tension between Governor Dunclan and Joseph Smith
Like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into Mormon history and theology.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
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Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
We are thrilled to have Sandra Tanner as a guest on our LDS Discussions series this week! Along with John, Julia, and Nemo, Sandra is here to offer commentary on three new essays recently released by the LDS Church, addressing the issues of Book of Mormon translation, polygamy, and Joseph Smith’s character.
In part one of this two-part episode, we will focus on Joseph Smith’s “translation” of the Book of Mormon and on polygamy.
Among the topics we’ll cover:
-“Translation” vs. “Revelation”
-Joseph’s use of the seer stones
-What became of the Eight Witnesses
-The polygamy manifestos
-The Nauvoo Expositor
You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation with the one and only Sandra Tanner, as we dissect the essays point by point and offer a unique perspective on these issues.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
This week, we’re sitting down with Benson Lawson, who made the bold decision to decline his Mormon mission call. In the LDS community, serving a mission is often seen as non-negotiable—an expectation placed on nearly every young man. For those who choose differently, the backlash can be overwhelming.
Benson is bravely sharing his story with us, opening up about the pressure, the stigma, and why a mission wasn’t the right path for him.
Join us as we explore the reasons why a mission is not right for everyone, and what affect this choice can have on a Mormon man in particular.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
We are back today for part two of our examination of the CES Letter vs. the Book of Mormon. The CES Letter is perhaps one of the most influential documents in Mormon studies, and for years the LDS Church has criticized it and its author, Jeremy Runnells. Is this a fair treatment by the Church, or are Jeremy's questions on church doctrine valid?
In this series, we are going point by point through the questions raised in the CES Letter to discuss how they line up with the Book of Mormon, as well as the responses the Church has provided thus far.
Some of the questions we’ll cover include:
-Why is there no archaeological evidence for the Book of Mormon?
-Where did the events of the Book of Mormon actually take place?
-Why does the Book of Mormon share so many similarities with other books from Joseph Smith’s time?
-Does the Book of Mormon reflect a Trinitarian view of God?
Join us today as we attempt to answer these questions—and more.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Today we are very excited to welcome Danny Rensch to the podcast! Lovers of chess may know Danny as an international chess champion and co-founder of Chess.com—but did you know he was also raised in a cult?
In this interview, Danny discusses the release of his new book, Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life, which tells the story of his upbringing in the Church of Immortal Consciousness. Groomed by the cult’s leader, Steven Camp, to become a chess grandmaster, Danny was separated from his family at a young age and taught that his ultimate purpose in life was to bring awareness to the religion through chess.
Join us to learn more about:
-The Church of Immortal Consciousness, their beliefs, and its founders
-Danny’s training with alcoholic chess master Igor Ivanov
-Danny’s struggles with substances and addiction, and how these were fostered by “the collective”
-Danny’s career as a chess master and how it ultimately led him to co-found Chess.com
Danny Rensch’s book Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life is out now! Let’s help him get on the bestseller list by purchasing the book here.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
We are here today with part fourteen of our Joseph Smith: The Podcast series with Dr. John Turner. Today we are continuing on with chapter thirteen of his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” The chapter is titled “Zion is Fled” and covers the years 1883-1834 in Missouri. In this episode we explore one of the most turbulent periods in early Mormon history. We dive into the Missouri conflict of the 1830s, the Saints’ rising tensions with their neighbors, and the violent clashes that shaped both Mormon identity and leadership.
We also discuss:
-The growing resentment of Non-Mormons
-The destruction of a Mormon printing press by mob violence
-Slavery in Missouri and how that related to the Saints
-Doctor Philastus Hurlbut affidavits
-The Solomon Spaulding Manuscript
-The 1833 Meteor shower
-How persecution shaped and influenced the Saints’ identity
This conversation wrestles with big questions: Why did violence erupt? How did Joseph Smith and the Saints respond to failed prophecies? And what do these early struggles reveal about faith, leadership, and survival in a hostile America?
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Recently a documentary series entitled "An Inconvenient Faith" appeared on YouTube, produced by Robert Reynolds and Jim Bennett (among others). The documentary seeks to promote progressive Mormonism within LDS church membership. The documentary is groundbreaking in the sense that it includes both Ex-Mormons (e.g. Jeremy Runnells, Sandra Tanner, John Dehlin, Bill Reel) and faithful Mormon scholars (e.g. Richard Bushman, Terryl & Fiona Givens, Patrick Mason). The series has also received a considerable amount of excitement and critique on the Internet.
Please join Mormon Stories for a livestream as a panel (John Dehlin, Bishop Beau Oyler, Julie Hanks, and Jana Spangler) react to the documentary. We welcome your participation as well!
View the documentary here.
___________________
YouTube
Show Notes
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
This week we continue our series of non-Mormon stories with Camille Lewis. Raised as an Independent Fundamental Baptist, Camille attended and later taught at Bob Jones University—an Evangelical college in Greenville, NC, known for its strict rules and staunch conservatism. The university also has a troubling history of discrimination, including once forbidding interracial dating. While serving as a professor at BJU, Camille was reprimanded for refusing to allow the school’s daycare to physically discipline her children, and was ultimately asked to resign.
Join us as we explore the teachings of Evangelicalism, the legacy of Bob Jones University and its founders, and where Camille stands in her faith today.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Welcome to another episode with Dr. John Turner as we cover his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” Today we are covering chapter thirteen titled “Zion is Fled” that covers 1833-1834 in Kirtland, Ohio.
We answer important questions like: What is the importance of scriptures and what does that mean for this religious movement? Is Joseph Smith credible as a prophet, seer, and revelator? Even the Mormon church today is calling the Book of Mormon a “revelation” not a translation. Is the Book of Mormon a work of genius or is it from God?
We also cover topics such as the School of the Prophets, how the Word of Wisdom came to be and Joseph Smith’s vision of the grand Zion Community in Independence, Missouri.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join
Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF
Contact us:
📧 MormonStories@gmail.com
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
We are super excited to announce that a new docuseries entitled "Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence" is set to be released on September 1st and 2nd on Investigation Discovery and HBO Max. This four part series provides unparalleled context behind the Ruby Franke / 8 Passengers / Jodi Hildebrandt saga.
Several Ex-Mormon influencers were included in the series including Lauren and Dr. John Mathias (Hidden True Crime), Jordan and McKay Forsyth, Dr. Julie De Azevedo, and Natasha Helfer. Former Mormon Stories Podcast interviewees Jessi Hildebrant and Adam Paul Steed.
In this panel, John Dehlin will interview several of the creators of the series including Olivia Crist, Rachel Bozich, and Lauren Andrade.
___________________
Show Notes
YouTube
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Today we are continuing our series of interviews with LDS Church Education System employees. Today’s guest is extra special, as he resigned from his seminary teaching position just days before the filming of this episode!
Riley Davis was born into the church and grew up in a very traditional Mormon family in Utah. As the son of an LDS bishop, Riley struggled with depression due to religious scrupulosity in his youth, but found healing and growth through church youth programs like the Boy Scouts of America—an experience that inspired him to continue working with youth for the rest of his life. After serving a mission in Buenos Aires, Riley eventually became a math and science teacher but was soon presented with an opportunity to work for CES as an LDS seminary teacher.
Riley also shares with John insights into the current state of the CES program and where it may be headed in the future.
Content Warning: This episode discusses self-harm. Please listen with care.
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We are back with Chapter Twelve of John Turner’s new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” Today we are covering Chapter Twelve which is titled: “Olive Leaves” that covers the years 1832-1833 in Kirtland, Ohio.
We tackle topics like the excommunication of Jesse Gause, one of the first General Authorities and other conflicts between the Mormon leaders.
We also answer questions like...
-Was the idea of the different priesthoods original to Joseph Smith?
-Did Joseph Smith speak in tongues?
-Did Joseph Smith actually predict the Civil War?
-Is the School of the Prophets unique and where did the Solemn Assembly come from?
You won’t want to miss this important installment of the Joseph Smith Podcast!
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Join us live today as we welcome back Ganesh Cherian who is here to discuss the aspects of the Book of Mormon that clearly show its 19th century origins. What influences did Joseph Smith use to write the Book of Mormon? Do unique aspects of his life show up in the text?
From American patriotism and Native American policy to slippery treasure and evolving doctrines, this deep dive challenges the traditional narrative that the Book of Mormon is an ancient text. Based on Ganesh’s new book “Joseph Smith: The Architect of Mormonism” we answer the question: Did Book of Mormon Lamanites Exist?
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We are very excited this week to release a first-of-its-kind Mormon Stories episode! Born and raised in Hyderabad, India, Sirisha Shumway converted to Mormonism at the age of 14, against the wishes of her family. She quickly became a very devout member of her LDS community, served a mission, and even worked for the church as a translator.
After moving to the US to completer her education, Sirisha faced increasing pressure to marry and raise a family in the LDS faith. But when her husband began questioning church history, she embarked on her own faith crisis, uncovering disturbing truths about Joseph Smith, polygamy, and other deceptions about church history.
Topics include:
-Sirisha's upbringing in India
-Structure of the LDS church in India
-Church interfetance in family relationships
-And the long-lasting impact of high-demand religions on personal identity
We are grateful to Sirisha for sharing her story with us, and hope you enjoy this very unique episode.
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We are back again with historian Dr. John Turner to explore Chapter Eleven of his new book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. The chapter is titled “Pure Language” and covers the years 1831-1832 in Kirtland, Ohio. Turner discusses the stories of healing on the part of Joseph Smith, the controversy surrounding the publishing of the Book of Commandments as well as some of the members questioning Joseph Smith’s revelations. Dr. Turner also discusses Joseph Smith’s revelation on the three degrees of heaven and the possible connections to Emanual Swedenborg (as well as the fact that Hitler is in Mormon heaven!)
We also tackle some big questions:
-Is John Turner’s book just another hagiography idealizing his subject?
-Why did Alexander Campbell oppose Mormonism so vehemently?
-What are we to make of these stories of healing?
-Was the tar and feathering of Joseph Smith having to do with sexual impropriety?
You won’t want to miss this important episode in the Joseph Smith Podcast series!
___________________
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What happens when a Mormon woman questions her faith—but doesn’t walk away entirely? In this week's interview, Olivia Calvert shares her journey of embracing doubts and shifts in belief. Choosing to live Mormonism in her own way, Olivia’s path leads her to what she calls “casual discipleship.” While we have explored stories like this before from men in the church, it is rare for an LDS woman to open up about her faith in this way.
Topics include:
-Purity culture
-Faith crises
-Church history
-Choosing to stay Mormon—on your own terms.
If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit the Mormon mold, this story might be exactly what you need to hear. Join us as we talk about the many ways people are navigating Mormonism today.
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Welcome to part ten of the Joseph Smith Podcast! We welcome back Dr. John Turner who is here to discuss chapter ten of his new book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. Chapter ten covers the 1832 time frame in Independence, Missouri.
Turner answers questions like: Where did Joseph Smith get the idea of a New Jerusalem? Where did Joseph Smith get the idea of temples? Did Joseph Smith receive a revelation that early Mormon missionaries should live polygay among the Native Americans? Other topics discussed are how the church added three new pages to the Gospel Topics Essay specifically discussing Joseph Smith’s lived polygamy and his overall character.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
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Join us today for a unique Mormon Stories episode that is the first of its kind. Myndee Tollefson was born in Bountiful, Utah to an orthodox Mormon family. At just 19, she became pregnant and, feeling immense pressure from the Church and her family, gave her baby up for adoption through LDS Family Services—only to later discover that her child's life in the adoptive family was not what the Church promised.
Topics include:
-Toxicity of purity culture
-Unplanned pregnancy in Mormonism
-Harsh backlash from her family and LDS community
-Adoption within the LDS Family services program
-The church's role in facilitating and encouraging adoption
-Being a "birth mom"
-Troubled teen culture within Mormonism
Her story sheds light on the emotional and spiritual costs of institutional coercion, and the healing that comes with breaking free from this control.
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Welcome to another episode with Dr. John Turner! Today we are covering Chapter Nine of his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet." Chapter nine is titled “Flying High” and covers the year 1831 which mostly took place in Kirtland, Ohio for Joseph Smith and the early Saints.
Topics include:
-Comments from listeners on this podcast series
-Why Joseph Smith didn’t preach from the Book of Mormon
-Early criticism of the Book of Mormon
-Demonic possessions and miracles
-The United Order
-Missionaries teaching the Lamanites
Non-Mormon historian, John Turner, approaches these topics in refreshing and informed ways. You won’t want to miss this episode!
Please purchase the book here: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300255164/joseph-smith/
To support this series please donate here: https://donorbox.org/josephsmith. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
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Join us today as we resurface another classic Mormon Stories episode! Originally filmed in 2007, this interview is with Elbert Peck who was the editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986-2001.
Topics will include:
-His early years in Washington D.C.
-His time at BYU with the Seventh East Press publication
-What led to him taking over Sunstone Magazine
-Interactions with other key Sunstone members
-Events leading up to the September Six excommunications of 1993
-The decline of Sunstone publications
We hope you enjoy the re-broadcast of this important interview, and look forward to seeing all of you at the 50th anniversary Sunstone Symposium this weekend! (July 31st - August 1st)
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PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Join us today for a unique Mormon Stories episode! Gabriella Zelaya shares her story of growing up amidst Mormon culture in Farmington, Utah as a non-member. Surrounded by an LDS-dominated community and extended family, Gabby navigated social pressure, exclusion, and judgment by the members that surrounded her.
From feeling like an outsider in school to eventually converting to Mormonism as a teenager for a sense of belonging, Gabby opens up about the emotional toll of purity culture, “love bombing,” and the struggle to find self-worth. She recounts her journey through mental health challenges, her eventual disaffection from the Church, and the healing work she’s done to break cycles of shame and rebuild her life on her own terms.
Topics Include:
-Growing up non-Mormon in a Mormon world
-Conversion for community and survival
-Love bombing and disillusionment
-Breaking free and healing from trauma
Join us for this raw and inspiring conversation.
___________________
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In this episode, we dive into Chapter Eight of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet by John G. Turner. The chapter is titled “Enoch” which focuses on the fall of 1830 through the move to Kirtland, Ohio in 1831. We explore major challenges to Joseph Smith’s authority, including Hiram Page’s seer stone revelations and Oliver Cowdery’s pushback on church governance. Why did Joseph stop using a seer stone? What does it mean when revelations clash?
We also discuss:
-The origins of the concept of Zion
-Apocalyptic expectations, blood moons, and the Second Coming
-The influence of the Book of Enoch and Joseph’s expanding biblical vision
-Missionary work among Native Americans and the designation of Jackson County as the New Jerusalem
-Sidney Rigdon’s introduction and influence, including debates about his possible prior contact with Joseph Smith
-The emotional and financial sacrifices demanded of early followers—and what Joseph himself was giving up (or not)
With theological innovation, power struggles, failed prophecies, and spiritual fervor, this chapter reveals the complexity of Joseph Smith's evolving leadership. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that considers both historical context and human motivations.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
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What happens when faith, culture, and conscience collide?
In this gripping full-length interview, Sara (American) and Mitja (Slovenian) share their deeply personal Mormon journeys—from conversion, missions, marriage, and cultural clashes to faith crises, public dissent in Utah church meetings, and ultimately, excommunication.
With raw honesty, they open up about the emotional toll of leaving the LDS Church, the pressure to conform, navigating belief in a mixed-faith marriage, and the high cost of asking difficult questions. Featuring moments of courage, heartbreak, and awakening, this episode explores what it means to choose integrity over silence.
Key Moments Include:
-Serving a missions in Croatia
-Struggles with identity, marriage, and belief
-Mitja’s public opposition in sacrament meeting
-Facing church discipline and excommunication
-Sara’s emotional departure from the LDS Church
A powerful story of love, loss, disruption—and starting over.
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In this intimate follow-up episode, journalist Lauren continues her powerful story—this time focusing on her path from reporter to advocate, wife, and co-founder of Hidden True Crime. Lauren shares the deeply personal journey that brought her to John Matthias, their relationship, marriage, and parenting as a mixed-faith couple—all while navigating the high-stakes world of reporting on religious extremism and the Lori Vallow Daybell case.
She reflects on pivotal moments in Mormonism, including the excommunication of progressive voices, the Church’s stance on same-sex marriage, and the Ordain Women movement. As her career unfolds, Lauren breaks major stories from inside Mormon and FLDS communities, reporting from Hildale, Utah, and uncovering secrets in St. George.
Her life is upended again by the Daybell case, which becomes the catalyst for launching Hidden True Crime. Balancing her professional calling with profound personal loss—her brother’s accident and coma—Lauren makes the gut-wrenching decision to attend Lori Vallow Daybell’s trial anyway.
This episode is a moving reflection on belief, justice, trauma, love, and the power of storytelling to make sense of chaos.
From breaking the Daybell story to building a platform
A deeply personal account of faith, loss, and love
Includes exclusive insight into Chad Daybell’s patriarchal blessing and courtroom revelations
___________________
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In this powerful and emotional episode, journalist Lauren tells her Mormon story publicly for the first time. Known for covering others’ experiences—including the high-profile Lori Vallow Daybell trial—Lauren now opens up about her own journey through faith, trauma, resilience, and healing.
She shares her upbringing in the LDS Church, the influence of her legally blind father, and her early fears around death that led to a fascination with true crime. Lauren details her mission to Ohio, her shock upon learning about polygamy, and her love for investigative storytelling.
The story takes deeply personal turns as she opens up about being diagnosed with MS, her father’s arrest and trial, her own struggles with mental health, sexual assault, marriage trauma, and the challenges of being a Mormon woman in journalism.
From painful experiences to moments of empowerment in her career and community, Lauren’s account is raw, inspiring, and unflinchingly honest.
Hear about her memoir
Stay for the vulnerable reflections
Support Lauren’s journey by watching to the end
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In this episode, we dive into Chapter Seven of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet by John G. Turner. The chapter is titled “Moses” and covers the 1830 period and the transition from New York to Kirtland, Ohio. We explore early public criticism of Joseph Smith by figures like Abner Cole, the satirical Book of Pukei, and Luman Walters' possible influence. We also examine Joseph’s efforts to sell the copyright of the Book of Mormon in Canada, what that reveals about his intentions, and the revelation that supposedly authorized it.
We discuss how Joseph’s financial motives, revelations, and treatment of Martin Harris raise important questions, and consider the book's early lack of demand—even as Joseph continued to pivot and adapt. From legal troubles and claims of treasure seeking, to his revisions of the Bible and the rise of anti-Masonry, this episode looks at how Joseph’s evolving theology and personal ambitions shaped early Mormonism.
We also tackle difficult questions around gender and divine authority: Why were no women, including Emma Smith, called as witnesses to the golden plates? What does Emma's role—and her sacrifices—say about the story Joseph told?
This is a wide-ranging and thought-provoking installment that challenges the traditional narrative while offering rich historical context.
Topics Include:
-Abner Cole’s criticisms & Book of Pukei
-Attempt to sell the Book of Mormon copyright in Canada
-Revelations and motives: divine or self-serving?
-Joseph’s treatment of Emma & women’s roles
-Legal issues & treasure seeking
-Bible revisions, anti-Masonry, and theology
-Emma’s loyalty and legacy
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy thoughtful conversations on religious history.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
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In this raw and emotional deep-dive, Laurel shares her powerful story of growing up in an extremely orthodox Mormon household as the youngest of eight children. From uncovering her Danish-Mormon ancestry to dealing with abuse, purity culture, and her father's secret polygamist "revelation" that led to his excommunication, Laurel reflects on how early trauma, sexual repression, and church doctrine shaped her identity.She opens up about her mission to Poland, her battle with anxiety, shame, and identity within the church, and how the toxic dynamics of Mormon Young Single Adult (YSA) culture pushed her to the edge. Ultimately, Laurel's journey of deconstruction—triggered by political events, therapy, and research into church history—leads her to reclaim her sexuality, leave the church, and finally begin to heal.Topics include: abuse, purity culture, sexual trauma, polygamy, depression, and suicidal ideation. Viewer discretion advised.___________________
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Welcome back to part six of the Joseph Smith Podcast where we are covering Dr. John Turner’s new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” Today we are diving into Chapter Six titled “A Choice Seer” which continues to discuss the 1829 period in Palmyra, New York. This episode explores the controversies surrounding the Book of Mormon—its origins, witnesses, and textual issues. We examine the arguments for and against its authenticity, its biblical parallels, and Joseph Smith’s role as translator vs. author.
Topics include:
-Were the witnesses in on a scam?
-Historicity of the Book of Mormon
-Anachronisms and biblical borrowings
-Criticism from early figures like Alexander Campbell
-Literary structures like chiasmus
-Theology, archeology, and universalism
-Is the Book of Mormon scripture?
A thoughtful, critical, and respectful look at how scholars and believers wrestle with faith, history, and evidence.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
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In this powerful and emotional interview, voice actor Cam Clarke (known for iconic roles in animation and video games) shares his deeply personal journey growing up in a famous Mormon-Hollywood family. From his early years navigating faith, family expectations, and same-sex attraction, to starring in Saturday’s Warrior and undergoing electroshock therapy at BYU, Cam opens up about the emotional toll of trying to reconcile his identity with his religion.
He discusses coming out, surviving the AIDS crisis, finding healing through art, and ultimately resigning from the LDS Church. Cam’s story is raw, heartfelt, and inspiring—a testament to resilience, authenticity, and the power of self-love.
Topics include:
- Growing up Mormon in a showbiz family
- Struggles with sexuality and faith
- Saturday’s Warrior and mission life
- Conversion therapy and coming out
- Voice acting career and ComicCon life
- Reflections on love, loss, and legacy
Show Notes
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In this episode, we dive deep into the attacks on the CES Letter and its author, Jeremy Runnells, unpacking why apologetic responses—no matter how weak—are often accepted by believing members. This is the first in a multi-part series analyzing the LDS Discussions CES Letter project.We tackle critical questions about the Book of Mormon, including:-Why does it contain errors from the 1769 King James Bible?-What about the italicized words from the KJV showing up in the text?-Why doesn’t the Book of Mormon match Joseph Smith’s own translation of the Bible?-What does DNA evidence say about the Book of Mormon narrative?-And how do apologists handle the serious anachronisms in the text?Along the way, we explore FAIR Mormon’s increasingly irrelevant defenses, the hidden Gospel Topics Essays, and shifting church narratives.This is an essential deep-dive for anyone curious about Mormonism’s truth claims, historical issues, and the apologetics surrounding them.Join the conversation and subscribe for future episodes in this CES Letter series.
Join us today as we rebroadcast the story of the man behind the famous CES Letter: Jeremy Runnells.In February 2012, Jeremy Runnels experienced a crisis of faith, which subsequently led to a faith transition in the summer of 2012. In the spring of 2013, Jeremy was approached and asked by a Church Education System (CES) Director to share his concerns and questions about the LDS Church’s origins, history, and current practices. In response, Jeremy wrote what later became publicly known as Letter to a CES Director.Letter to a CES Director very quickly went viral on the internet. The CES Director responded that he read the “very well written” letter and that he would provide Jeremy with a response. No response ever came.From then on, hundreds of Mormons have stumbled across the CES Letter and it has caused them to question their faith. Other believing sites have attacked Jeremy Runnells over the years, saying that he was insincere or that he never believed the church was true. His story clears up all doubt that he was a true-believing Mormon.___________________
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In this episode, we continue our in-depth series with historian John G. Turner, author of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. Continuing with chapter five of his book which takes place in 1829 in Palmyra, New York, we take a deep dive into the claims of the Three and Eight Witnesses to the golden plates. Did they actually see physical plates—or was it a visionary experience?
We explore the early translation period, the role of the Whitmer family, the revelations guiding Joseph Smith, and the complicated testimonies of Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer. Were the golden plates material objects, or were they seen with "spiritual eyes"? We also discuss later accounts, contradictions, and the ongoing debate among scholars and believers.
Highlights:
-The experiences of the Three and Eight Witnesses
-Spiritual vs. physical claims of the plates
-Testimonies, contradictions, and controversies
-What happened to the plates—and the witnesses—afterward
Subscribe for more episodes exploring Joseph Smith’s life, early Mormonism, and the origins of the Book of Mormon.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
___________________
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Shocking new breaking news!!!! Did you know that LDS Church prophet John Taylor started Mormon Fundamentalism?The LDS Church History Library just released hi-res scans of the original version of a September 27, 1886, revelation to church president John Taylor that commanded Mormons to “do the works of Abraham.” As the LDS Church was gradually winding down polygamy after 1890, a growing movement believed that polygamy was essential and could not be discarded. The revelation quietly circulated through copies, giving their position some teeth. Then, in the early 1920s, a man named Lorin Woolley began telling the other half of the story: at the time of the revelation, John Taylor had ordained him and other men with the authority to perform plural marriages and ensure “the principle” never died. What is this revelation, what does it say, and how was it used and even denied by church leaders?___________________
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Join John, Britt Hartley, and Kolby Reddish today as we host a live call-in show around the topic: "What caused you to lose your Mormon faith?" We would love to hear from you.
___________________At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
In Part 4 of our deep-dive podcast series with historian Dr. John G. Turner, we explore one of the most debated questions in Latter-day Saint history: Did Joseph Smith actually use the golden plates to translate the Book of Mormon?
We also cover the roles of Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, Cowdery’s relationship to the Smiths, the use of seer stones and divining rods, and the complex origins of LDS priesthood authority. This episode covers chapter five in John G. Turner’s new book titled Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet, revealing new perspectives on how the Book of Mormon was produced and what was happening behind the scenes.
Topics include:
- Joseph’s poverty and early struggles
- Martin Harris’ doubts and dedication
- Translation methods and spiritual tools
- Priesthood revelations and baptisms
- Internal conflicts and legacy
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy thoughtful conversations on religious history.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:08:30 Overview of the last episode
00:13:44 The revelations that Joseph Smith recorded
00:16:54 Discussing whether or not Mormons are Christian
00:42:30 Lemuel Durfee and the Smith’s losing their farm
00:51:55 The golden plates were completely unused with Oliver Cowdery
01:04:10 Oliver Cowdery attempting to translate the golden plates
01:22:43 Joseph and Oliver baptize each other with the priesthood
01:31:40 How was the Book of Mormon produced?
01:40:00 Closing remarks
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In this powerful, raw, and emotional conversation, Nathan Hinckley and his daughter Kayli open up about their journey through Mormonism — from deep devotion to painful disillusionment — and how faith, family, and unexpected truths collided at one of the most sacred moments: Kayli’s wedding.From early seminary mornings and dreams of the Celestial Kingdom to patriarchal blessings, church culture clashes, and a heartbreaking faith crisis — this interview pulls no punches. Nathan, a once-devoted bishop and father, shares how his spiritual unraveling sent shockwaves through his family, culminating in a moment that changed everything at his daughter's temple wedding.How do you break the news to your family that you no longer believe — when your whole life has been built around it?How did Kayli handle growing up as a “perfect Mormon girl,” only to find herself questioning it all before adulthood?Topics explored:-Growing up Mormon in Tennessee-Spiritual perfectionism & scrupulosity-Patriarchal expectations vs self-identity-Leaving the Church and breaking generational cycles-Family dynamics around faith, control, and truth
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Welcome to part three of the Joseph Smith Podcast! In this episode, we explore one of the most pivotal and mysterious events in early Mormon history — the story of Martin and Lucy Harris and the infamous loss of the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript. With historian and non-Latter-day Saint scholar John G. Turner, we dive into the complexities of translation, belief, and the relationships that shaped the early Restoration movement.
We also examine:
-
The discovery of the plates
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Martin Harris’ background and motives
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Lucy Harris’ suspicions and possible involvement
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The cultural and religious context of the time
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Theories about the Book of Mormon translation process
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What the loss of the 116 pages reveals about Joseph Smith’s prophetic development
This episode also reflects on broader themes of faith, deception, historical interpretation, and the psychology behind religious movements. Whether you're a believer, skeptic, or historian, this deep-dive provides rich insight from a non-Mormon perspective.
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Lindsay and Todd McCormick, a couple from Knoxville, Tennessee, share their powerful and emotional journey navigating faith, doubt, and community pressure within the LDS Church. From their musical Mormon upbringing and successful business ventures to being threatened twice with excommunication, this interview dives deep into the cost of questioning and choosing authenticity over conformity.
They open up about their faith crisis, the controversial City Creek Mall, navigating parenthood in the church, and ultimately, their heartbreaking experience with betrayal from close friends and leaders. Through all of it, their love for each other and desire for truth remained steadfast.
Topics include:
-Faith deconstruction and polygamy
-Church discipline and double standards
-Excommunication threats and “apostasy”
-Cultural expectations, identity, and healing
-Choosing honesty over fear in Mormonism
-Watch their raw and courageous story unfold.
Contact Information:
Lindsay on Facebook
Lindsay on Instagram
Todd on Facebook
Todd on Instagram
Photobarn
Lindsay's Photo Business
00:00:56 Introductions
00:03:14 Lindsay’s Mormon story
00:10:23 Gender expectations growing up
00:14:48 Lindsay started a photography business
00:17:15 Todd’s Mormon story
00:21:40 They met on her birthday and married in the Nauvoo Temple
00:24:06 When did their faith journey begin and their doubts?
00:25:47 How did the threats for excommunication start?
00:35:11 Todd didn’t feel inspired, he felt stagnant
00:36:30 They started their Photo Barn business and became successful overnight
00:41:55 Story of them in the temple and Lindsay thinking critically
00:43:33 Story of them in Sunday School and the prophets not leading them astray
00:50:21 The next catalyst happened on a ward temple trip
00:55:00 They chose to start over in all of their beliefs, taking subjects one by one, etc.
01:10:04 They realized the Doctrine and Covenants was a mess
01:16:22 The Word of Wisdom is confusing
01:29:20 They gave talks in Sacrament Meeting and were corrected publicly
01:31:08 “There is a case being built against the McCormicks”
01:33:55 Facing excommunication or baptizing their eight year old
01:37:13 Not being authentic can really hurt your physical and mental health
01:57:36 It’s a testament to how much they love the church that they attended for years
02:01:08 The person in the bishopric that worked for them that they let go
02:07:45 They got a message that the Stake President wanted to meet with them
02:12:05 They presented seven letters in a folder, less letters than before
02:17:58 Her friend repeated that Lindsay joked about wine
02:21:09 What happens when you get excommunicated
02:32:30 One critical part of the story - telling the leaders that they needed a warning
02:38:32 They were shocked when they found out that they were NOT getting excommunicated
02:41:49 How has the membership played out after this moment?
02:49:18 Nathan apologized for how he treated her when she left the church
02:59:14 I didn’t leave the church AT you, it’s just our path
___________________
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In this second episode exploring Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet by John G. Turner, we dive into Chapters 2 and 3, covering Joseph Smith's evolving accounts of the First Vision, early controversies, treasure digging escapades, and his transformation into a religious leader. We discuss historical inconsistencies, cultural influences, and Turner's critical conclusions about Smith's experiences and motivations.
Based on Chapters 2 & 3 of John G. Turner’s book, topics include:
The First Vision's late emergence and conflicting versions
Treasure digging and supernatural claims
The influence of revivalist culture
Early church documents and evolving theology
Turner's secular interpretation of Joseph Smith’s story
___________________
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Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Brooke is returning to Mormon Stories Podcast after 13 years, when she and her husband came on as the first couple to be interviewed on the podcast. Brooke’s husband at the time, John McLay was a CES employee who lost his faith while working for the church. It was an epic Mormon Stories interview, and we are excited to hear what Brooke has been up to since. We will hear about how Brooke has rebuilt her life and career after a divorce, and how her life has been impacted by sharing her story in such a public way.
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Today we are rebroadcasting an older, classic, episode of Mormon Stories from 2012!In this episode we interview John and Brooke McLay. John served for 14 years as an employee of the LDS Church Education System (CES). In this capacity he served as: a seminary teacher and principal, an institute teacher and director, a BYU Education Week speaker and an EFY Director. John also served as a member of a stake high council, and was serving in a bishopric during the months leading up to his decision to leave the LDS Church. John and Brooke resigned their membership of the LDS Church in August of 2011. This is their story.Join us in the next episode where we re-interview Brooke Lark!
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We're kicking off this brand-new series with special guest John G. Turner, historian and author of the newly released book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.
In this episode, we dive into Turner's research process, the inspirations behind the book, and how his work compares to previous scholars like Fawn Brodie and Richard Bushman. We explore Joseph Smith’s visionary parents, his early years, the origins of the Book of Mormon, and whether the LDS Church has hidden key historical documents.
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Katherine Bernard (KB) Olsen is a never-mo (never Mormon) — but also one of the most devoted fans of Mormon Stories Podcast. A queer, secular journalist with deep Jewish roots and a high-fashion pedigree, Katherine has spent over 20 years captivated by the LDS Church — despite never being religious herself. In her first-ever full-length interview about her life story, she opens up about her lifelong curiosity with Mormonism, identity, belief, and American culture.
KB's impressive journalism career includes work at Vogue, New York Times, and other top-tier New York publications. After moving from Maryland to attend NYU for journalism, she found herself drawn not only to art and culture — but also to spirituality, history, and the paradoxes of organized religion. Over the years, her interest in Mormonism became a deep and serious intellectual pursuit.
What You'll Hear in This Interview:
-Her upbringing in a secular household in Maryland
-Her exploration of Jewish identity and eventual conversion
-Her first exposure to Mormonism through South Park, Big Love, and The Book of Mormon musical
-Her emotional journey coming out as gay in a non-supportive environment
-Her reflections on shame, logic, identity, and community
-Her nuanced take on Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and Mormon reality TV
-Her insights into conditioning, religious extremism, and spiritual seeking
This episode is a masterclass in curiosity — how someone with no personal ties to the LDS Church became one of its most thoughtful outside observers. KB explores Mormonism not as a critic or a believer, but as a seeker with a journalist’s eye.
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Join Natasha Helfer, Chelsea Homer, and Alyssa Witbeck as we review Episodes 1-4 of Season 2 of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives...where we answer the questions: What is Mormon soft swinging, and is that really a thing?
___________________
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Please join us Thursday evening at 6pm Utah time for a call-in show discussing the topic of "Are Mormons Christian?"
This is part 2 of a weekly call-in show format that we are experimenting with.
___________________
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In this deeply moving and raw interview, Jennie shares her powerful life story—from growing up in a strict Mormon household to breaking free from the expectations that shaped her identity. She opens up about her parents’ conversions, her challenging marriage, the emotional toll of purity culture, and her gradual disillusionment with the church.
Jennie also recounts the heartbreaking loss of her daughter Izzy, and how grief reshaped her spirituality and perspective on life. Through it all, she finds resilience, healing, and the courage to choose herself.
A story of love, loss, faith, and transformation you won't forget.
Topics Include:
-Childhood in a devout LDS family
-Marriage, purity culture, and incompatibilities in marriage
-Crisis of faith and discovering church history
-Navigating grief after the loss of her daughter
Subscribe for more real stories about faith, loss, and rebuilding.
Show Notes can be found on the Mormon Stories Blog here.
Watch this episode on YouTube here.
___________________
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In this emotional and deeply honest episode, Eve and her parents, Neal and Christa, share their powerful story of faith, devotion, awakening, and transformation. Raised in a multi-generational Mormon household, Eve and her family lived and breathed the teachings of the LDS Church—until the cracks began to show.
From Neal’s time as a bishop and Christa’s strong belief in Mormon womanhood, to Eve’s mission and eventual faith transition, this conversation explores:
The impact of religious upbringing and cultural expectations
The emotional toll of unaddressed questions and historical issues
How Gospel Topics Essays, polyandry, and the church’s lack of transparency triggered a faith crisis
Eve’s pivotal role in helping her parents deconstruct their beliefs
The cost—and freedom—of walking away
Heartfelt, raw, and eye-opening, this interview shines a light on the complexity of leaving a high-demand religion and finding connection, purpose, and joy on the other side.
Show Notes can be found on the Mormon Stories Blog here.
Watch this episode on YouTube here.
___________________
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Join us as we revisit this epic interview with John Dehlin and Carah Burrell, which originally aired on Carah's channel in 2023.
Eve, a good friend of Carah Burrell's, was an active and faithful member of the LDS Church at the time of this interview. She had begun to question aspects of the Church—particularly polygamy—and agreed to sit down with Carah and John for a truly unique conversation. In this interview, they simply presented her with factual information about LDS history and captured her real-time reactions.
This one-of-a-kind interview is now being shared on Mormon Stories Podcast for the very first time. Be sure to join us later this week as Eve returns to the podcast—this time with both of her parents, who have experienced their own faith journeys since Eve's original interview two years ago.
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Join us for our first live video call-in show! The topic: "What do Mormons Believe About God?"
We will be briefly reviewing my essay that can be found here: https://johndehlin.substack.com/p/what-do-mormons-believe-about-god
Then we would love some of our audience to join us to discuss any of the following topics:
- What they were taught as Mormons about God.
- What they think about the Mormon version of God.
- What they believe about God.
We will be joined by dear friends Kolby and Cam Reddish.
___________________
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In this powerful continuation of our interview with Ben and Justine, we explore their raw and honest journey from deep devotion in the LDS Church to personal awakening, heartbreak, and healing.
They share how their relationship grew during Justine’s school years, navigating early marriage, financial and gender-role challenges, and the burden of trying to live up to faith-based ideals. From motherhood identity struggles to confronting doctrinal issues and discovering their voices during a faith crisis, this episode is full of vulnerable, eye-opening moments.
Highlights include:
- Gender roles & pressure in Mormonism
- The cost of silence during a faith crisis
- The CES Letter, LDS Discussions & uncovering hard truths
- Healing from betrayal, rebuilding marriage & reconnecting with family
- Their plea for empathy from believing members
Whether you're in faith, out of faith, or somewhere in between—this is a story about agency, partnership, and finding truth together.
___________________
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At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
- Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
- Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
- Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!
Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
- One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox
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In this episode, Ben and Justine share their powerful and emotional journeys through Mormonism, immigration, family trauma, and healing. They discuss Ben's family's escape from political turmoil, their struggles with loss, and the lure of the Mormon doctrine of eternal families.
Ben faces racial and cultural challenges within the Church, battles self-worth issues, and grapples with the harm purity culture and missionary service caused.
Justine recounts her own upbringing in a strict Mormon household, the pressure of modesty culture, and the way Mormon ideals shaped her relationships and sense of self.
Together, they reflect on how they met, the impact of internalized racism, and their path toward authenticity, healing, and love — even as they confront the pain Mormonism left behind.
This is part 1 of a very special two-part Mormon Stories interview.
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In this powerful follow-up conversation, Britt Hartley returns to explore 10 practical and emotional steps to take during your faith deconstruction journey. From embracing anger and grief, to rediscovering your identity, setting boundaries, and finding peace in the unknown—this episode is a guide to healing, growth, and transformation.
Whether you're newly questioning or deep in the process, these insights will help you navigate deconstruction with compassion and clarity.
Topics include:
-Grieving your old beliefs
-Embracing uncertainty
-Inner child & shadow work
-Building authentic community
-Setting loving boundaries
-Learning to just be
Join us as we unpack the deep emotional layers of deconstruction and the tools that can truly support your journey.
___________________
Show Notes
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Jennifer Wilson shares her deeply personal journey from growing up in a devout Mormon family to questioning, deconstructing, and ultimately leaving her faith. She opens up about her family's polygamist history, her mission experience, marriage, leadership roles in the church, and the struggles that came with navigating faith transitions. From grappling with church expectations to finding newfound freedom and clarity, Jennifer reflects on how this journey has reshaped her identity, marriage, and parenting.
Key Topics Covered: Growing up in a Mormon household & family history, missionary experiences & gender expectations in the church, marriage, motherhood & church leadership roles, doubts, faith crisis & leaving the church, Raising kids outside of Mormonism & rediscovering identity.
Join us for an honest, heartfelt conversation about faith, change, and self-discovery. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!
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Show Notes
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In this episode (Ep. 2011) we explore with @nononsensespirituality founder Britt Hartley the common pitfalls people face during religious deconstruction. From navigating relationships and parenting outside of organized religion to the challenges of psychedelics, intellectualism, and identity loss—this is a raw, honest conversation about life after faith. Whether you're just beginning your journey or deep in it, this discussion offers insight, validation, and guidance.
Key topics covered:
-
Why opening your marriage right after leaving religion may backfire
-
How to provide structure for your kids without religion
-
The psychedelic trap & chasing spiritual highs
-
The “missionary phase” of ex-belief systems
-
Finding meaning beyond religion, without clinging to new dogmas
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The lifelong process of deconstruction
-
And much more, including Gen Z dating, chakras, free will, and dreams.
Don’t miss her reflections on what she’s learned, what to avoid, and how to move forward with integrity and openness.
___________________
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After nearly two centuries of strict modesty standards, the Mormon Church has made a historic change—women’s garments now allow for exposed shoulders. In this in-depth panel, Mormon women unpack the significance of this shift. From the garments' Masonic roots and historical designs to the ways they’ve shaped modesty culture, sexuality, and control over women's bodies, this conversation dives deep. The panel also explores the social media response, health concerns, and the ongoing discomfort many women still face. With personal stories, historical context, and commentary on the new designs, this is a must-watch discussion on a topic rarely spoken about so openly.
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In Part 2 of our story, Kyle opens up about his life growing up in the Two by Twos faith — from a childhood shaped by pressure to "uphold the family name," to navigating chronic illness and suppressing his passions for music and basketball in order to prioritize church. We talk about the expectations around professing young, the control over dating, marriage, and even parenting — including the harmful encouragement of corporal punishment.
As cracks began to form during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kyle and Kari found themselves questioning everything they believed. From hidden doubts, religious trauma, and Kari’s journey of discovering her bisexuality, to the couple’s darkest moments and eventual transformation, this episode dives deep into how they began rebuilding their lives outside the 2x2 world.
We also discuss the emerging abuse allegations within the Two by Twos church, the beginnings of their Ex-Two by Two support group, and the broader fight for transparency and accountability in a faith that claims to have no organization at all. This is a raw, emotional, and revealing chapter of their deconstruction journey.
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Kari & Kyle Hanks share their journey of leaving the secretive 2x2 church, a religious group with no official name, written doctrine, or corporate structure. They discuss their upbringings, struggles with faith, the exclusivity of the religion, and the trauma they endured. From discovering the church’s hidden history to creating a support group for ex-members, they expose abuse scandals, strict doctrines on women, and emotional suppression within the group. Their deconstruction was influenced by the Mormon Stories Podcast, COVID-19, and personal revelations about belief, identity, and autonomy. Now, they advocate for informed consent and support those leaving high-control religions.
Show Notes
YouTube
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:40 Kari & Kyle introduce themselves and the Two by Twos group
00:14:04 They do not have a written doctrine, it is all word of mouth
00:21:59 The founding of Two by Two - founded by William Irving
00:28:28 It wasn’t until 1905 that the group started preaching exclusivity
00:37:52 Irving is kicked out of the church, although some still stay loyal to him. Another splinter group.
00:49:50 Three meetings a week
01:00:46 Background of their theology/doctrine
01:09:02 Discussion of Heaven & Hell
01:17:04 Kari’s background in the church
01:23:17 Growing up as a 2x2 girl
01:30:30 How does the group refer to themselves?
01:38:43 Never having the language to describe her feelings or sexuality
01:42:09 Higher education was discouraged for many, especially women
01:54:17 Emotional manipulation in high demand religions
02:24:47 2x2s very politically conservative, but are not typically involved politically
02:27:08 When did she start to think she was in a cult?
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After five years of reflection, Kate opens up about her journey growing up in a strict Mormon household, serving a mission in Argentina, and working for the LDS Church. She shares pivotal moments of doubt, her experiences in church administration, and the troubling realities she uncovered in the Confidential Records department. From questioning church discipline policies to witnessing firsthand how the institution handles abuse cases, Kate's story reveals the struggles and insights that ultimately led her to leave the church. Join us as she discusses faith, disillusionment, and life after Mormonism.
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On March 12, 2025, Church educator and BYU professor Jared Halverson released an Instagram short where he stated: “One of the statistics that has worried me the most of late, comes from a survey that was done in 2023 and it’s suggesting that for the first time that I can think of, more women are leaving religion than men are.” Is this true? Why are more women leaving Mormonism than men are? Join us today as we gather with Katie Rich (author of Fifty Years of Exponent II), Amy McPhie Allebest (of the Breaking Down Patriarchy YouTube channel), and Abby Maxwell Hansen (who was threatened with excommunication for her profile on Ordain Women in 2013 and an Exponent II blogger since 2019), as well as writer and columnist Jana Riess to discuss this growing phenomenon.
Jared Halverson is an associate professor of Ancient Scriptures and served for over 20 years in the Church Education System. Halverson earned his BA in History and MA in Religious Education. He has been a featured speaker in devotionals as well as in academic settings. He is the host of the YouTube channel and podcast titled “Unshaken.”
You can view Jared Halverson’s original video here.
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ShowNotes
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Today we are re-introducing Sandra Tanner to a new generation of Mormons, exMormons, and never-Mormons. Both Sandra and her husband Jerald have strong Mormon backgrounds. When he was only eighteen, Jerald began to have doubts about his faith. When they began dating, Sandra Tanner also began to doubt. Throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s Jerald and Sandra Tanner were among the first to begin publishing on the problems with Mormon history and its truth claims. They opened a bookstore called the Utah Lighthouse Ministry and began publishing their research. Today we are going to talk about their discoveries on topics such as changes to the Book of Mormon, the problems with the Book of Abraham translation, the Kinderhook plates, how the Church covered up problematic parts of its history, and how they impacted hundreds of people in and out of the Mormon church. You won’t want to miss this episode!
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After being inspired by the Mormon Stories Paul brothers episode, Dave courageously shares his powerful journey through faith, family struggles, and self-discovery. From his upbringing in a traditional Mormon household to navigating complex questions about church history, LGBTQ+ issues, and personal loss, Dave's story is one of resilience and hope. He reflects on his brother's tragic passing, his evolving beliefs, and why he ultimately chooses to stay active in the church today. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about faith, doubt, and finding meaning through it all.
___________________
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In this episode, we’re joined by historian and mapmaker John Hamer as he responds to Michelle Stone’s recent claims that Joseph Smith did not practice polygamy. Drawing from historical records, primary sources, and his extensive research, John offers context and analysis on one of the most debated topics in Latter-day Saint history. Join us for an insightful conversation unpacking the complexities of Joseph Smith’s involvement in early Mormon polygamy.
John Hamer is an American-Canadian historian who has focused primarily on Mormon history and has published a number of books on the topic, including Scattering of the Saints: Schism Within Mormonism and House of the Lord: The Story of the Kirtland Temple. John Hamer was raised in the Mormon Church, left the religion and joined the Community of Christ Church in 2010 and now serves as a pastor in their Toronto Congregation.
Show Notes
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New research by PhD student Colby Townsend reveals striking connections between The Book of Mormon and Adam Clarke’s Bible Commentary, a widely used biblical resource in Joseph Smith’s time. In this episode, we explore how Smith engaged with Clarke’s insights, made textual modifications, and reframed biblical passages to fit his theological vision. Was Smith restoring lost scripture, or was he influenced by contemporary scholarship?
Show Notes
YouTube
00:11:35 Summary of Joseph Smith using the Adam Clarke Commentary
00:17:06 During this time, this is NOT considered plagiarism
00:19:55 The new article by Colby Townsend
00:23:24 Clip of Hayley talking about Joseph Smith using the Bible Commentary
00:29:45 What were we taught about how the Book of Mormon was produced?
00:30:17 Quote from David Whitmer on the translation through the seer stone
00:35:00 The Expansion Theory
00:40:26 Quote from Emma on the Book of Mormon translation
00:42:33 Quote from Martin Harris on it being a direct translation
00:44:00 There is no account from Oliver Cowdery on the translation process; Oliver was also willing to lie
00:44:51 Clip of Brad Wilcox on how the Book of Mormon was translation
00:48:08 Background of Colby Townsend
00:50:08 Quotes from the article
00:57:55 Joseph used other Bible Commentaries
01:02:00 Conclusion from Colby Townsend’s article
01:07:40 Clip of the the Bible not having plain and precious things being removed
01:09:25 Clip - The Book of Mormon is to bring back the things lost from the Bible
01:11:20 2 Nephi 11:2 Nephi talks about the importance of Isaiah
01:22:43 Quote from the Colby’s article about how Joseph was well versed in the Bible
01:24:55 Dan Vogel’s theory about the presence of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon
01:26:14 Colby Townsend discussing Joseph and Methodism
01:29:25 Adam Clarke’s Biblical Commentary
01:33:35 Joseph’s access to Clarke
01:40:00 Comparing The Book of Mormon to the Adam Clarke Commentary
01:49:35 Joseph copying both the KJV and then Adam Clarke’s commentary
01:58:38 Next example in Isaiah 50:2 “their fish is dried up”
02:12:20 The example of Isaiah 2: 12-16 “cedars and oaks” and “high mountains and lofty hills”
02:18:45 Isaiah 9:3 “thou hast increased their joy”
02:24:20 Gerardo found his own examples
02:32:24 Examples in Isaiah 14:3 “in that day”
02:38:59 Isaiah 49:1 “O ye distant lands”
02:48:10 Example Isaiah 29:11 “read it, for it is sealed up”
02:56:50 If this is the most correct book why was so much of it changed?
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In this heartfelt episode, Kevin and Jennifer share their inspiring journey through their Mormon upbringing, missions, and eventual faith transition. They discuss navigating doubts, supporting their gay and transgender children, and redefining what love and family mean. From facing church pressures to embracing authenticity, their story highlights resilience, acceptance, and the power of unconditional love. Don't miss this moving conversation about finding peace and purpose beyond organized religion.
Show Notes
YouTube
00:05:25 Kevin’s story begins
00:14:20 Kevin met with general authority Paul H. Dunn to get approved for his mission
00:27:58 Jennifer’s Story begins
00:36:11 They met again with Paull Dunn about getting married in the temple
00:48:38 Defining their own gender roles in their marriage
01:01:18 Concerns with paying tithing
01:09:00 Teenage son struggling with p*rn and coming out as gay
01:17:48 Their gay son decided to serve a mission; he was told his mission will “cure him of his gayness”
01:30:00 Mission president refused to let him go home, and had possession of his passport
01:38:00 Kevin told his son “never try to make the church work for you - it never will”
01:51:55 Their gay son says that if he was not able to leave the mission he may have committed suicide
02:08:50 Their daughter tells them she is done with the church; she experienced love bombing
02:12:50 Kevin asks his mom, “If the church wasn't true would you want to know” - she says no
02:16:50 “If there is a place in the church for my gay son, we will reconsider”
02:30:40 Discussing transgender issues in the church
02:40:48 Why do a lot of ex-Mormons turn to atheism after leaving the church?
02:28:20 Has the way that they see “love” and “family” changed over the years? What do they mean for them now?
02:56:23 Final thoughts
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Lori Vallow Daybell was interviewed on NBC/Dateline Exclusive. Keith Morrison sat down with convicted murderer and Mormon mom, Lori Vallow, to talk about her case. Her two children, Tylee and J.J. were last seen in September of 2019 and she and her new husband Chad Daybell were arrested and charged for their murder. During the Dateline interview, Lori said that she and Chad Daybell were going to be exonerated because of Jesus. “I have seen things in the future that Jesus showed me when I was in heaven.” She went on to say that “Jesus is a funny guy and a wonderful person that loves everybody and especially loves her.” Lori has long been desirous to appear on Dateline and finally got her wish. She is also charged with conspiracy in the attempted murder of her niece’s ex-husband in another case.
Show Notes
YouTube
00:00:30 Lauren Mathias, Megan Conner, Gerardo and John
00:10:00 She went in surprised, she’d heard most of it, but was surprised at Lori’s anger
00:17:50 Gerardo feels the interview would have been different with someone with a cult background
00:19:25 Did the interview show us the real Lori Vallow?
00:29:50 Lori is trying to lay groundwork for blaming Tylee for JJ’s death
00:34:00 Discussing the evidence that Tylee was killed weeks before JJ
00:47:40 Lori claiming that she met Jesus
00:51:25 Polling the audience about weather Lori Vallow believes this is true
01:09:30 Where do Chad’s beliefs begin and end?
01:12:05 Lori bringing in the spare tire and the car chair
01:25:00 We didn’t see much of the 90 minute interview between Lori and Keith
01:29:55 What Keith did that Lauren did not like
01:37:00 Was JJ asleep or was he already dead?
01:39:30 How Mormons view death and how Lori did not have a lot of grief or sadness in this
01:41:50 Lori saying that Tammy loves her and she loves Tammy
01:55:20 It was clearly disturbing to see Alex and Chad unloading a pickup truck
02:05:55 Alex’s death - was it natural causes or a murder?
02:18:00 Harmful places in Visions of Glory
02:19:55 Mormon beliefs that play into this crime
02:31:00 Other individuals who killed their children because they thought their children were possessed
02:39:00 Lauren being a members of the church
02:49:45 Lori saying that she’s right and “I told you so”
03:18:30 Keith pointed out that Lori was giving parenting advice
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Dana shares her personal journey of growing up in the Mormon church, navigating mental health challenges, and eventually deconstructing her faith. From her Mormon upbringing and mission experience to questioning societal and religious expectations, Dana's story explores themes of self-discovery, the impact of religion on her life, and the search for meaning beyond traditional beliefs. After leaving the church, Dana delves into topics like mental health, fertility, relationships, and motherhood, offering a candid perspective on her path toward healing and personal growth. This channel is a space for open discussion on faith, identity, and life after Mormonism.
Show Notes
YouTube
00:05:00 Dana’s Mormon Story begins
00:17:00 What examples did she see of women in the church?
00:21:34 It was out of the ordinary to see women with careers
00:38:23 She was reported to the Bishop and her parents that she had experimented with cutting
01:06:30 Dana’s mission experience service in Atlanta, Georgia
01:12:22 She didn't love the temple experience - was “underwhelming”
01:24:24 David Archuleta was at the MTC during the same time
01:32:51 Dana knew very soon that she wanted to leave the mission early and she had to fight to go home
01:38:27 Dana Decided to go to BYU
01:56:25 Felt pressure to be married by the time she finished BYU
02:02:17 Dana to tell her parents that they could not be married in the temple and her mother told her “He’s taken everything from you”
02:18:07 Mormon therapist asked her to consider if she would be open to dating a non-Mormon
02:29:50 Dana lists the ways the church failed her - the church makes promises it can’t keep
02:41:20 Began to research severe PMS and PMDD, and learned that she suffered from it
02:47:02 Dana decided to have a baby by herself - very radical in Mormonism
03:08:00 Dana feels that she was a better foster parent as an ex-Mormon
03:14:40 Deconstructing the idea of “motherhood” in Mormonism
03:27:18 Dana focusing on her PhD
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When vlogger Ruby Franke was arrested for child abuse in August 2023, it shocked millions who had followed her family’s seemingly perfect life on YouTube. But behind the wholesome image was a much darker reality. With counselor Jodi Hildebrandt’s influence, the Franke family spiraled into a nightmare. Now, in Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, the Frankes’ eldest children, Shari and Chad, and Ruby’s husband, Kevin, speak out for the first time. In this episode of Mormon Stories, we react to this gripping series, unpacking the shocking revelations and what they say about family, control, and the dangers of social media.
Show Notes
YouTube
00:02:45 Curious Case of Judi Hildebrant
00:22:45 “Mormon Mommy Bloggers”
00:30:40 Kevin is also a victim of an abuser
00:48:50 Ruby thinks a happy family is an obedient family
01:10:57 Ruby’s channel was “Advancing the image of the church”
01:26:00 Pressure in Mormonism to find a partner that is acceptable by church standards
01:56:49 The Franke kids begin to shut down to the camera
02:02:26 Ruby tells Chad: “Fake being happy right now”
02:14:17 Who is the “Devil in the Family” representing?
02:30:20 “The beanbag incident” with Chad’s bed being taken away
02:40:42 Shari saying Chad got “beaten” and had to help him clean up blood off the walls
03:01:21 Kevin’s initial reaction to ConneXions - “This is a cult”
03:23:20 Lauren’s reaction to Jodi’s house: “They had Costco inside this house”
03:28:00 The LDS church could be shutting this dogma down but they don't
04:04:00 When Jodi is possessed its a feature, when the kids are possessed its a bug
04:31:10 Jodi Gave Ruby permission to be this way
04:49:40 Shari calls the police for the first time to do a wellness check on the kids
04:58:54 The younger daughter found in the closet - wasn't even able to talk
05:17:50 “Takes an exceptional lack of empathy” for a mother to do this
05:25:11 Assessment of how Kevin let this happen
05:41:30 Sometimes families like these can be more susceptible to manipulation
06:07:00 Become cult informed! Become born again to your own intrinsic knowledge
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In this long awaited interview, James Huntsman, a successful businessman and member of the Huntsman family, joins John Dehlin and fraud attorney Mark Pugsley to discuss his high-profile fraud lawsuit against the LDS Church—how he lost his LDS faith, why he pursued a fraud lawsuit to get a tithing refund, what he learned, and why he has no regrets.
Show Notes
YouTube
00:00:49 Brief overview of James Huntsman's lawsuit
00:07:27 Family background info
00:18:50 Served a mission at 18
00:22:21 Discussion of a kidnapping in their family
00:36:27 Emergence of Ensign Peak & church investments
00:49:58 Cracks start developing in James’ faith
01:03:03 What led to him deciding to file the suit
01:09:35 The downsides of him suing
01:17:00 Comparing the organized structure of his family’s business to the disorganization of the church
01:28:55 What sparked his desire to sue the church
01:37:00 “It was a very personal battle for me”
01:48:40 Statute of limitations for fraud
01:54:00 Everyone now knows how much the church has - floodgates of awareness have been opened to the churches bad financial dealings
02:07:00 James has no intention of damaging the church
02:14:15 The church today does not need members tithing
02:26:00 How did they feel after they filed?
02:44:20 Are churches protected from committing fraud
02:58:00 James feels relieved that it is all over, and they can talk about it now
03:11:29 Final thoughts & Conclusion
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For nearly two centuries, Joseph Smith’s involvement in polygamy has been a point of controversy. Historians and more recently, LDS leaders, have affirmed that the Mormon prophet took dozens of wives. But a growing movement within the Church is challenging that narrative, arguing that Smith was a monogamist—and that polygamy was a later invention used to justify the actions of Brigham Young and other church leaders.
One of the most vocal advocates of this perspective is Michelle Stone, creator of 132 Problems: Revisiting Mormon Polygamy, a YouTube channel with nearly 120,000 subscribers. A lifelong member of the LDS Church, Michelle once had a strong testimony of polygamy, believing it was divinely inspired. But everything changed ten years ago when her husband questioned whether polygamy was ever truly of God. Determined to prove him wrong, Michelle embarked on a deep dive into historical records—only to find herself questioning whether Joseph Smith practiced polygamy at all.
Now, she joins Mormon Stories to share her research, her faith journey, and why she believes the Church has it wrong on one of the most controversial chapters in its history.
Show Notes
YouTube
00:05:22 Why we want to have Michelle on
00:15:48 Michelle’s great-grandfather was told by the president of the church to go to Mexico to get a second wife
00:35:07 Her grandfather was called to be a mission president in Tonga, leaving behind other wives
00:48:56 She was never taught that Joseph didn’t practice polygamy
01:05:00 Things made more sense once she realized there was problems in church history
01:14:00 Trauma of losing a child at the hospital in 2020 during the pandemic
01:24:00 Had an experience where she felt that she saw her daughter grown up
01:56:48 Michelle was devastated by the Nov 2015 LGBTQ Policy
02:04:50 Discussion of polygamy in the BOM
02:14:50 Michelle had a second faith crisis in 2020
02:32:33 When did she start her YouTube channel “132 Problems”?
02:43:34 God saying in the BoM that polygamy is an abomination
02:56:01 Has she ever decided differently than what god “commanded”?
03:18:15 Discussion on RLDS church and why they split from the LDS church
03:19:41 Michelle is asking individuals to “hold a little space” for this new theory
03:31:54 Her episode on Emma changed her mind
03:49:20 “I have become more confident in my stance since I started speaking out”
04:16:57 Michelle’s thoughts on Fanny Alger
04:39:45 Why were there rumors of polygamy going on in the church in 1835?
05:00:40 Questions on the Nauvoo Expositor
05:33:00 How can the church be true if the original men made so many mistakes?
05:40:50 What are her thoughts on the church maybe excommunicating her?
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In December 2024, the Mormon Church released a new chapter in the children’s Doctrine and Covenants Stories on the topic of polygamy. In that chapter they discuss how God sometimes commands his people to live polygamy and how hard it was for Joseph Smith to obey. The chapter also discusses how Joseph’s wife Emma did not want her husband to marry other women. Children were even taught that some of the brethren were arrested and put in prison for living polygamy.
After the release of that chapter many people spoke up, criticizing the church for this new content. Many believed these stories were too heavy for children and that by releasing this chapter the Mormon Church was actively teaching a story of sexual assault and grooming.
Today we learned that the church changed this chapter. Certain phrasing was removed as well as entire sections of the chapter. Is this due to online criticism of the church teaching children polygamy? Does the Mormon Church cave under pressure? Join us today as John, Julia (from Analyzing Mormonism), and Alyssa Witbeck discuss these changes.
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Show Notes
00:07:55 Clip - Criticism forces the church to change
00:25:36 Clip - Nathan Hinckley talking about them using the word “hard”
00:26:15 Comparing the original and the new version
00:35:20 Clip - Is God okay with forced polygamy?
00:36:55 Comparing the changes on the second image
00:42:20 Clip - “The Mormon church is participating in sexual assault”
00:53:46 Clip - Michelle Stone on Emma Smith00:56:10 In the new version this section has been completely taken out
01:01:58 Clip - “How did this get through the review process?”
01:15:22 Clip - Mormon leaders went to prison01:19:24 The last panel did not change on Woodruff’s manifesto
01:26:08 Polygamy is still hard on women today in an eternal aspect
01:36:25 What was the 2015 Exclusion Policy and how the church rolled it back
01:32:40 Answers from the Church History Survey
01:48:17 The story of Zina Huntington
01:50:30 Clip - Can consent be given in a Mormon context?
01:54:55 This is a positive change overall
02:03:10 What is it that causes people to question their faith?
02:06:11 Clip - “A faith that blinds you is problematic”
02:08:25 Final thoughts
___________________
At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.
Our overall mission is to:
-
Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology
-
Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
-
Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions
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MormonStories #Mormon #lds
A 15 question quiz has been designed to facilitate healthy discussions about factual LDS Church history, and LDS Church historical transparency. It should take less than 5 minutes to complete.
Audience: This quiz is for anyone who has ever been an LDS Church member, including active and inactive LDS Church members, and former LDS. Please take this quiz yourself, and then please invite family, friends, and (most importantly) LDS church leaders and missionaries to take the quiz as well.
We are hopeful that the survey can serve as a way for you and others to healthily discuss factual LDS Church history, as well as the LDS Church's overall record of historical transparency. NOTE: All of the historical facts below have been recognized by the LDS church as valid, to the best of our understanding. References have been included for discussion.
We will be awarding a modest number of cash awards to those who complete the survey in its entirety, and who are willing to share compelling insights or experiences - which might include coming on the podcast to discuss their experiences. We are also considering the option of administering this survey as a scientific, random survey. If you are interested in supporting such a project, feel free to donate at the link below.
Enjoy! And please email us with any feedback or experiences you'd like to share.
Survey link: https://forms.gle/3o7Tr6ZHKzoEBpMs8
To donate to this project: https://donorbox.org/ldschurchresearch
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Show Notes
00:08:30 Going over the survey together, email, etc.
00:12:00 Question one - Were you taught about Joseph Smith’s 1826 Treasure digging trial?
00:14:10 Question two: What were you taught regarding the Book of Mormon translation?
00:15:50 Question three: What were you taught about the priesthood restoration?
00:17:18 Question four: Were you taught that Joseph Smith had over thirty wives?
00:18:20 Question five: Were you taught that Joseph Smith hid his first marriages from his wife Emma?
00:22:20 Question six: Were you taught about the different accounts of the First Vision
00:24:55 Question seven: Were you taught that Joseph Smith allowed black men to have the priesthood?
00:27:44 Question eight: Were you taught that Joseph Smith was a Freemason?
00:29:40 Question nine: Where you taught that the Book of Abraham is a false translation?
00:32:10 Question ten: Were you taught about Joseph Smith destroying the Nauvoo Expositor?
00:35:00 Question eleven: Do you feel like the Church has been fully honest?
00:35:35 Question twelve: Do you feel like the truth claims are important?
00:36:55 Question thirteen: Would you have made different decisions had you known?
00:38:29 Question fourteen: Did the church intentionally withhold this information?
00:58:40 Why did the church even release the Gospel Topics Essays?
01:30:00 Share this survey with friends and family
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Anna shares her personal journey growing up as a Pentecostal Charismatic in Utah, detailing her experiences within the Assemblies of God (AG) church, and the struggles and beliefs that shaped her faith. Although she has never been Mormon, Anna has a unique perspective of the LDS church as she grew up surrounded by Mormonism in Utah. Anna also delves into her time as a missionary in Mozambique, her eventual questioning of her beliefs, and the emotional journey of leaving the church. The conversation touches on the challenges of leaving a high-demand religion and finding new paths to healing and authenticity.
Show Notes
YouTube
00:04:14 Anna’s intention
00:15:35 “Gift of Tongues” vs “Speaking in Tongues”
00:25:43 Both of Anna’s parents are pastors
00:40:00 The belief in “healing” abilities in Assemblies of God
00:56:00 Anna diagnosed with cancer around age two, they thought religion could heal her
01:19:20 Why do “mainstream” Christians not see Mormons as Christians?
01:33:18 Anna was conditioned to believe that expressing emotion shows closeness to God
01:52:08 Anna talks about what it was like to have Mormon parents not want their kids to be around her
02:01:17 Speaking in tongues for the first time
02:16:50 Creating false memories
02:26:45 How are sexual transgressions seen in evangelicalism vs mormonism?
02:38:05 Anna stopped attending church and school because she felt so ashamed
02:40:50 Anna’s connections with the Latter Day Church of Christ or the polygamist Kingston Group
02:52:41 Anna’s time in Mozambique
03:02:45 It took Anna years to adjust back to normal after her work on her mission
03:10:20 Anna felt like God was calling her home to “save the Mormons”
03:21:10 Anna voicing: “I have created an image of myself that isn't real”
03:38:30 Questioning what to do with her life after leaving that mission
03:47:20 Anna began to see red flags in her pastor -he was not financially transparent and sexist
03:52:15 Anna’s pastor gives sermon called “Four Bad Reasons that People Leave the Church”
04:12:04 Anna feels extremely alone now after leaving
04:25:00 Her parents are still not very willing to view things that are critical of the church
04:45:13 Watched Margi’s “Coming home to myself” THRIVE presentation
04:50:08 What are her moments where she taps into beauty or pleasure?
04:53:46 Final questions for Anna
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Many have asked the question: Did Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith have sex with his polygamous wives? During his lifetime, Joseph Smith engaged in polygamy (which was illegal in the state of Illinois) and his wives consisted of women who were underage, women who were single, women who were widowed, and women who were already legally married. What is the evidence for his sexual relations with them? Additionally a number of the brethren were also commanded to live polygamy, what is the evidence for sexual relations in those unions? Were any children born in polygamy during the prophet’s life? Join us for a unique LDS Discussions episode where we explore these topics and answer these questions.
Show Notes
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We sit down with the attorneys behind the explosive lawsuits filed against LDS Church, alleging decades of systemic child sexual abuse and institutional cover-up. These lawsuits include shocking claims of abuse facilitated by Church leaders across multiple states and even international borders, with some cases framed under federal trafficking statutes.The attorneys reveal how these cases aim to hold the Church accountable, explain the legal strategy behind the state and federal coordination efforts, and share the stories of survivors fighting for justice.
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Keith Erekson serves as the director of the historical research and outreach for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On January 12, 2025 he gave a fireside in which he answered tough questions. Today we are responding to that fireside and discussing such topics as polygamy, Joseph Smith marrying women who were already married, and the church hiding aspects of its history.
Show Notes
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In today's episode, John sits down for a conversation with immigration attorney, Justin Sweeney. Justin grew up LDS in Mesa, AZ, served a mission in Argentina, and has served in many leadership positions within the church. He was even serving in his branch presidency up until the end of 2024. Justin discusses how he felt overworked in his church callings, questioning polygamy and masonry, and his journey of discovering the true history of the church.
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has unanimously rejected James Huntsman's fraud lawsuit against the LDS/Mormon Church, which claimed that the church misled the membership over its tithing usage.Join John, Gerardo, and attorney Kolby Reddish to break down the decision.
Show Notes
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Austin Wheeler shares his personal journey navigating Mormonism, military culture, and faith deconstruction. He recounts growing up in the church, his early experiences with trauma, and how Mormonism influenced his views on violence and masculinity. After a series of life events—ranging from military service at West Point to his mission in Taiwan—he confronts the toxic elements of both the military and the church, including dehumanization and harmful beliefs. Ultimately, he reflects on how his experiences shaped his disillusionment with Mormonism, his struggles with identity, and the deep questions about purpose and meaning that arose as a result.Show Notes: https://www.mormonstories.org/questioning-mormon-and-military-service/___________________At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor todayOne-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/joinOur Platforms:🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories ✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories 📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF Contact us:📧 MormonStories@gmail.com📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Paul reflects on his journey from being raised in the Mormon church to eventually leaving it. He opens up about his childhood, feeling isolated due to his neurodivergence, and his complicated relationship with his family. Paul shares his path to Mormonism, how he felt a strong connection to the faith at first, and his experiences as a missionary, including the challenges he faced in Argentina. Over time, he became disillusioned with the church, particularly after learning new information and struggling with its stance on LGBTQ issues. As Paul navigates life post-church, he discusses his career, his evolving understanding of love and relationships, and the healing process through music and self-reflection. The episode explores his feelings of loneliness, the importance of recognizing toxic behavior, and his journey to self-acceptance after leaving the Mormon faith.
___________________At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor todayOne-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/joinOur Platforms:🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories ✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories 📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF Contact us:📧 MormonStories@gmail.com📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this episode of LDS Discussions, we explore how BYU Professor Anthony Sweat’s artwork reflects the troubling aspects of church history found in the CES Letter by Jeremy Runnells. Despite being excommunicated for questioning the church, Runnells’ CES Letter, published in 2013, exposes discrepancies in the official narrative. Meanwhile, Sweat’s art, starting in 2014, delves into controversial topics like Joseph Smith's treasure digging, the use of a seer stone, and polygamy. We compare Sweat's paintings to the CES Letter's criticisms, highlighting how the church’s history is often presented inaccurately. Join us as we discuss these bold portrayals and the ongoing tension between church teachings and historical truth.
___________________At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor todayOne-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/joinOur Platforms:🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories ✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories 📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF Contact us:📧 MormonStories@gmail.com📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In this episode of Mormon Stories, Erika Nordfelt shares her powerful journey from a devout Mormon upbringing to finding healing and self-discovery. Erika recounts her experiences growing up in a close-knit Mormon family, navigating high school in Colorado, and attending BYU-Idaho, where she faced struggles with religious expectations and marital dynamics shaped by the Church.She candidly discusses topics like sexual shame, pornography in marriage, and the role of Twelve-Step programs, highlighting the challenges of reconciling faith, identity, and personal growth. Erika opens up about her turning points, leaving the Church with her husband, and her work as a therapist, witnessing firsthand the impact of shame within Mormon culture.
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January 9 saw the release of a new Netflix series, American Primeval, set in the context of mid-19th-century Utah. Though the series is fictionalized, many of the events and peoples depicted are real, including the Utah War, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, the Mormon settlers, and the Shoshone, Ute, and Paiute Indians.
Historians Barbara Jones Brown and Darren Parry join host John Dehlin for this live podcast to answer viewer's questions about which aspects of the series are factual and which are historical fiction. Barbara is co-author of Vengeance Is Mine: The Mountain Meadows Massacre and Its Aftermath, and Darren is the author of The Bear River Massacre: A Shoshone History. Barbara and Darren offer a unique perspective because they are not only historians of this time period in Utah, they are direct descendants of peoples depicted in the mini-series--Darren is Northwestern Shoshone, and Barbara is a descendant of perpetrators of the horrific massacre at Mountain Meadows.
Show Notes
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Join Lauren Johnson Matthias (@HiddenTrueCrime ) Megan Conner (@Third_Verse ) Mindy Caldwell, and John Dehlin as they react to Shari Franke's new book "The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom" by Shari Franke, Ruby Franke's oldest daughter.
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In this powerful episode of Mormon Stories, Clare and Jackson share their personal journeys of growing up in the Mormon church, struggling with shame, guilt, and anxiety, and eventually undergoing faith transitions. Clare discusses her challenges with modesty, body image, and mental health, especially during her mission, while Jackson opens up about his battles with pornography, shame, and a dangerous mission experience in Honduras. Together, they reflect on their experiences with church teachings, therapy, and the emotional toll of deconstructing their faith. This episode explores their healing process, the impact of questioning Mormonism, and the growth they’ve found in rebuilding their lives and relationship after leaving the church.
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A recent article from the Salt Lake Tribune showcases how the Mormon church education commissioner Clark Gilbert has implemented stringent measures to ensure that faculty members across church-affiliated institutions, including Brigham Young University and BYU-Idaho, align with the church’s teachings. Professors are now facing many hardships. Their social media posts are being audited, many are being fired for showing LGBTQ+ and feminist support, or for experiencing doubts in their Mormon beliefs. Some professors are being terminated simply because their spouse stopped believing in the church. Top scholars no longer want to apply to BYU and many professors are seeking employment elsewhere. These changes have led many to argue that this approach suppresses academic freedom and creates an environment of fear among BYU faculty members, who may feel pressured to conform to specific interpretations of Mormon church doctrinal teachings to maintain their position.Join us today as we talk in-depth about these controversies and the recent news article from the Salt Lake Tribune titled "Dark Days: BYU professors are running scared as premier LDS school steps backwards." According to the US and World News Report, BYU ranked #61 in 2017 and then dropped to #109 in 2024 out of 436 National Universities, but are these new changes going to drop the university's ranking? Join the livestream to share your own personal experiences in this regard!Link to the original article: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/01/05/byu-blue-why-these-are-dark-days/
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In this episode, Sandra Tanner and Chris delve into key figures and moments in Mormon historical scholarship. They discuss individuals like Dee Jay Nelson, Mark Hofman, and Wesley Walters, highlighting their contributions to uncovering evidence that challenges official LDS narratives, including the Palmyra revivals and the 1826 trial of Joseph Smith.The conversation touches on the work of scholars like Dan Vogel, Stan Larson, and D. Michael Quinn, as well as influential writers such as Fawn Brodie. Topics include changes in the Book of Mormon, early Mormon controversies, and the deeper complexities of Mormon history. This episode provides a compelling exploration of the intersection between faith, evidence, and critical analysis.
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This video features Sandra Tanner, a descendant of Brigham Young, sharing insights into her family history and involvement in Mormon history. From Brigham Young's legal wife, Mary Ann Angell, to descendants of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Sandra delves into the complexities of her heritage and polygamy's impact on her upbringing.The discussion explores Sandra's journey into Mormon historical research with her late husband, Jerald, encounters with figures like Ogden Kraut and Ervil LeBaron, and her work with notable journalists and podcasters, including Wallace Turner, Peggy Fletcher Stack, and John Dehlin. This episode offers a fascinating look at the intersections of faith, history, and media.
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Join us for a discussion with Sandra Tanner and Dan Vogel as we explore a remarkable video featuring BYU Professor and leading Mormon historian Steven C. Harper. In this video, Harper addresses key issues with the First Vision narrative and acknowledges several challenges raised by the CES Letter.
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NOTE: We apologize for the mishap earlier. This is a re-release of the episode with Ross Martin, unedited. We hope you enjoy it!This powerful and emotional story takes you through Marty’s life journey—from his upbringing in Mormonism, his experiences in high school and seminary, to his time in the military and beyond. Marty reflects on growing up in a trailer park, his mission to Jamaica, his struggles with faith, and his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. He candidly shares deeply personal moments: battling depression, losing loved ones, questioning his beliefs, and finding peace through family, a farm, and humanism.Explore topics of resilience, transformation, and healing as Marty recounts leaving Mormonism, confronting the trauma of war, and redefining his spiritual beliefs. A heartfelt account of faith, doubt, and the search for meaning.
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This video exposes a shocking case of abuse within the Mormon Church in Denmark, featuring former Bishop Lasse Meilsoe and journalist Michael Teschl. They discuss the Church’s mishandling of a rape case where a husband drugged and assaulted his wife, Kiran, over several years, confessing repeatedly to Church leaders. The Church’s actions to protect its image over victims, discouragement of reporting abuse to authorities, and their systemic prioritization of abusers are critically examined.
Topics include Danish cultural responses, legal investigations into the Church’s practices, and the broader implications for Church transparency and accountability. A powerful and deeply unsettling look at abuse, complicity, and the fight for justice.
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Recently the Mormon Church released a new set of storybooks for children. For the storybook entitled "Doctrine and Covenants Stories" it has released a polygamy section that many feel is extremely harmful to children.Please join us as a Mormon Mom (Alyssa Witbeck) and a Mormon Therapist (Natasha Helfer) discuss their feelings about the likely harm that this section will cause to children.
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This video explores the rich history and ongoing journey of Mormon feminism through the lens of Exponent II. Katie Ludlow Rich and Heather Sundahl share their personal stories, including feminist awakenings, experiences with the Church, and their work preserving women’s voices in Mormon history. Topics include women’s roles in the Church, the suppression of women’s spiritual practices, mixed-faith marriages, and the impact of feminist movements like Ordain Women.
Dive into the influence of Exponent II, the challenges faced by Mormon feminists, and the resilience of women seeking to redefine their roles in faith and community.
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Is religion dying in America? In this episode, we sit down with Ryan T. Cragun and Jesse M. Smith, authors of Goodbye Religion: The Causes and Consequences of Secularization. This groundbreaking book examines the surge in people leaving organized religion and its profound impact on American culture and society. Drawing on extensive data and over a hundred in-depth interviews, Cragun and Smith delve into the social, psychological, and environmental factors behind religious exit. They also address the misconceptions surrounding secularization, revealing that leaving religion is not the crisis it’s often portrayed to be. Instead, they show how nonreligious individuals remain socially engaged and committed to making a positive impact in their communities.
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Join us as we welcome scholar Brent Metcalfe for the 30th anniversary of his excommunication from the Mormon Church. We cover not only his excommunication but also his famous discovery of the “Mosiah First Priority” in the Book of Mormon translation.
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The LDS Church is quietly but significantly updating the introduction to the Book of Mormon, shifting its focus from historical claims to a broader, more spiritual narrative. In this episode , we dive deep into these changes, exploring what they reveal about the Church's evolving stance on the historicity of its sacred text. Is this an effort to address long-standing critiques about the lack of archaeological and genetic evidence? Or does it reflect a broader shift to make the Book of Mormon more approachable for a global audience? Join us as we unpack the implications of this significant change and discuss what it might mean for the future of Mormonism.
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In this episode, Samantha, John, and Gerardo unpack the fallout from a leaked audio clip of BYU Football captain and former Mormon Missionary Tyler Batty’s explicit halftime speech, recorded outside the locker room at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The speech, featuring vulgar language, has raised questions about BYU’s Honor Code, which strictly forbids profanity, vulgar language, and other conduct unbecoming of its standards.The controversy became even more interesting when BYU Coach Kalani Sitake defended Batty, calling his actions necessary for “helping the program.” Meanwhile, KSL, owned by the LDS Church, published an opinion piece telling critics to “get over it,” dismissing calls for accountability or discipline for Batty.We will explore the deeper implications of the incident, questioning whether public figures like Batty enjoy privileges denied to regular students—especially minorities—who are often held to stricter standards.
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Join us for our annual status report where we discuss our successes for 2024, our status as a sustainable podcast/non-profit, and our plans for 2025.
If you want to donate to help keep Mormon Stories alive, or to support us during "Giving Tuesday" week, you can donate here:
https://www.mormonstories.org/donate/
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Join us as we dive deep into the unique experiences of several women navigating life in and outside of Mormonism. From patriarchal blessings and missions to the complexities of dating, marriage, and personal revelation, these stories explore the pressure to conform to Church expectations and the personal growth that comes from questioning them. We discuss YSA culture, worthiness interviews, and the Church's teachings on relationships, consent, and sexuality. The women share their experiences with dating apps, "soaking," and the confusion between spiritual promptings and anxiety. Other key topics include the Church's influence on women’s roles, the challenges of single life, political and faith landscapes, and deconstructing teachings like the Family Proclamation. With insights into the CES Letter, Joseph Smith’s history, and financial concerns, this video offers a candid, thought-provoking look at life within the Mormon framework and beyond.
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In this episode, we explore one woman's journey of faith, identity, and self-discovery within and beyond the Mormon Church. From her experiences in musical theater auditions, serving a mission, and navigating family trauma, to struggles with infertility and finding her own path, she shares deeply personal insights. We discuss the cultural pressures of motherhood, the challenges of deconstructing religious beliefs, and the impact of leaving the Church after COVID. Her story also touches on her evolving perspective on topics like polygamy, women's roles, and Heavenly Mother, along with finding empowerment through fitness, creative expression, and fantasy literature. Join us for a candid and heartfelt conversation about redefining purpose, embracing authenticity, and thriving in "Plan B."
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Today we are discussing pivotal moments, from the Church’s “Race and the Priesthood” essay to public statements on racism, and the ongoing struggle for meaningful engagement on these issues. Highlights include racial inequities, discussions on the lack of diverse representation in leadership, and the emotional impact of past and present racism on Black members. We are also covering controversial events like the fake apology prank, the “Be One” celebration, and Elder Oaks’ and President Nelson’s statements on race. Conversations extend to BYU’s Race Equity and Belonging Report, Brad Wilcox’s remarks, and efforts to make the Church and its institutions more inclusive. Join us as we examine how the Church addresses racism, the call for accountability, and the path forward for healing and equity.
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In this in-depth interview, Jared and Camille share their intertwined journeys through faith, family, and personal growth within the Mormon Church. They discuss formative experiences, from Jared’s basketball career and mission (under Jeffrey Holland and Brad Wilcox) —where he faced challenges like fraudulent baptisms in Chile and an unexpected interview with Apostle Richard G. Scott—to Camille’s teenage struggles with modesty, faith and mental health. Their love story, temple experiences, and navigating higher callings in the Church, including Jared's time as a bishop, reveal the pressures and impacts of leadership roles.
Join us as we explore how these experiences transformed their lives, their perspectives on faith, and how their mental health and relationship have evolved since leaving the Church.
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Join us as Matthew Harris returns to discuss Gordon B. Hinckley's efforts to address lingering racism in the church, the push to remove Bruce R. McConkie's Mormon Doctrine from shelves, and members' calls for an apology for the church's past racism. We also explore Elder Holland's attempts to rebrand these doctrines as "folklore," the continuation of racist teachings by BYU professors like Randy Bott, and the creation of the Gospel Topics Essays.
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Today we are interviewing the creators of the new movie Heretic, staring Hugh Grant. Heretic is a horror film about two Mormon sister missionaries who meet a man named Mr. Reed (Grant) who ensnares them in a deadly game of cat and mouse while locked in his house. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods are an American filmmaking duo who also directed A Quiet Place and Nightlight. Today they are going to answer questions about what inspired them to create the film, what messages they wanted to share, and how they wanted the film to impact their viewers. This is an episode you wont want to miss!
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In this heartfelt conversation, Fran Grover shares her journey through life within and beyond Mormonism, from her early upbringing in an orthodox Mormon family to navigating grief, identity, and faith. She opens up about losing her sister, grappling with religious expectations, and experiencing deep personal and spiritual shifts while pursuing law school and marriage.
Topics covered include the complexities of a mixed-faith marriage, her evolving views on agency, motherhood, and partnership, and the challenges of leaving the Church. This discussion dives into mental health, deconstructing religious beliefs, and finding empowerment by trusting oneself. Join us as she reflects on rebuilding her identity, embracing uncertainty, and choosing authenticity.
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Join us today as we meet again with historian Matt Harris to discuss his new book “Second Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality.” Matt Harris talks about the relationship between the Church and the John Birch Society and how the church changed its mind on supporting the Martin Luther King holiday. Additionally, Harris discusses how the harmful teachings of Bruce R. McConkie’s book “Mormon Doctrine” lived on even after his death. Professors Eugene England and Steven Epperson were pushed out of BYU for their more liberal views. How the Strengthening the Church Members Committee keeps these members in check.
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Join us for an in-depth interview with Andrew Fish as he shares his story of adoption, faith, and self-discovery. Andrew reflects on his family's journey, from his parents’ struggle to adopt, to his biological mother's decision to place him for adoption, and his upbringing within the Mormon Church. He also discusses the impact of religious expectations, his mission experiences, and his journey of reconciling his personal beliefs with his upbringing. Throughout this heartfelt conversation, Andrew opens up about his eventual decision to leave the Church, reconnect with his biological family, and navigate acceptance and understanding within his adoptive family.
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The priesthood and temple ban began when Brigham Young learned that Black Saints were marrying white women, fearing interracial marriage. When the ban was finally lifted it was only with the caveat that they continued to warn the members against interracial marriage. Church members have received mixed messages since then, with warnings against interracial marriage still found on the Church's website and in manuals. How should members make sense of these conflicting messages? Today, we're joined by Matt Harris and Summur-Rayn to discuss this topic.
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In this episode, we interview Laurie Lee Hall, a former bishop, stake president, and temple designer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who later came out as transgender while serving as a Stake President. Laurie shares her journey of growing up with a gender identity that didn’t match how she felt, her experiences on a church mission, and attending Affirmation for LGBTQ+ Latter-day Saints. She also discusses her work designing temples, her struggles with the 2015 Exclusion Policy for children of gay couples, her excommunication, and the church’s evolving policies on transgender individuals.
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In this episode, we join Matt Harris to discuss the aftermath of lifting the priesthood and temple ban in the LDS Church. We explore how Bruce R. McConkie's account of the revelation was embellished and the damage control efforts by top church leaders. We also examine President Kimball's controversial remarks about Native Americans and his later regret over those comments. This discussion focuses on chapter eight of Matt Harris’ book, "Second Class Saints."
We are thrilled to announce that we have reached our donation goal to compensate Dr. Matt Harris for his contributions to this series. We sincerely thank everyone who supported this effort. While the goal to pay Matt has been met, producing this series incurred significant costs for the Open Stories Foundation. If you find value in this content and want to help cover these expenses and support future productions, we encourage you to donate at https://www.mormonstories.org/donate/ Your generosity makes a difference—thank you!
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We are super excited to announce that THRIVE 2024 is almost sold out!
- Speakers are: Heather Gay (Real Housewives of Salt Lake City), Dr. Julie Hanks, Dr. John Dehlin, Britt Hartley (No Nonsense Spirituality), and Anthony Miller. Allan Mount (Marriage on a Tightrope) will be the emcee!
- Date is Saturday Nov 9th, from 10am to 5pm.
- Location is The Show Barn at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah.
These conferences provide a great opportunity to get tips and tricks on navigating a faith crisis and space to make new connections with others going through a faith crisis.Cost is only $20! Seating is limited so please get your tickets early, we always feel bad turning people away once all tickets are sold.Register here: https://thrivebeyondreligion.com/event/thrive-day-2024/
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In this compelling episode, Rian Anderson unites with her mother, Jen, to share their powerful journey of faith and family. While Rian served her Mormon mission, her entire family left the church. Jen is here to tell her side of the story. Jen shares about how her mother battled with cancer while she was in High School and after marriage Jen’s husband struggled with pornography. As a former Relief Society President, Scout Leader, and member of the Stake Young Women’s Presidency, Jen also reflects on her experiences with church leadership and the inequalities she witnessed. The conversation touches on her son coming out as gay and the impact of her decision to leave the church on Rian's mission. Join them as they candidly discuss their stories and the complexities of their faith journey.
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What were the events and who were the key characters that led to the lifting of the priesthood and temple ban for black people? In this episode Matt Harris will answer those questions. Rumors have gone around that the ban was lifted due to the IRS threatening to take away their tax exempt status, or because of the lawsuits involving the NAACP, etc. Matt Harris puts many of these rumors to rest and answers the real reason why (and how) the ban was lifted.
We are thrilled to announce that we have reached our donation goal to compensate Dr. Matt Harris for his contributions to this series. We sincerely thank everyone who supported this effort. While the goal to pay Matt has been met, producing this series incurred significant costs for the Open Stories Foundation. If you find value in this content and want to help cover these expenses and support future productions, we encourage you to donate at https://www.mormonstories.org/donate/ Your generosity makes a difference—thank you!
Purchase Matt Harris' book here! “Second Class Saints” by Matt Harris
https://www.amazon.com/Second-Class-Saints-Mormons-Struggle-Equality/dp/019769571X/
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Join Gerardo and Hayley Rawle (from the Girl's Camp podcast) as they dive into the journey of sisters Lexi and Sydney, who both joined the Mormon church in their pre-teens in Ohio. Sydney, an LGBTQ+ ally, shares her mission experience in Bolivia and her challenges with dating in the Young Single Adult Ward. After questioning her faith during the pandemic, she found herself grappling with her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. Meanwhile, Lexi discusses her mission in California, where she faced mental health struggles, including undiagnosed bipolar disorder and a companion with alarming ideations. Discover how a priesthood blessing empowered her to step away from the church. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on faith, identity, and personal growth!
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In this gripping third installment of our series, we dive deep into the Book of Mormon to unravel the true meaning of the cursed “Skin of Blackness." Are recent apologetic theories—claiming it's just paint, dark coats, or tattoos—offering genuine insights, or are they merely attempts to gloss over the text's troubling implications? Join us as we confront these arguments head-on and question whether we should trust the prophets or the apologists. Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion!
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In this special episode, we're thrilled to welcome Meg Campbell as we tackle the question: Can there be a healthy Mormon/exMormon divorce? Meg reflects on her journey of feeling constrained by church expectations and how her relationship shifted with the pressure of a Mormon Temple marriage. She shares vital dos and don’ts for navigating divorce, insights on dating afterward, and ways to support others through their divorce experiences. Join Julia, Margi, and John Dehlin for this important discussion!
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Join us as we dive into a thought-provoking discussion with Sandra Tanner about Brian Hales' recent video addressing the challenges raised in the CES Letter regarding polygamy. Hales controversially claims that Joseph Smith did not engage in sexual relations with his polyandrous wives (his wives who were already married). We'll explore key topics, including biblical support for polygamy, Emma Smith seeking divorce due to polygamy, the possibility of Joseph sending men on missions to marry their wives, and individuals trying to deny that Joseph ever lived polygamy. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the complexities of polygamy and its historical context!
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Michelle Clyde shares her journey of faith transition within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Growing up in Springville, Utah, she became more progressive in her views after her friend started the first gay-straight alliance in Utah Valley. Despite serving as a temple worker and in the Relief Society presidency, Michelle struggled with her experiences in the temple and her mental health. She opens up about her challenges during her mission in Taiwan, her journey through depression, and her evolving understanding of the church's history. Join us as Michelle reads from her journal and reveals the pivotal moments that led her to question her beliefs. Don’t miss this insightful discussion!
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In today's video, we dive into the protests at BYU during the 1970s, including threats from black activists and government pressure to increase diversity in hiring and recruitment. We'll also discuss a shocking incident during a basketball game where a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the crowd, narrowly missing the BYU sports announcer. The church's response to these threats (mostly fabricated by the Birch Society) included heightened security measures, with snipers stationed on the Mormon Tabernacle during General Conference. Joining us is Dr. Darron Smith to discuss Matt Harris’ new book, Second Class Saints. Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation!
Purchase Matt Harris’ book, Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality
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We are joined today by attorney Kolby Reddish to discuss the recent updates in the James Huntsman case against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Huntsman claimed the Church misused funds, alleging fraud and is seeking the return of millions of dollars of his voluntary contributions. This case could have national implications on how religious organizations use the voluntary contributions they receive from their members, and could impact how educational institutions and non-profits solicit voluntary contributions and invest some of those contributions for future use. Join us today as we discuss this groundbreaking case!
For the full oral argument visit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds0mK4pJ9YQ
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We are back again for part three to discuss episodes six, seven and eight of Hulu’s new hit docuseries The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Does Mormonism produce a certain type of husband? Does it create a certain type of wife? How does Mormonism influence the connection, equality, and other aspects of marriages? Join us as we discuss these questions with Alyssa Witbeck,, Hayley Rawle and John and Gerardo.
To watch the new show on Hulu visit here.
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An oral argument at the tenth circuit was brought forth today in the case of Gaddy vs. The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The argument is that the church hid its true history and that it lied about its use of tithing funds. The church representative made some shocking statements in both of these regards. Join us today as we discuss the arguments with attorney Kolby Reddish.
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In this episode, we dive into part two of our exploration of the "skin of blackness" mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Historically, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints identified Native Americans as the Lamanites. But as we approach the early 2000s, new theories have emerged. Could the "skin of blackness" refer to paint, tattoos, or dark animal skins? Join us as we unpack these intriguing ideas and their implications for understanding the text. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion!Show Notes
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In this episode Marcelo and Sandra share their remarkable journey as members of the Mormon church from Brazil. Raised Catholic, they embraced Mormonism in their late teens and early twenties. Marcelo served a mission, and after their marriage, he took on significant church roles including bishop and stake president by his early thirties. Their story takes a challenging turn when Marcelo was diagnosed with cancer while attending BYU. Among other things, his fight with cancer led him to start questioning church doctrines. He sought answers from his bishop, stake president, and even CES leaders. He even faced potential excommunication for starting a YouTube channel to help others in his same situation. Tune in to hear their inspiring and emotional Mormon story!
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Marcelo and Sandra's YouTube channel
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To email Marcelo and Sandra: mormonismosemcensura@gmail.com
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In the 1960s, Mormon Apostle Hugh B. Brown made significant efforts to lift the priesthood and temple ban for Black members of the church, even speaking with the media about the possibility of change. President Harold B. Lee, however, demanded that Brown stop speaking to the press and removed him from the First Presidency. Lee also forced Brown to sign a statement reaffirming the church’s racist doctrines. Join us with historian Matthew Harris as we explore the impact of Brown’s release, his faith journey, and insights from Harris's book Second Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality.
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We are back again to discuss episodes three, four and five from Hulu's new hit docuseries The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. But how Mormon are these women? How Mormon is their story? How much does Mormonism really influence their daily lives? Join us as we discuss these questions with Samantha Shelley, Brittney Hartley, Alyssa Witbeck and John and Gerardo.
To watch the new show on Hulu visit here.
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British YouTuber, Nemo the Mormon, is facing excommunication. Was it for being on LADBible? Was it for speaking out at the McKinney, Texas City Council? Was it for his years of being on Mormon Stories? Join us as we meet with Nemo himself and discuss why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has summoned him to a disciplinary council.
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Nemo the Mormon
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This week, Hulu released a new TV show titled The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, featuring the eight Mormon mothers behind the viral MomTok group that became a swinging scandal. Are these women truly representative of the Mormon faith? Can we trust them to reflect the entire Mormon Church? Join us as we discuss these questions with Samantha Shelley, Brittney Hartley, and Alyssa Witbeck.
To watch the new show on Hulu visit here.
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Join us for a special episode featuring the father/daughter duo Ryan and Scout Fisher. Ryan, known for his work as a Book of Mormon defender and host of The Nephite Explorer series, shares his journey, including working closely with Tim Ballard and his experiences as a missionary in Poland, where he was kidnapped and locked in a jail cell. Ryan’s patriarchal blessing foretold that millions would know his name, leading him to embark on Heartland tours and excursions with his daughter Scout to prove the truth of the Book of Mormon. As Ryan became a hard-core prepper, Scout witnessed her parents' faith transition while she continued attending church.
Trigger Warning: This episode covers topics such as kidnapping, suicide and suicidal ideation.
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Jackson and Hayden Paul are two brothers who run the Stick of Joseph YouTube channel. The Stick of Joseph channel seeks to make the Book of Mormon accessible by making engaging, entertaining and informative content. Jackson and Hayden are what some would call apologists for the Mormon church. Join us as we meet with them to hear their Mormon stories, and to understand how they continue to believe in core Mormon truth claims in spite of modern scientific evidence.Show Notes
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Join us as we uncover what drove change within the Mormon Church, from government pressure on BYU to admit more black students to the church’s troubling response. We’ll dive into shocking letters sent to black prospective students, a five-step plan to keep them out, and the protests that followed. Learn how government intervention eventually forced the end of discrimination and explore why Mormon leaders were so uneasy with black students. This episode, featuring historian Dr. Matthew Harris, is part of our series on his book Second Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality.
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Today we are joined with Sandra Tanner to discuss Mormon historian, Richard Bushman's recent response to the CES Letter. Bushman's response was on the topic of the translation of the Book of Mormon. Did Joseph Smith really use a seer stone? Is the author of the CES Letter, Jeremy Runnells, wrong for feeling betrayed by the church? Did the church really hide that Joseph Smith had and used a seer stone to translate their most sacred text? Join us to find out these answers!
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Join us as historian Matthew Harris returns to discuss what happens when members of the Mormon Church First Presidency go rogue. We explore George Romney's support of Civil Rights versus Ezra Taft Benson's involvement with the John Birch Society. We'll also dive into the impact of white church members marching in the Civil Rights Movement and how figures like Stewart Udall, Cleon Skousen, Robert Welch, and Hugh B. Brown challenged the Brethren at Church Headquarters with their views and publications.
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently released new policies surrounding transgender members of the church. It has taken the news and social media by storm! Among other things, the new policies include a measure to annotate trans members’ records, grouping them with members who have committed sexual violence or child abuse. Today we are joined with Amanda and Shaye Scott to discuss these new policies.
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A new study shows that religion usually leads to a more positive body image but Mormons in Utah are getting cosmetic surgeries at a rate 10% higher than the national average. What’s driving this trend? Today, we’re talking with Dr. Julie Hanks, Alyssa Whitbeck, Celeste Davis, and others to explore what’s happening in Utah’s Mormon culture. Tune in to hear the real story behind these numbers.
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Join Nate Byrd, Summer-Rayn, Dr. Darron Smith, and John Dehlin as they tackle the uncomfortable truths of Mormon leaders supporting racial segregation. This episode dives into topics like the European origin theory of the lost ten tribes, the discovery of black ancestry in those who appear white, patriarchs’ treatment of the “Curse of Cain,” and a shocking statement by Mormon prophet Harold B. Lee about closing BYU rather than admitting black students. Featuring clips from the episodes with historian Matthew Harris.
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Join us today as John and Margi interview Allison Shiffler. Raised in a part-member family, Allison faced struggles with body image, bulimia, and the perfectionism in Mormon culture. She went through two disciplinary councils questioning her worthiness. Despite this, Allison broke free from Mormon patriarchy, graduated from Columbia University, raised a child as a single mother, and became a therapist. Her story is a powerful example of empowerment, breaking down patriarchy, and discovering oneself beyond Mormonism.
Join us today as we discuss the priesthood and temple ban with historian Matthew Harris. Today we will discuss Hugh B. Brown and his attempts to lift the priesthood and temple ban for black members of the church. Hugh B. Brown was an attorney and joined the First Presidency in 1963. He made countless efforts to convince the Brethren that the ban on blacks should be lifted and even told the New York Times that there was a strong possibility the ban would soon be removed. This response caused a great deal of problems at Church Headquarters.
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Purchase Matt Harris’ book, Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality
Donate to Matt Harris directly for this series with Donorbox
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Today we are joined with Rebecca Bibliotheca and Landon Brophy (both of Mormonish Podcast) to discuss the breaking news over the proposed Mormon temple in Fairview, Texas.
Join us as a panel of Mormon women come together to discuss the controversies surrounding Hannah Neeleman, a ballerina who embraced the "tradwife" lifestyle. Critics argue that this lifestyle limits women's choices and reinforces patriarchal norms. Our panelists share their personal stories and reflections, addressing the challenges and regrets associated with the trad wife ideal in Mormonism.
Elisha Lee takes us on an emotional journey through her life from experiencing her parents' divorce as a child to facing intense shame and scrutiny as a teenager. She shares raw accounts of bishop interviews, religious scrupulosity, and the pressure to conform to church standards. As a young adult, Elisha threw herself into church devotion, only to later confront doubts that would unravel her faith. Her candid reflections on marriage, parenthood, and personal growth in the wake of leaving Mormonism offer valuable insights for anyone navigating religious transitions. This interview explores the complexities of deconstructing one's faith while finding new meaning and authentic relationships beyond the church.
Can ancient scripture be reinterpreted to erase racism? Mormon apologists are attempting just that with controversial 'skin of blackness' passages in the Book of Mormon. But can these efforts stand up to historical scrutiny, or do they merely obscure uncomfortable truths? Critics argue it whitewashes history and denies lived experiences. Join us as we critically examine how modern LDS apologists attempt to explain away racist teachings in early Mormon history and scripture by comparing their modern interpretations with the information they avoid most strenuously--the original words and primary sources of the doctrines to begin with.
In the 1950s and 60s, the Mormon church faced internal turmoil as a group of intellectuals known as the "Swearing Elders" challenged orthodox doctrines. This clash between free-thinking scholars and conservative leaders like Joseph Fielding Smith led to attempts at excommunication, spy infiltration, and the firing of liberal educators. Amidst this tension, Church President David O. McKay emerged as an unexpected protector of intellectual freedom. The period also saw the church grappling with civil rights issues and racial policies, as public pressure forced leaders to confront their teachings. This tumultuous era set the stage for decades of struggle between faith, scholarship, and authority in Mormonism.
As the first to be “born in the covenant” to convert parents, Rian Anderson's world revolved around the Church, until her mission became a crucible of mental anguish and familial tension. Expecting her experience to be one based on love and service, Rian was instead met with strict rules, surveillance, and spiritual turmoil as she continually felt forced to act against her own conscience & integrity. As the oppressive atmosphere coupled with isolation due to the initial rise of COVID began to take its toll on her mental and physical health, Rian cherished her weekly calls with her family. That is, until her family’s mounting concern for Rian’s welfare coincided with their loss of faith in the church. As Rian battled depression and suicidal thoughts, her mission leaders' response was shocking: accusations of pride and instructions to cut ties with her doubting family.
Certain that their concern for Rian’s spiritual well-being was superior to the love her “fallen” family had to offer back home, her Mission President and his wife insert themselves as surrogate parents for the remainder of her mission and beyond. Despite this initial interference, Rian finds herself facing her own faith crisis. As she considers what the actions of her “mission parents” truly cost her, Rian discovers for herself the real meaning of family, and her family had it all along.
Join with us today as we continue to discuss the history of racism in the Mormon church with historian Matt Harris. We will discuss segregation in Utah, including blood banks, hotels, in Relief Societies, etc. In the 1950s a talk was given by Mormon leader Mark E. Petersen that generated a lot of backlash from critics. Matt Harris gives an insider's view into the minds of these Mormon leaders and how they were not all in agreement with the priesthood and temple ban.
Mark E. Peterson's Talk: Race Problems As They Affect The Church : Internet Archive
Purchase Matt Harris’ book, Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality
Donate to Matt Harris directly for this series with Donorbox
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In this episode, we will dive deep into the unfolding legal action surrounding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) and its financial practices. Multiple lawsuits alleging fraud over tithing will be consolidated into a high-stakes class action case, accusing the church and its investment arm, Ensign Peak Advisors, of misleading members about the use of their donations. We will break down the complexities of the case, exploring how plaintiffs from across the nation are coming together to challenge the church's financial transparency and demand accountability for what they claim is a multibillion-dollar "slush fund."Firm representing the lawsuit: https://www.seegerweiss.com/https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2024/07/20/new-class-action-case-over-tithing/Show notes: https://www.mormonstories.org/mormon-tithing-class-action/
As part of our mini-series on Mormonism's Second Anointing Ritual, we are re-releasing part of Hans and Birgitta's original interview discussing their participation in this exclusive ceremony. Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president in Sweden before serving in the LDS church 3rd Quorum of the Seventy from 2000-2005 in the Europe Central area under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry.
After discovering troubling information about the Church's history and truth claims, the Mattsson's, along with many Swedish saints wanted answers, leading up to the Church's infamously poor attempt to keep them in the fold, now known as "the Swedish Rescue."
Join us today as we discuss Mormon the priesthood and temple ban with historian Matt Harris. We will be talking about missionary work in South Africa, patriarchal blessings for black individuals, the removal of church leaders because of their ancestry, and the notes from the top secret meeting that came to be known as the Bennion report. Nate Byrd of the Black Menaces is joining us today to share his perspective.
Discover the secret "Second Anointing" ritual within the LDS Church, where elite members are guaranteed exaltation by apostles. Former stake president Tom Phillips shares his journey from receiving this sacred ordinance to losing his faith. Learn about the controversial practice, its impact on believers, and the aftermath of questioning one's beliefs.
Today we are joined with Dr. Darron Smith, Summur-Rayn, and Nate Byrd of Black Menaces to react to the first three episodes with Matt Harris. Their commentary unpacks Joseph Smith's complex racial attitudes, Brigham Young's implementation of the priesthood ban, and the painful legacy of racist doctrines. Their candid discussion highlights the urgent need for accountability within the Mormon church and grapples with the lasting impact of this racial discrimination.
Tonight we will be discussing one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 NBA Draft - the fall of Duke forward Kyle Filipowski. Filipowski is a skilled 7-foot big man, two-time All-ACC selection and All-American in 2024. He was projected as a first-round pick by many accounts, but ended up being chosen as the second pick of the second round. Most are blaming Kyle's Mormon girlfriend - Caitlin Hutchison (8 years his senior) - and accusing her of grooming him as an adult while he was a child/teenager.
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Hayley and Courtney bravely unmask the devastating impacts of sexual shaming in the LDS Church. Representing Provo and Rexburg, two cities with highly dense Mormon populations, Courtney & Hayley reveal how dogmatic teachings warp self-worth and consent. This raw conversation offers validation and healing for those grappling with religious sexual shame, charting a path toward self-acceptance and empowerment.
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In 1947, Lowry Nelson, a respected Mormon academic, challenged the LDS Church's racist policies in a series of letters to top leadership. Occurring on the cusp of the Civil Rights Movement, the First Presidency reacted by doubling down on encoding white supremacy into Mormon doctrine. Nelson wasn't ready to give up though and continued to flirt with excommunication by publishing his correspondence with the brethren in a national magazine. Explore with us the story behind these letters and the national reaction once they became public.
Purchase Matt Harris’ book, Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality
Donate to Matt Harris directly for this series with Donorbox
You can read The Lowry Nelson Letters directly on our website:
Lowry Nelson 1st Presidency Exchange [PDF]
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From basketball dreams deferred to navigating faith crises, Darren and Jennifer Rogers share their journey out of Mormonism and into a new paradigm of parenting. With candid insights about gender roles, sexual shame, and the struggle to find identity beyond the church, this couple offers hope for those questioning their beliefs. Their story of rebellion, conformity, and ultimately forging their own path provides a compelling look at life after Mormonism and raising kids outside of faith and shame.
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Derren Klein didn't know a split-second decision to examine a document headed for the trash would blow open not just a family secret, but one of the Mormon Church's most-guarded, controversial, and exclusive rituals: the Second Anointing. This discovery set Klein on a transformative journey as he confronted unsettling truths about his faith, family history, and the very foundations of Mormonism.
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Join with us today as we discuss the priesthood and temple ban with historian Matt Harris. Joseph F. Smith and Joseph Fielding Smith, both Mormon leaders, could not find any doctrinal bases for the priesthood and temple ban and yet it still remained for decades. Members of the church performed blackface and wrote racist poems published in church periodicals. Many of the Mormon leaders did not agree with the ban and some were even removed from their callings because of their different opinions.
Purchase Matt Harris' book here: Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality: Harris, Matthew L.
Please donate directly to Matt Harris by clicking here: https://donorbox.org/MattHarris
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A former Mormon Temple Presidency member from the U.K., Martin Lock, candidly discusses his disillusionment with the LDS Church after learning troubling historical facts. He reveals shocking details about temple rituals, the Second Anointing ceremony granting eternal life, and how polygamy drove the creation of temple sealings. Lock's journey from devout believer to critic exposes the deep schism between the Church's teachings and its origins.
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Shrouded in secrecy, the Second Anointing ritual promises the highest blessings of exaltation and godhood to worthy Mormons. But with its history steeped in polygamy and secret combinations, this ceremonial rite has sparked intense debate. Uncover the veiled truths of this sacred ordinance as we delve into accounts from former members, historical documents, and the church's tight-lipped stance on this most enigmatic of Mormon mysteries.
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John Dehlin is in the hot seat again, this time with Graham Martin’s podcast, The Cross Examiner. Graham takes on the case of Rationality vs Religion using his experience as a lawyer to examine claims, making his listeners the “jury.”
The Cross Examiner (youtube.com)
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In this new series on Mormon Leadership, historian Matt Harris discusses Mormonism's early racism, focusing on the priesthood and temple ban for Black members. He explores the church's opposition to civil rights, the experiences of Black Latter-day Saints like Jane Manning James and Elijah Abel, and the evolving theology around race. Harris challenges misconceptions about prophetic revelation and the origins of the ban, shedding light on this complex and painful history.
Purchase Matt Harris' book here: Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality: Harris, Matthew L.
Please donate directly to Matt Harris by clicking here: https://donorbox.org/MattHarris
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We're back to wrap up our series on the Book of Mormon witnesses with what happened to them later in life.
- Nemo the Mormon - YouTube
- Nemo the Mormon - TikTok
- Nemo the Mormon - Instagram
- Analyzing Mormonism - YouTube
- Analyzing Mormonism - Website
- Analyzing Mormonism - Instagram
- Analyzing Mormonism - TikTok
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Join Rebecca and Landon (Mormonish) and Radio Free Mormon (RFM) as we review for the Mormon Stories audience the history and status of the Mormon church's attempts to construct very tall temples that in many instances violate local city ordinances for height and/or light.
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We are super excited to announce a new tv project in development - led by ex-Mormon Heather Gay of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. In my opinion, this project has the potential to move the needle in our goal to bring more transparency to Mormon church. Heather's plea is included below. Please email her production company if you are interested.
"To all my Bad Mormons – The last few years have brought me so many incredible experiences and opportunities, but by far the most formative has been being able to work through my faith transition with the church amongst a community of people who understood and support my experiences. We are exploring a television project that I hope will extend this opportunity to more people who might be struggling with similar issues. If you think you might be interested, please reach out to me at newproject@slausonproductions.com and tell me a little about your story and why you think it could be valuable to share." - Heather Gay
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In a gripping interview, Megan Conner shares insights on Chad Daybell's shocking guilty verdict for murdering his wife and children. Delving into the disturbing "Church of the Firstborn" teachings on blood atonement, she raises critical questions about the LDS Church's silence. Conner passionately argues the Church bears responsibility in condemning such dangerous ideologies to prevent future tragedies. Don't miss this captivating discussion unpacking the complex web surrounding this horrific case.
Megan Connor:
- ThirdVerse Community
- Megan Conner - YouTube
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Content Warning: suic*de
In this riveting podcast, Randy Bell, delves into the chilling story of Heaven's Gate, a cult that led 39 members to a mass suicide in 1997. Through captivating insights, Bell unravels the cult's manipulative tactics, explores the twisted beliefs of its leaders, and highlights the importance of critical thinking in recognizing and avoiding such dangerous groups. Brace yourself for a gripping exploration of one of the most infamous cults in modern history.
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In a captivating panel discussion, former Relief Society Presidents from Mormonism share their raw and honest experiences navigating the complexities of their roles. From confronting gender inequalities to grappling with spiritual doubts, these women offer a rare glimpse into the challenges faced by women in leadership positions within a patriarchal system. Their stories are both empowering and heartbreaking, providing a thought-provoking exploration of faith, identity, and the pursuit of authenticity.
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Join us today as we interview Tennessee Mormon Bishop Nathan Hinckley as he shares with us:
- His recent LDS faith deconstruction
- How he shared his thoughts on the internet, leading to an invitation to meet with is LDS Stake President
- The surprising outcome of their "confrontation."
We will be hosting a Tennessee meet-up on 5/24/24 thru 5/26/2024. It will be super casual.
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In this riveting interview, @nemothemormon and @analyzingmormonism are back to delve into the lesser-known accounts surrounding the plates of the Book of Mormon. Witness testimonies, some published decades after the events, paint a conflicting picture of the plates' appearance, size, and the circumstances under which they were allegedly shown. From the curious case of Josiah Stoll, who claimed to be the first to handle the plates, to Mary Whitmer's visionary encounter with an enigmatic figure, "Brother Nephi," who purportedly showed her the plates, we explore the enduring myths of Mormonism's foundational narrative.
- Nemo the Mormon - YouTube
- Nemo the Mormon - TikTok
- Nemo the Mormon - Instagram
- Analyzing Mormonism - YouTube
- Analyzing Mormonism - Website
- Analyzing Mormonism - Instagram
- Analyzing Mormonism - TikTok
Witnesses Series:
- 1886: Are the 3 Witnesses to the Book of Mormon Credible? w/ LDS Discussions Ep. 52
- 1895: Are the 8 Witnesses to the Book of Mormon Credible? w/ LDS Discussions Ep. 53
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Join us today as we discuss the shocking wave of excommunications hitting at least five married lesbian couples in the Mormon Church across the US. These events stand in stark contrast to what we thought was a hopeful shift in welcoming LGBT married couples in the Church.
Here are a few questions for the Church:
- What happened?
- Is the right to preserve one's membership intact a privilege reserved only for select LGBT Mormons?
- How is the Church guiding these decisions?
- Are divine revelations to local leaders influenced by the affluence of their congregations?
- Is God giving different revelations depending on the level of backlash anticipated from local members?
Youtube link
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John Dehlin is joined by Natasha Helfer and Janae Thompson to discuss and react to Kevin Franke's second police interview in the controversial child ab*se case surrounding his former wife, Ruby Franke, and their LDS therapist, Jodi Hildebrandt.
Natasha & John's Faith Transitions Course for Therapists
Janae Thompson's The King of Random (youtube.com)
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Were the 8 witnesses to Joseph Smith's golden plates actually credible? Or just gullible relatives caught up in his delusion? Shockingly candid statements from witnesses like Hiram Page and John Whitmer seem to contradict and undermine official LDS teachings about their testimonies. What are the implications of the past witnesses on today’s modern church?
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In this captivating interview, Shannon Lamb takes us on a profound journey through her experiences within the Mormon faith, unveiling the intricate tapestry of her personal and spiritual evolution. Shannon's narrative is a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities surrounding sexuality, gender roles, and institutional authority within the Church. Her courageous questioning of long-held beliefs, her encounters with Church leaders, and her advocacy for a more inclusive and compassionate community paint a vivid portrait of a woman determined to navigate the path between tradition and progress.
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From the author of Come as You Are and co-author of Burnout comes an illuminating exploration of how to maintain a happy sex life in a long-term relationship.
Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections: Nagoski, Emily
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In a gripping and vulnerable interview, Lori takes us on her journey of being raised in a picture-perfect Mormon household, only to find herself betrayed by the misogynistic teachings and practices of the Church. As a feminist trapped in a patriarchal system, she recounts the jarring experience of going through the temple for the first time, feeling like she had entered a cult. Despite her discomfort, she persevered for decades, until the cognitive dissonance and oppression of women triggered debilitating panic attacks and a mental health crisis. Lori's courageous story is a testament to the strength it takes to break free from indoctrination, find one's authentic self, and embrace true peace and equality outside the confines of orthodoxy. Her raw honesty about the harmful effects of Mormonism on women's mental health and her path to healing and purpose will resonate deeply with anyone who has struggled to reconcile their beliefs with their lived experience.
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Get ready for an explosive and unfiltered look at life as a Black student at BYU! Sebastian takes us on a wild ride as he dishes about the viral rise of his "Black Menaces" group, a provocative movement that fearlessly called out racism within Mormon culture. From protests that sparked national headlines to tense confrontations with horrified church leaders like Brad Wilcox, Sebastian holds nothing back. He delves into the trauma of being constantly stared at and "othered" on BYU's overwhelmingly white campus, receiving vile racist abuse and death threats just for daring to speak truth to power. Sebastian's story is a raw, unsettling wake-up call about the insidious persistence of racism, even in religious communities that preach love and equality. Get ready to have your perceptions shattered by this bold revolutionary's refusal to stay silent in the face of oppression.
The Black Menaces
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Today we are excited to announce the launch of an exciting new book: No Nonsense Spirituality: All the Tools, No Faith Required, by Britt Hartley. Please join us to discuss the book, and to ask your questions about nihilism and spirituality after religion.
No Nonsense Spirituality Episode Show Notes
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Together with Hidden True Crime, we will analyze Chad Daybell's LDS Faith based defense on his criminal trial.
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Just when you thought Summur's faith transition couldn't get any more intense, buckle up for a mind-blowing ride in part 2. From uncovering disturbing details in the Gospel Topics Essays that left her questioning everything she knew, to grappling with the church's dishonesty about its history and finances, to watching her oldest daughter develop scrupulosity, Summur holds nothing back. Her brutally honest account of deconstructing her lifelong beliefs is equal parts heartbreaking and empowering. You'll be on the edge of your seat as she navigates the challenges of a mixed-faith marriage, learning how to have open and loving discussions despite diverging worldviews. Summur's raw vulnerability and unrelenting search for truth and meaning will leave you reflecting on your own spiritual journey long after the interview ends.
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What happens when a multiracial woman raised in a loving family that valued advocacy, positivity, and education joins the Mormon church? Summur's fascinating journey takes you from her NFL player father desegregating a team, to her mother fiercely protecting her from bullies and racism. Despite nurturing experiences at home, Summur faced harsh judgments and segregationist attitudes at church - a stark contrast that began shaping her doubts. Her path winds through BYU, an African American Studies class that unveiled new perspectives, and a traumatic racist cop incident, before working as a flight attendant and meeting her husband.
With a unique multicultural lens, Summur shares the powerful family influences, eye-opening experiences, and pivotal moments like a young girl's innocent "Look mommy, a Lamanite" comment that led her to fundamentally question certain Mormon teachings and toxic cultures like purity culture. Prepare for an insightful, thought-provoking journey through the eyes of a Black Mormon woman.
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Julia, Nemo, and Mike are back to discuss the varying accounts of the three men who supposedly saw Joseph's "gold plates" that eventually became the Book of Mormon. What did they say about what they REALLY saw?
Episode Show Notes
Youtube Link
- Nemo the Mormon - YouTube
- Nemo the Mormon - TikTok
- Nemo the Mormon - Instagram
- Analyzing Mormonism - YouTube
- Analyzing Mormonism - Website
- Analyzing Mormonism - Instagram
- Analyzing Mormonism - TikTok
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Last week Book of Mormon apologists declared victory when it was revealed on an evangelical Christian podcast that ancient gold plates were allegedly discovered in Saudi Arabia - in their minds, validating the Joseph Smith/Gold Plates/Book of Mormon/Nephites narrative. Today Bible scholar Dan McClellan returns to Mormon stories to show us the evidence as to why the Saudi Gold Plates are a forgery.
Episode Show Notes
YouTube Link
Dan McClellan
- Data Over Dogma - Podcast
- Dan McClellan - website for classes
- Dan McClellan - TikTok
- Dan McClellan - Instagram
- Dan McClellan - Twitter
- Dan McClellan - Facebook
- Dan McClellan - YouTube
- Dan McClellan - LinkTree
- Dan’s Online Courses - Didaskaloi
- Publications by Dan McClellan
- Biography of Dan McClellan
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Join us as Nemo the Mormon reviews with us the highlights and lowlights from the April 2024 LDS General Conference. Nemo watches LDS General Conference so that you don't have to.
Episode Show Notes
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In today's episode, we are diving into some of the most shocking Mormon-themed entries from Ruby Franke's journal with the well-known true crime and news TikTokker, Julie Louise. Gerardo and John will break down the journal's themes, looking at how they tie back to Latter-day Saint doctrine and practices. Julie knows the Franke/Hildebrandt story inside out, but is a never-Mormon. Combined we hope to provide top-notch commentary and insights as we walk through these pages together.
Julie (The Recap) (@julielouise1975) | TikTok
The Recap with Julie - YouTube
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In this week's program, we take a look at the return to past instruction on the Mormon Undergarment as the new status quo and take a look at the aftermath of the Church's misstep on female Power & Authority. The newest creation of David Archuleta as well as other Mormon News will round out the show! Don't forget to like and subscribe!
LDS temple garments: Church reemphasizes wearing them every day
David Archuleta - Hell Together Episode Show Notes
Youtube link
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David Bokovoy delves into Isaiah's significance in Mormon scripture, prophecy, and current events with an emphasis on understanding biblical prophets as social critics, not predictors of distant future events. We discuss scholarly debates on Isaiah's authorship and anachronistic references like brass plates, clarifying that the writings of Isaiah as known today did not exist in Isaiah's time.
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In a recent broadcast, one of the top female leaders of the Mormon church made the following statement, “There is no other religious organization in the world that I know of, that has so broadly given power and authority to women.” (J. Anette Dennis, 1st Counselor in the LDS Church Relief Society General Presidency). Please join Amy McPhie Allebest (Breaking Down Patriarchy), Chelsea Homer (Lost & Found Club) and musical artist Mindy Gledhill as they discuss their reactions to this statement, and their experiences as women in the LDS/Mormon church.
Breaking Down Patriarchy - YouTube
Lost and Found Club | Community-Led In-Person Events
Mindy Gledhill
Episode Show Notes
Youtube link
Episode Show Notes
Youtube link
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Join us today for a panel discussion on this week's firestorm over J. Anette Dennis's sermon broadcast to women of the church, which was uploaded to the LDS Church's official Instagram account. Panelists include: Julia Sanders, Celeste Davis, Samantha Shelley, and Alyssa Witbeck. This riveting interview takes a deep dive into the church's recent Women's Devotional - an event intended to empower female members but one that generated significant controversy. Hear candid analysis unpacking the mixed messaging around their supposed "power and authority", and the perceived dissonance between leader's rhetoric and the reality of women's restricted roles. No topic is off-limits in this thought-provoking look at how the devotional aimed to honor women's divine roles while still upholding traditional male leadership.
- Alyssa Witbeck - Tik Tok
- Alyssa Witbeck - Instagram
- Zelph on the Shelf - YouTube
- Zelph on the Shelf - Instagram
- Celeste M Davis Substack
- Celeste Davis - Instagram
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Hey everyone! We have revamped our process for becoming a guest on Mormon Stories Podcast. We are currently seeking panelists for a number of upcoming panels including a Relief Society Presidents panel, a Bishops Wives panel, a "Recently Returned LDS Missionary" panel, a "lost my faith in the last year" panel, a "Left the church recently BEFORE serving a mission" panel, and a "Never Mormon" panel....amongst many others. We are also always on the lookout for traditional, long form Mormon stories with Mormons who were "in it to win it" - and for other unique Mormon stories. Click the link below for more details, and to apply to be on Mormon Stories Podcast.
https://forms.gle/j87YEmcW8pAynCs68
Ever wonder what happens when a faithful Mormon Bible scholar has a crisis of faith and steps away from the religion he dedicated his life to? David Bokovoy's candid interview takes you on a riveting personal journey from staunch believer to "spiritual atheist." He pulls no punches in describing how the Church's controversial 2015 LGBTQ+ policy shattered his worldview, leading him to lose his testimony and leave Mormonism behind. With raw honesty and hard-won wisdom, he shares profound insights about the transformative power of education from his work in prison rehabilitation. He grapples with weighty questions of free will, authenticity, and human connection.
You'll be captivated by his stories of finding the "Holy Ghost" outside of religion, confronting trauma through therapy, and continually evolving his understanding of truth. Brimming with thought-provoking perspectives on everything from ADHD to patriarchy to psychedelics, Bokovoy's interview is a must-see for anyone on their own journey of self-discovery beyond rigid belief systems.
Episode Show Notes
YouTube Link
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David Bokovoy is back to apply higher criticism to Mormon scripture. Today's focus is the Book of Mormon & Pearl of Great Price which have been remastered from previous interviews 1020-1022.
Episode Show Notes
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David Bokovoy is back to apply higher criticism to Mormon scripture. Today's focus is the Old & New Testaments, which have been remastered from previous interviews 1019, 1020, and 1022.
Episode Show Notes
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Note: This interview is a remastered version of episodes 1013-1016 with David Bokovoy done in 2018. In these highly-anticipated episodes of Mormon Stories Podcast, we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard University, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. He is the author of 2 books including Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis-Deuteronomy, dozens of articles, and was a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson.
This interview focuses on David's personal faith journey, including his fascinating story of falling in love with the Hebrew language and deeply studying the Bible—to forgoing a possibly more lucrative academic career to move to Utah to teach in the Church Educational System.
Episode Show Notes
YouTube Link
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World renowned Jazz musician and professor Dr. Ryan Nielsen was recently disinvited from speaking at BYU-Idaho jazz fest as punishment for telling his story on Mormon Stories podcast.
Episode Show Notes
YouTube Link
Additional Resources mentioned in the episodes:
- Ryan's AMAZING faith crisis/transition Reading/Podcast list can be found here, and has also been included below, after the video and audio links. This is probably the most impressive and thoughtful resources list I've ever seen for Mormon/religious faith transitions.
- Holly's Art: This link goes straight to the art Holly has done related to her faith transition, and her reclamation of motherhood.
- Ryan's Music: This link goes straight to the music portion of Ryan's website. Several pieces there are related to my faith transition, including "Prayer for Peace" and "Requiem."
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Join us as Jessi Hildebrandt, Jodi Hildebrandt's niece, updates the Mormon Stories audience on the healing and growth they have experienced after telling their story on Mormon Stories Podcast.
Jessi's Venmo
Jessi's Insta
Episode Show Notes
Youtube Link
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Join Julia Sanders and John Dehlin as the explore the plausibility of Tim Ballard’s “Lincoln Hypothesis” - which is that the Book of Mormon inspired Abraham Lincoln to free American slaves.
Episode Show Notes
YouTube
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Nemo from @NEMOTHEMORMON is back to produce another UK episode! Strap in for an epic UK Mormon Stories interview!
Show Notes
YouTube Link
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John Larsen explores the role of Satan in Mormon theology, including his origins, powers, and purpose. Key topics discussed are the problems of evil and human agency, Mormon concepts of the afterlife, the elaborate powers ascribed to Satan, theological issues like why an all-powerful God would allow Satan to thrive or even reward him in the end. Larsen argues these issues point to flaws in the Mormon Plan of Salvation and suggests Satan must be part of the Godhead, concluding that Mormon doctrines concerning Satan lead to profound philosophical problems in Mormon theology.
John says Goodbye to Mormonism - YouTube
Dabbler Farm Wishlist
Dabbler Farm Fundraiser: Hoop Dreams
Episode Show Notes
YouTube Link
SHOW NOTES:
- Donate to Mormon Expression
- Mormon Expressions Podcast
- JohnLarsen.org
- Nuance Hoe Podcast
- NuanceHug Foundation
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Breaking News - Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt Sentenced to Prison. Today we are joined by Lauren Mathias of Hidden True Crime podcast.
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Shelise Sola discusses her life journey of being raised in the Mormon church, including the purity culture, self-worth struggles, and sexual trauma she experienced. She shares about having a faith crisis in her 20s after learning disturbing historical truths about the church, feeling liberated yet terrified, and rebuilding an identity outside of Mormonism. Sola also opens up about confronting childhood abuse memories, finding healing through experiences with psychedelics and embracing her voice by starting a podcast to support others leaving high-demand groups.
- Cults to Consciousness on YouTube
- Cults to Consciousness on Patreon
Episode Show Notes
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In this wide-ranging interview, Sandra Tanner discusses her complex history with D. Michael Quinn, from being arch-enemies due to their clashing views on Mormon history, to gaining an appreciation for Quinn's tireless research into difficult aspects of LDS history, even as she remains puzzled by his persistent belief in Mormonism despite uncovering many factual problems. Sandra highlights Quinn's lifelong quest to reconcile his faith with the uncomfortable realities he uncovered, his struggles with Church leadership over his historical writings, the irony of him publishing an anti-Tanner pamphlet, and the sadness of his eventual excommunication which rejected both him as a person due to his sexuality and his meticulously researched historical analysis which the Church disliked. Ultimately, Sandra expresses a wish that Quinn was still alive to have an open discussion given their intertwined, conflicted past.
Chosen Path: A Memoir: Quinn, D. Michael | Amazon.com
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Rebecca and John are joined once again by Barbara Jones Brown and special guest, Moshe Quinn. Join us for the unveiling of a hidden legacy as Moshe Quinn shares his father's untold memoir with the world. We'll unravel the layers of D. Michael Quinn's remarkable journey — a path marked by secrecy, conviction, and unwavering faith. Delve into the complexities of identity, family dynamics, and the pursuit of truth as we navigate through the pages of a life story that defies conventions and embraces honesty.
Chosen Path: A Memoir: Quinn, D. Michael, Quinn, Moshe | Amazon.com
Episode Show Notes
YouTube Link
Co-host: Rebecca Bibliotheca
- The Good Book Club: For post and nuanced Mormons
- Mormon.ish Podcast
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Brian Tibbets describes his faith journey from devoted Mormon missionary to suic*dal doubter to healed ex-Mormon. He opens up about the shame and lies he felt compelled to tell while hiding his loss of faith, his wife's manipulation by unethical therapist Jodi Hildebrandt, and the supernatural beliefs that tore his marriage and family apart. Brian shares intimate details about his experiences with Mormon rules around sexuality and how he tested whether sinning really caused loss of the Spirit. Ultimately, Brian found peace and healing after leaving the LDS church, regaining relationships with his kids, and finding a healthier marriage outside Mormonism. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the harm fundamentalist Mormon beliefs can cause.
Episode Show Notes
YouTube Link
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The team discusses controversial allegations of sexual impropriety against Joseph Smith and John C. Bennett in Nauvoo, the existence of the Danites as a violent vigilante group, Bennett's subsequent exposes of Mormonism after his excommunication, the succession crisis and various Mormon offshoots after Joseph Smith's death, and questions around the authenticity of Mormon truth claims such as the golden plates. There is debate around the accuracy of some historical sources, as well as acknowledgment that early Mormonism contained cult-like elements such as polygamy and unquestioning loyalty tests.
YouTube Link
Episode Show Notes
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Join John Dehlin, Jillian Orr, Liz and Dillan for clips and behind-the-scenes commentary on the Jubilee channel’s “Mormons vs Ex-Mormons” episode. We think you’ll get fired up with us as we highlight the most infuriating logical fallacies and manipulative tactics employed by the Mormon debaters, as well as the more poignant, genuine moments from each side.
Beyond the debate recap, the conversation explores profoundly personal wounds still felt from the religion’s damaging teachings on LGBTQ identities and traditional gender roles. Jillian even courageously opens up about her inability to discuss her religious views with family members still in the church.
Can Mormons and Ex Mormons See Eye to Eye? | Middle Ground - YouTube
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Content warning: mentions of child abuse, assault, suicidalality
Four former Mormon Bishops - Beau, Nick, Jedd, and Rob - have an intimate discussion about the oft-hidden realities of serving in Mormon leadership, including the lack of training on handling abuse cases, near-suicidal stress levels, the painful contradictions between doctrine and human needs, and the ways bureaucratic priorities seem to trump pastoral care. With empathy and nuance, they peel back the curtain on issues like LGBTQ exclusion, leader worship, doubted spiritual 'gifts', unhealthy perfectionism, and the people left wounded when conference talks supersede mental health expertise - all while recognizing the very real human desire to do good amidst institutions not structured to support it.
Episode Shownotes
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A few weeks ago, Mormon Bishop Nick Jones (Mississippi) took the LDS church by storm by resigning his position as bishop from the pulpit (with the video being subsequently shared on TikTok and YouTube). Please join us for Nick and Amanda's (his wife's) story. We welcome your questions and comments.
Nick's resignation video
Episode Show Notes
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On tonight's Mormon Newscast program, we take a look at the mixed messages that Conservatives among the faith are struggling with around homosexuality and those who are Transgender. Including the perspectives on Doctrine that some conservative commentaries say are at the base of this issue. We will also examine recent messages from leaders regarding Artificial Intelligence. And we will take a look at recent comments by an apostle that the Church needs to do right by Sexual Assault victims. And our last story revolves around why females can't pass the Sacrament.
Episode Show Notes
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Join us as we discuss the surprising events that challenge norms—married gay Mormons now receiving callings and participating in the sacrament. We will explore the impact, reactions, and implications of this new chapter, and discuss whether it marks a significant change in the community's approach to inclusivity and acceptance.
Episode Show Notes
YouTube
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Today we will be responding to Jacob Hansen's video where he expresses the confusion that conservative Mormons are experiencing regarding the Church's stances on LGBT issues.
Can we go on like this? (Thoughtful Faith)
Episode Show Notes
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Tara Herbert recounts her challenging journey within Mormonism and motherhood, reflecting on the societal pressures and personal struggles she faced. Despite feeling unprepared, she experienced the birth of her first child within the confines of Mormon teachings, grappling with the disconnection she felt towards motherhood and the expectations placed upon women. Tara delves into the erasure of women's roles within Mormon theology, feeling disrespected and marginalized. She confronts the sexist doctrines and rituals of the faith, ultimately realizing the toxicity of the environment and its limitations on her identity and well-being. Through personal and familial trials, including PTSD and infertility, Tara navigates her disillusionment with Mormonism, finding solace in stepping away from its constraints and embracing a more liberated perspective on life and motherhood. Despite fluctuating emotions towards her past experiences, Tara prioritizes her mental health and autonomy, recognizing the importance of complexity and personal growth over the pursuit of a simplistic notion of happiness propagated by her former faith.
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Tara Herbert, born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and adopted at age two by white Mormon parents from Utah, recounts her complex upbringing in a predominantly white and Mormon environment. Raised with four biological siblings, she navigates her identity as a black girl in Utah, where she initially struggles to recognize her racial difference. Despite feeling out of place, she engages with Mormonism deeply, experiencing conflicting emotions about her faith and cultural identity. Tara's journey evolves through high school, where she grapples with societal perceptions of blackness, sexuality, and Mormon teachings on race and gender roles. Her mission to Atlanta, Georgia, exposes her to systemic racism within the Mormon Church and the broader community, challenging her beliefs and sense of self. Despite enduring trauma and grappling with guilt and shame, Tara finds solace in her eventual marriage and motherhood, yet continues to confront the complexities of her Mormon upbringing and racial identity.
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Welcome to the Mormon NewsCast! Topics for today include:
- New Female Mormon prophet called by Community of Christ.
- LDS wards share meeting space with LGBTQ congregation.
- Mormon apostles Jeffrey R. Holland declares victory.
- The 10 Commandments back in school in Utah?
- Utah the Online Wedding Capital?
- Can Mormon clergy report abuse?
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In this episode, we expose the layers of Bennett's role in divulging Joseph's polygamous secrets. From secret women's organizations with captivating names like Cyprian Saints to the complex web of polygamous relationships, we journey through a fascinating exploration of historical allegations and denials. Brace yourself for a captivating ride through the world of John C. Bennett, where accusations, clandestine affairs, and the shadowy specter of abortionist connections add layers of complexity to this historical puzzle.
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This week we tackle the polarizing news that the Mormon church has hired an LGBTQ ally, the Church makes a brewing company change the name of a beer, Chad Daybell's legal counsel withdraws due to lack of funds, and new criminal allegations emerge against controversial Mormon figure Tim Ballard.
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Alyssa Grenfell is the author of a brand new book called "How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormon’s Guide to Rebuilding After Religion." Today she will be sharing with us her Top 10 tips on how to leave Mormonism.
Alyssa’s new book, "How to Leave the Mormon Church" can be purchased here
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In this captivating interview, Alyssa shares poignant moments that shaped her perception of gender roles, societal expectations, and the struggle for self-worth within the Mormon context. The narrative explores her attempts to reconcile personal identity with the rigid doctrines of the Church, touching on themes of control, body autonomy, and the internal conflicts that arise when faith clashes with individual growth.
Alyssa recounts her mission, marriage, and the disillusionment that eventually led to her departure from the Mormon Church. The interview offers a powerful reflection on the cost of leaving behind the familiar for the pursuit of personal authenticity. Listeners are invited to join this intimate journey of self-discovery, challenging societal norms, and finding empowerment outside the constraints of religious expectations.
Alyssa’s new book, "How to Leave the Mormon Church" can be purchased here
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Dive into the latest happenings in the world of Mormonism with this engaging news show! Explore the heartfelt story of a Mormon Bishop resigning from the pulpit, offering viewers a glimpse into the personal struggles faced by religious leaders on the local level. The hosts, one a former Bishop himself, provide thoughtful perspective on the challenges Bishops encounter when asked to go against their own conscience. The episode also includes Utah's Mormon politicians, and a special report from the Widow's Mite on new stats from Australia on child ab*se rates within Mormonism. The Widow's Mite Report
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Dive into the captivating saga of John C. Bennett, an enigmatic figure woven into the intricate tapestry of early Mormonism. John, Mike, Nemo, and Julia from Analyzing Mormonism unearth together the layers of his rise, from esteemed physician to Mayor of Nauvoo and right-hand man to Joseph, and the scandalous allegations that led to his name becoming a hiss and a byword among Mormons even to this day. Tune in for an enthralling journey that peels back the layers of secrecy and intrigue surrounding this controversial historical figure.
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Is the Mormon Church in decline in its home state: Utah? Is the Mormon church over-reporting its Utah membership? Is the Mormon church in decline worldwide? Join us as we interview sociologist Dr. Ryan Cragan we we discuss his new article: "Mormons Are No Longer a Majority in Utah: Causes, Consequences, and Implications for the Sociology of Religion."
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Content warning: mentions of abuse, incest, drugging. In this interview, Chelsea Goodrich details years of sexual abuse by her father, former Mormon bishop John Goodrich, beginning when she was a young child. When confronted in 2015, John admitted the abuse to both Chelsea's mother and their Mormon leaders. However, the church failed to act to protect Chelsea, support victims, or warn others. John faced excommunication but no criminal charges due to statute of limitations. In 2017, another victim came forward alleging John drugged and raped her. Despite evidence, prosecutors eventually only tried John for illegal drugging. Meanwhile, John remarried and had access to grandchildren, prompting safety concerns for Chelsea. Desperate, Chelsea and her mother sought help from church representative Paul Rytting only to be offered settlement money and asked to sign nondisclosure agreements.
Ultimately, Chelsea decides to go public to protect other potential victims from a predator still left free. Her story exposes the patterns of coverups, victim blaming, inaction, and secrecy in the Mormon church around abuse.
Resilient Wellness: http://resilientwellnessllc.com
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In the upcoming episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we delve into the intriguing and controversial saga of Trevor Milton, founder of Nikola Corporation. This episode unpacks how Milton, once a celebrated entrepreneur, was unmasked as a fraud, leading to his recent sentencing of four years in prison. We explore the intricacies of his fraudulent activities at Nikola, a company that promised revolutionary electric trucks. Our special guest, Utah fraud expert Mark Pugsley, brings his insightful perspectives on the case, particularly focusing on the extent to which Milton's Mormon background and the environment he was a part of may have played a role in this story. This episode promises to shed light on the complex interplay between personal beliefs, corporate ethics, and legal accountability in the high-stakes world of business and technology.
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We discuss Ruby Franke's recent guilty plea for abusing her children and read excerpts from the plea deal, which contains disturbing details of kicking, choking, and even holding them underwater. Franke admits her actions were "morally and legally wrong."
The hosts analyze how Franke justified the @buse by claiming God wanted her to discipline her son. They discuss how some Mormon teachings can distort views on "morality" and discipline.
The hosts argue the Mormon church needs to take some responsibility by re-examining certain teachings that may enable abuse by followers. They believe the church can help prevent similar tragedies through reforms and speaking out against domestic violence.
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Join us this week as we delve into some of the latest surprises in a few high profile crime cases involving Mormonism, including the recent Ruby Franke guilty plea deal and the latest around Tim Ballard and OUR and the mysterious White Board Meeting. As Christmas approaches we take a look at the LDS Giving Machines. What do we know about how they are being utilized in terms of who is getting the goods and who gets to count the donations? As we approach the conclusion of our program, we tackle the recent land acquisitions by the LDS Church in Nebraska, exploring the motivations behind the land grab and its broader implications. Our panel discussion promises to provide diverse perspectives on the LDS Church's Mormon Monopoly of land and property over the past decade.
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Good evening, and welcome as we bring you the latest news and stories that matter to the Latter-day Saint community. We have an exciting lineup for you tonight. Tonight we will cover the announcement of new apostle Patrick Kearon. We then turn our attention to the political landscape with breaking news and commentary about Attorney General Sean Reyes. And our last top story revolves around nationwide showing of Mormon cinematic flick "The Oath"
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Today two important AP News stories broke: - Recordings show how the Mormon church protects itself from child sex abuse claims: https://apnews.com/article/mormon-chu...
- Takeaways from The AP’s investigation into the Mormon church’s handling of sex abuse cases: https://apnews.com/article/mormon-chu...
And the Deseret News issued a response: https://www.deseret.com/2023/12/3/239...
Please join us at 6pm mountain today as Rebecca Bibliotheca (Mormonish Podcast), Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon (Mormonism Live!), and John Dehlin (Mormon Stories Podcast) share recent news from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Mormon Stories Podcast is truly at a crossroads. We have had our highest impact year of all time (by far) in 2023, but we have also lost several recurring donors that have not been replaced by new donors. We have also been the subject of fierce attacks that have been extremely expensive financially, and in terms of time and emotional energy.
We are currently at the point of possibly needing to reduce our efforts, unless at least a few hundred monthly donors step up to replace the donors we lost over the past two years.
If you find value in Mormon Stories podcast - either for yourself or for the broader community - please consider becoming a monthly donor today.
Thank you. The Mormon Stories Podcast Team YouTube Link
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In this interview, we delve into Brittney Hartley's journey as an Atheist spiritual director, exploring her Mormon upbringing, faith crisis, and profound shifts in beliefs. From being kicked out of home at 16 to grappling with Mormon doctrine and culture at BYU-Idaho, Brittney's story navigates her loss of faith, teaching seminary, raising kids outside the Church, and finding herself in nihilism's depths.
The conversation touches on existential fears, embracing the absurdity of life, and the power of personal growth through dark times. Brittney's insights challenge conventional beliefs, highlighting the value of authenticity, inner peace, and ethical living beyond religious confines.
This is a must-watch for anyone struggling to find meaning in life after leaving religion.
No Nonsense Spirituality
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John Larsen is back for a new series! Join us as we discuss Joseph Smith's teachings of the devil in the Pearl of Great Price.
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Book Club is back with Rebecca Bibliotheca and John Dehlin! Joining with them as they discuss the Mountain Meadows Massacre is author and historian Barbara Brown Jones. Barbara cowrote "Vengeance is Mine" with Richard Turley. Barbara puts down rumors about the Mountain Meadows Massacre and why it started and discusses who was to blame for it and who was not.
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Content Warning: Discussions of @buse of children, including ince$t.
Those who want to support Amanda can do so here: https://venmo.com/u/Arae18 https://paypal.com/paypalme/AmandaRaeGrant
The Kingston Group, founded by Elden Kingston, has a complex hierarchy where Ortell emerged as a leader, introducing incestuous practices. From bloodline beliefs linking them to Jesus to intricate rules dictating marriages, the Order's control over its members is striking.
In this gripping interview with Amanda Rae, we dive deep into the secretive world of The Order, exploring its history, shocking practices, and the personal experiences of those raised within it. Amanda unveils the manipulation and trauma faced by women, the indoctrination of children in their schools, and the stark realities of life under polygamous marriages.
Revealing her own journey, Amanda shares her struggle for freedom and the challenges faced after leaving. Her recounting of institutionalized financial fraud, emotional manipulation, and attempts to break free from The Order's grip are both heart-wrenching and eye-opening. Tune in for an insider's perspective, confronting the darker aspects of cults, survival after leaving, and the ongoing healing process. Episode Show Notes
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Does accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet require rejecting vast fields of science and scholarship?
Join us as we consider long-held assumptions about Joseph Smith and the truth claims of Mormonism. We highlight problematic beliefs like dark skin being a curse from God, Native Americans as a cursed and loathsome people, evolution and DNA studies being incompatible with LDS teachings, and linguistic, archaeological, and historical evidence contradicting the Book of Mormon's divine origins.
LDS Discussion Essay
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Today we will contrast the Mormon church's claim the apostle M. Russell Ballard did not do anything to support OUR founder Tim Ballard, vs. Mormon millionaire Russell Brunson's public video acknowledging that Elder Ballard introduced Brunson to Ballard.
It appears as though both Elder Ballard and the LDS Church are deceiving both LDS church members and the general public.
Russell Brunson's Video
ABC's deleted report (archived)
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We explore the tumultuous history of Mormonism after Joseph Smith's death, including Brigham Young's succession and controversial doctrines like polygamy and blood atonement. Lindsay Hansen Park and Bryan Buchanan guide us through the schisms, scandals and sexual dynamics of this era, from the chaotic leadership struggles in Nauvoo to the restrictive culture of polygamy in Utah.
We examine how polygamy hindered missionary work and statehood, the harsh realities for women, the escalating conflicts with the US government, and the 1870s crackdown on plural marriage. Despite sympathizing with early Mormons, the hosts candidly critique problematic teachings and figures like Brigham Young. They argue that Mormonism still struggles from a reluctance to denounce past errors, which allows those harmful ideas to persist and hurt people today. This no-holds-barred journey illuminates a complex chapter of Mormon history.
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Shocking new filing in the Tim Ballard case alleges that Mormon apostle M. Russell Ballard gives wealthy tithing donor info to Tim Ballard and OUR to help them fundraise, that Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes intimidated possible witnesses, and that Glenn Beck was collaborating with apostle Neil L. Andersen, Tim Ballard, and Sean Reyes to do damage control with the Tim Ballard harassment allegations debacle.
Amended Complaint
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In this captivating episode with John Dehlin, Nemo the Mormon, and Mike on LDS Discussions, we delve into the controversial miracle stories of Mormon Prophet Russell M. Nelson. What are the implications for a spokesperson of God to fabricate and exaggerate, including (or especially) in regards to revelation like the November 2015 LGBT exclusionary policy. Join us in unraveling the motivations behind these distortions and why they hold significant consequences. How do these accounts shape our understanding of religious leadership?
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Blaze Thibaudeau is a 16-year-old boy from Gilbert, Arizona who went missing recently. He was found in Alaska with his mother and uncle. According to the news, his mother and uncle are under a doomsday "delusion" and believe in the imminent Second Coming of Christ. They see Blaze as a "Davidic servant" who plays a significant role in the Savior's return. Is this yet another example of Mormon fundamentalist extremism tied to Visions of Glory and Thom Harrison?
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Kim and Josh Coffin's candid discussion with John Dehlin delves into their journey of faith transition within the Mormon Church, exploring the challenges and triumphs of rebuilding their identities and relationships post-departure. Kim's exploration of her LGBTQIA identity, Josh's shift in parenting roles, and their mutual reframing of mental health and gender dynamics are emphasized. The interview highlights their shared experiences of loss, disassociation, and the transformation of their personal and communal beliefs. The Coffins' unwavering commitment to rediscovering authenticity and embracing personal growth serves as an inspiring narrative for those navigating the complexities of faith and identity within and beyond religious communities.
Sweet Red Poppy - Cricut, Sewing, Crafting & DIY Tutorials
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Kim and Josh Coffin recount their experiences with the world of visions and apocalyptic beliefs in Mormonism, discussing the influence of figures like Chad Daybell and the controversial AVOW community. They shed light on their personal encounters with end-time preparations, the impact on family dynamics, and the implications of their father's involvement with Chad Daybell. The interview touches on the church's handling of such groups and the lack of clear condemnation, raising questions about accountability and the need for more decisive action. The Coffins' candid exploration of their family dynamics within the context of these extreme beliefs serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked apocalyptic communities within the Mormon faith.
Sweet Red Poppy - Cricut, Sewing, Crafting & DIY Tutorials
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Kim's upbringing was fraught with fear, driven by intense preparations for the Second Coming. Themes of spiritual scrupulosity and the ominous echoes of evil spirits were deeply ingrained. Her father's prepper mindset, financial exploitation, and extreme beliefs added to the tumult. Josh's narrative exposes the suffocating expectations of righteousness and conditional love, culminating in his distressing mission experience and subsequent social rejection.
This candid conversation delves into the challenges and repercussions of rigid Mormon ideology, underscoring the profound impacts on individuals and families. The gripping insights shared here provide a raw and thought-provoking glimpse into the complex realities faced by many within the Mormon community. Sweet Red Poppy - Cricut, Sewing, Crafting & DIY Tutorials Episode Show Notes
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Join us as we interview journalist, author and former fitness director of Men's Health magazine Michael Easter. Michael has written two books: The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain. Today, Michael discusses hard topics like Why do people become addicted? How does scarcity put our brains in a loop? How does religion play into all of this?
- Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter
- The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
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In this riveting discussion with John Dehlin and panelists Lauren Mathias, Megan Connor, and Mindy Caldwell, we explore the disturbing connections between Thom Harrison's book "Visions of Glory" and the recent fundamentalist Mormon crime cases, including the Vallow-Daybell tragedy and the Tim Ballard controversy. The panel dissects the influence of Harrison's teachings on individuals like Lori Vallow and others involved in extreme religious practices, shedding light on the dangerous impact of unverified spiritual claims. They also delve into the concerning associations with psychic mediums, shadow governments, and the spread of radical ideologies within certain Mormon communities, raising critical questions about the role of these beliefs in recent criminal incidents.
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Today we will discuss someone described as the "spiritual leader" of alleged murders Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow, alleged abuser Tim Ballard, and recently-imprisoned Jodi Hildebrandt.
Thom Harrison is a prominent Utah therapist who published a book called "Visions of Glory" in 2012, focusing on three of his alleged near death experiences (including personal visitations from Jesus Christ). As has been uncovered over the past few years, Thom Harrison' and his book "Visions of Glory" have been highly influential across the Mormon "prepper" neo-fundamentalist community, and particularly in the lives and stories of Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow, Tim Ballard, Jodi Hildebrant, as well as other "preppers" such as Julie Rowe, Rod Meldrum, and alleged abuser-therapist Maurice Harker.
Part of what has made Visions of Glory so successful is that Thom (through the pseudonym Spencer) claims in his book that his visions were approved of by an un-named Mormon apostle (who now is known to be the late Neal A. Maxwell).
Finally, we will discuss how the Mormon church was made aware of Thom Harrison and his book in the 2012-2013 time period, and chose to promote Thom to bishop instead of to punish him and/or stop the publishing of his book.
Lauren Matthias (Hidden True Crime Podcast), Megan Connor (Lori Vallow's cousin), and Mindy Caldwell (Mormon super-sluether) will be joining us for this panel discussion.
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Book Club is back with Rebecca Bibliotheca! Joining her and John Dehlin is Dr. Sarah Patterson as she introduces us to her book on the “September Six”, a group of scholars and feminists excommunicated from the LDS Church in September 1993.
The interview examines the impact of excommunications, the power of the Church's stance on purity, and the consequences for members. Sarah also highlights the importance of remembering those who paved the way for open conversations and change within the Church.
The September Six and the Struggle for the Soul of Mormonism by Sara Patterson
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From 1904-1907 Congress held a series of hearings on whether Reed Smoot, an LDS apostle who was elected to the Senate, should be seated. The hearing provide a deep look at Mormon practice, history and theology in the congressional record. These hearings and the controversies surrounding them remain a pivotal moment in Mormon History.
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Mormon apologetics have been around ever since Mormonism has existed. Join with Mike, Nemo and John as they discuss the types of apologetics that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints engage in and why they are all flawed.
LDS Discussions Essay on Apologetics: Overview of Apologetic Responses Within Mormonism
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Amy Lloyd condenses the CES Letter for teens, emphasizing the importance of informed consent in matters of faith. She delves into the Book of Mormon's origins, translation, and its value despite historical concerns and addresses foundational topics such as the First Vision, Book of Abraham, polygamy, and polyandry, shedding light on critical issues within the Church's history. This thoughtful discussion serves as a valuable resource for those navigating complex issues within the Mormon faith. https://lettertomychild.net/
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Yesterday I reached out to one of my LDS bishop contacts to see if Tim Ballard still showed up as an active member in the "Tools for Leaders" web application. Today we will be sharing what they captured (child info redacted). Tim is no longer listed as head of household for his family. We will also provide a few more details about the Tim Ballard story and his excommunication.
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I have some sad and some possibly happy news to announce.
First the sad news.
Mormon Stories Podcast has just received today a temporary restraining order requiring us to take down our interview of Adam Paul Steed - the courageous whistleblower to Mormon church Boy Scout sexual abuse in Idaho, and one of the many victims of 8 Passengers Therapist Jodi Hildebrandt. We are not at liberty to discuss publicly the details of the restraining order at this time.
For those who were not yet able to see Adam Steed's interview, in it he focused on the following:
1) His story of courageously speaking up as a victim of Mormon-church backed child abuse in its Idaho Boy Scout program, 2) How he and his father fought to successful change the statue of limitation laws for child sexual abuse victims in Idaho, 3) How he and his young family (while at BYU) were referred to therapist Jodi Hildebrandt by his Mormon bishop, 4) How (by Adam's report) Jodi Hildebrandt destroyed both his reputation and his family, through various unethical therapy practices, including violating his confidentiality by reporting false and/or confidential information to the BYU Honor Code Office, leading to his suspension from BYU. 5) How he fought back against Jodi Hildebrandt by successfully getting Jodi Hildebrandt's license suspended. And finally, 6) Adam's firm belief that the Mormon church intentionally weaponized Jodi Hildebrandt and her tactics to destroy both his life and his family, in part as retaliation for his work as a Boy Scout abuse whistleblower within the Mormon church.
Because of the importance of Adam's story, we are heartbroken to have to take it down (for now). Especially after hearing from thousands of Mormons, post-Mormons, and never-Mormons who found Adam's story to be validating and/or healing.
Here's the good news: this week we are actively working with a few major media outlets to: 1) Give voice to the victims of Jodi Hildebrandt, of other Mormon church-recommended "sex addiction" therapists like "Sons of Helaman," "Fight the New Drug," and Lifestar, as well as and from the Mormon church's "Addiction and Recovery Program" targeting its members for "sex addiction." And: 2) Hold both the Mormon church and these unethical therapists including Jodi Hildebrandt accountable for their unethical malpractice.
Here's what we need from you: If you or someone you love has been harmed by either:
- Jodi Hildebrandt,
- a Mormon church-recommended "sex addiction" therapist (like Sons of Helaman or Lifestar), or
- from the Mormon church's "Addiction and Recovery Program" (wherein healthy, normative behaviors were pathologized as "sex addiction"), please email your story as soon as possible to mormonstories@gmail.com.
In your email, please include the following sections:
- The date range that you worked with these people. We are particularly interested in patients recommended to Jodi Hildebrandt and others like her AFTER 2012.
- The names of the therapist(s) or you worked with.
- Any detail you can provide about who recommended you (especially if a Mormon church bishop or leader).
- A description of the unethical therapy practices and how they harmed you. And
- A confirmation of whether or not you are willing to speak with a journalist, either on the record or off the record.
Again, please email this information to mormonstories@gmail.com as soon as you are able. Finally, we promise you that at Mormon Stories Podcast, we will do everything we can to:
- Restore Adam Paul Steed's Mormon story,
- Help you and other victims tell your stories about Jodi Hildebrandt and/or other unethical Mormon therapists, and practices, and
- Help both the Mormon church and its unethical therapists and programs be held accountable for the harm that they have caused so many individuals and families. Sincerely, John Dehlin and the Mormon Stories Podcast Team
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Women alleging abuse during their time as employees and contractors of Operation Underground Railroad have retained Attorney Suzette Rasmussen as counsel. She will address the media with a statement on behalf of the alleged victims who have chosen to remain anonymous on Thursday.
- Vice News Website
- Vice Article - Tim Ballard’s Departure From Operation Underground Railroad Followed Sexual Misconduct Investigation
- Vice Article - Mormon Church Denounces Tim Ballard’s “Morally Unacceptable” Activities
- Vice Article - ‘Sound of Freedom’ Producer Felt the Naked Breasts of Apparently Underage Trafficking Victim
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Amy Lloyd is back for part two as we explore the challenges of navigating life after leaving the Mormon Church and going through a divorce. Amy highlights the importance of informed consent and the pressure children can face within the church as she navigates co-parenting with a believing spouse and how to handle things such as baptism for their children. Amy's parenting approach focuses on open conversations, allowing her children to make informed decisions about their beliefs. She shares her journey of helping her kids understand complex topics like polygamy and internal versus external truth.
Amy encourages parents to find common ground with their ex-spouses, avoid overcorrecting, and apologize when necessary. She emphasizes the importance of processing grief and highlights that there is a happy, healthy life after leaving the Mormon Church and going through divorce.
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Several members of 8 Passengers Mom Ruby Franke's family have spoken out about their concerns with ConneXions therapist Jodi Hildebrandt, including Ruby's sisters Bonnie and Julie, and Ruby's husband Kevin Franke (through his attorney). Join us today as we review the Mormon church teachings that created and empowered Jodi Hildebrandt, and how Jodi used them to destroy the Franke family.
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In this revealing interview with Amy Lloyd, we journey through her Mormon upbringing, challenging moments, and her eventual break from the faith. Amy delves into the guilt working women carry within the Church and highlights the lingering impact of the Benson talk. She questions the infallibility of church leaders and shares her liberal ward experience. As she navigates her college years at BYU, she candidly discusses the conflicting expectations placed upon women.
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In this engaging interview with historian Bryan Buchanan and Lindsay Hansen Park (Year of Polygamy Podcast) we delve into the complex history of Joseph Smith's controversial practice of polygamy. What evidence supports his multiple marriages, the experiences of his wives, and the implications of this aspect of Mormon history?
Throughout the interview, we emphasize the importance of nuanced historical analysis over apologetics, encouraging open and honest discussions about Mormon history, polygamy, and the broader impact of these topics on the faith's evolution and how it affects members today. This interview provides a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities within Mormon history and invites them to engage in constructive conversations about these issues.
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In this interview with hosts John Dehlin and Gerardo Sumano, Tim Marchman and Anna Merlan discuss the controversies surrounding Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). They explore the origins of Vice News stories, scrutinize responses from Tim Ballard and the Mormon Church, and delve into troubling allegations against Tim Ballard. These include inappropriate behavior toward women and his association with M. Russell Ballard's name in connection with OUR.
The discussion reveals the challenges of responsible journalism when tackling sensitive topics like human trafficking. Marchman and Merlan highlight the complexities of undercover trafficking investigations and question the legitimacy of Tim Ballard's mission.
This interview emphasizes the need for transparency and thorough investigation when handling allegations that could impact organizations dedicated to combating human trafficking. It underscores the importance of rigorous journalistic practices in evaluating complex and sensitive subjects.
Episode Show Notes
YouTube Link
- Vice News Website
- Vice Article - Tim Ballard’s Departure From Operation Underground Railroad Followed Sexual Misconduct Investigation
- Vice Article - Mormon Church Denounces Tim Ballard’s “Morally Unacceptable” Activities
- Vice Article - ‘Sound of Freedom’ Producer Felt the Naked Breasts of Apparently Underage Trafficking Victim
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Join us as we delve into the recent condemnation by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Tim Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad. The Church has distanced itself from Tim Ballard, citing unauthorized use of its name and activities deemed morally unacceptable. This condemnation adds a new layer to the controversy surrounding him, with implications for his potential 2024 U.S. Senate run.
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In this interview, we delve into how Russell M. Nelson, the leader of the LDS Church, addresses doubt.
Nelson's 2021 talk on doubts and "lazy learners" encourages members to "choose to believe" and not dwell on doubts. He suggests applying this approach to real-world situations, reframing faith to transcend evidence, and using the bandwagon effect to suppress doubts.
The conversation also explores how Nelson portrays both fulfillment and failure as aspects of faith. The church historian in 2023 acknowledges compelling reasons for doubt, yet Kyle McKay uses Nelson's talk to instill fear of doubt in members.
LDS Discussions Essay on doubt: Overview of How the Church Handles Doubts with the Book of Mormon (ldsdiscussions.com)
Overview of How the Church Handles Doubts
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Lupe (Mayorga) Bartholomew es la madre de David Archuleta, finalista de American Idol. Lupe, su madre y sus tres hermanas se unieron a la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días en Honduras el 22 de septiembre de 1978. Con el tiempo, Lupe y su familia vinieron a los Estados Unidos para vivir el sueño mormón. Lupe vivió como una madre mormona muy feliz y plenamente creyente hasta 2022, cuando su hijo David le reveló que es gay. Las dificultades de David con las normas y doctrinas anti-LGTBQ de la Iglesia de los Santos de los Últimos Días llevaron a Lupe a comenzar a cuestionar la fe mormona que tanto amaba.
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Lupe (Mayorga) Bartholomew is American Idol finalist David Archuleta's mother. Lupe, her mother, and her three sisters joined the LDS church in Honduras on September 22, 1978. Ultimately, Lupe and her family came to the United States to live the Mormon dream. Lupe lived as a very happy, fully believing, orthodox Mormon mother until 2022, when her son, David, came out as gay. David's difficulties with the LDS Church's LGTBQ policies and doctrines caused Lupe to begin questioning the Mormon faith that she loved. This is Lupe's Mormon story.
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Adam Paul Steed, raised Mormon, was abused as an LDS Boy Scout in Idaho. He became a nationally known whistleblower when he turned in a dangerous predator, and teamed with his father to successfully change the Idaho sexual abuse statue of limitations laws. Later, Adam moved to Utah with his new wife to attend Brigham Young University. Soon thereafter tragedy stuck when he fell into the crosshairs of Mormon therapist Jodi Hildebrandt - at the recommendation of his Mormon bishop. Among other violations, Jodi Hildebrandt sought to paint Adam as an abuser (with no evidence), and violated Adam's client confidentiality by reporting him to the BYU Honor Code office, which led to the suspension of her therapist license around 2012.
Adam believes it possible that Jodi Hildebrandt's efforts to smear his reputation were possibly motivated by a desire to retaliate against him for his whistleblowing as a Boy Scout.
One important question we ask today - why was Elder Harold G. Hillam (Presidency of the LDS Quorum of the 70, and the President of the very same camp where Adam had been abused) deeply involved in Jodi Hildebrandt's attacks on Adam.
This is Adam's story.
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Mormon therapist Jodi Hildebrandt is in jail along with "8 Passengers" mother Ruby Franke under allegations of child abuse. Jodi Hildebrandt is the founder of ConneXions Classroom - a program created to help Mormon couples, parents, and families "transform your mental health and relationships."
Jessi Hildebrandt (they/them) is Jodi Hildebrandt's niece and outlines a deeply disturbing history with their aunt Jodi Hildebrandt.
Please join us for Jessi's story.
Jessi's Venmo
Jessi's Insta
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Licensed Marriage, Family, and Sex Therapist Natasha Helfer and Psychology Ph.D. John Dehlin react to shocking videos from the ConneXions program founded by "therapist" Jodi Hildebrandt, who ran a partnership with Mormon mommy vlogger Ruby Franke. Both Jodi and Ruby have recently been arrested on suspicion of child abuse.
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Join us on a fascinating journey with hosts John & Margi Dehlin as we delve into the captivating life of our guest, James Camacho. From his upbringing in a devout Mormon family to becoming an atheist, James shares his struggles with belief, questioning authority, and seeking personal happiness. We explore how his perspective was shaped by his academic achievements and love for mathematics. Discover the eye-opening discussions about the Mormon bubble, doubts about serving a mission, and the profound impact of rationality camps. This interview is a thought-provoking exploration of informed consent, the quest for truth, and the pursuit of authenticity, sure to resonate with those who have grappled with doubt, sought rationality in belief systems, or navigated challenging conversations about faith with loved ones.
- James Camacho -LinkedIn
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Join John Dehlin and YouTubers Jordan and McKay (@jordanmckay) to discuss the recent arrest of Mormon YouTube Mom Ruby Franke of "8 Passengers" fame and Mormon therapist Jodi Hildebrandt on child abuse charges. We will be discussing the history of the Franke family and the 8 Passengers YouTube channel, as well as the super-controversial work of Jodi Hildebrandt as a Mormon therapist focusing on "sexual addiction" (i.e. masturbation), marriage counseling, and parenting. We welcome your stories as well!
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Since the beginning of the Church, there have been former members who turn whistle-blower and have written exposés. In this episode we will do a review of the most impactful of these through history. JOIN THE NUANCE HUG FOUNDATION LAUNCH PARTY ON SEPTEMBER 9TH 1. 1834 Mormonism Unvailed EB HOWE 2. 1842 The History of the Saints or an Expose of Joe Smtih and Mormonism John C. Bennett 3. 1844 Nauvoo Expositor William Law et al 4. 1853 Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith by His Progenitors Lucy Mack Smith 5. 1855 Female Life Among the Mormons CH Clarke 6. 1872 Exposé of Polygamy in Utah: A Lady’s Life among the Mormons Fanny Stenhouse 7. 1873 The Rocky Mountain Saints: A Full and Complete History of the Mormons TBH Stenhouse 8. 1876 Wife No 19 By Ann Eliza Young 9. 1877 Mormonism Unveiled John D Lee 10. 1904 Brigham's Destroying Angel: Being the Life, Confession, and Startling Disclosures of the Notorious Bill Hickman, the Danite Chief of Utah 11. 1945 No Man Knows my History Fawn Brodie 12. 1950 The Mountain Meadows Massacre Juanita Brooks 13. 1963 Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? Jerald and Sandra Tanner 14. 1985 Studies of the Book of Mormon BH Roberts 15. 1994, 1997, 2017, The Mormon Hierarchy Series Micheal Quinn 16. 2002 Insider’s View Grant Palmer 17. 2005 Rough Stone Rolling Richard Bushman 18. 2013 CES Letter Jeremy Runnells
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Dan is back to discuss how informed, intelligent Mormons can still believe and participate in Mormonism.
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Dan McClellan is back to offer insights into common views of the Bible, including Evangelical and Latter-day Saint perspectives. He suggests that Latter-day Saints should be open to the Bible's potential inaccuracies and dives into the intricate topic of authorship, revealing that many individuals contributed to the texts over a thousand years.
McClellan challenges literal interpretations of biblical figures like Moses and Adam based on available data, but doesn’t stop there! He also explores gender roles, slavery, and polygamy in biblical contexts, revealing how ancient societies influenced these aspects. End-time prophecies, the concept of Hell, and their development are also examined.
McClellan advocates for a nuanced approach to the Bible, emphasizing the importance of understanding its genre and historical context. The interview encourages critical engagement with this ancient and complex text.
Dan McClellan
- Data Over Dogma - Podcast
- Dan McClellan - website for classes
- Dan McClellan - TikTok
- Dan McClellan - Instagram
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- Dan McClellan - YouTube
- Dan McClellan - LinkTree
- Dan’s Online Courses - Didaskaloi
- Publications by Dan McClellan
- Biography of Dan McClellan
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Join me as we delve into the fascinating journey of Dan McClellan, who revolutionized biblical scholarship on TikTok. With over 600k followers, he democratized access to biblical knowledge, showcasing his deep background in Jewish and Bible studies. From his unique mission experiences in Uruguay to his thought-provoking discussions on homosexuality and creation accounts in the Bible, Dan's insights captivate.
Born agnostic, his conversion to Mormonism took a more social and emotional route than intellectual. He's an active church member, even as he navigates complex topics. Armed with degrees from BYU and Oxford, his scholarship journey encompassed questioning traditional beliefs about historical accuracy, leading him to prioritize data over dogma.
His TikTok journey balances his roles as a church employee and a respected scholar, bridging the gap between academia and the public. He explores intriguing topics like God having a wife and homosexuality in the Bible, backed by meticulous research. Don't miss Dan's upcoming book that promises to dive deeper into these compelling issues. This interview is a stimulating exploration of faith, data-driven analysis, and respectful dialogue.
Dan McClellan
- Data Over Dogma - Podcast
- Dan McClellan - website for classes
- Dan McClellan - TikTok
- Dan McClellan - Instagram
- Dan McClellan - Twitter
- Dan McClellan - Facebook
- Dan McClellan - YouTube
- Dan McClellan - LinkTree
- Dan’s Online Courses - Didaskaloi
- Publications by Dan McClellan
- Biography of Dan McClellan
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In this eye-opening episode of LDS Discussions, Mike, John Dehlin, and Nemo the Mormon explore the Mormon church's approach to handling doubt. They take a brief historical journey into the realm of Mormon doubt and apologetics. We critically examine the church's framing of doubters as “unruly children” and labeling doubts that lead away from the church as “evil.” They discuss the reliance on the church as the sole source of authority on truth and the discouragement of critical thinking. With insights from various church authorities, this episode provides valuable perspectives on navigating doubt within the Mormon church. Listeners who have experienced doubts or questioned their faith may find this episode particularly enlightening and relatable.
Overview of How the Church Handles Doubts (ldsdiscussions.com)
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Kattie & Allan from Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast are back with more great tips for navigating a mixed-faith relationship. This time they are sharing their mistakes to save others from making the same!
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Join hosts John & Margi Dehlin in an insightful interview with guest Ganesh Cherian. Explore Ganesh's journey within Mormonism, from his parents' conversion to his mission experiences. Uncover his challenges as a young Bishop, battles with mental health, and exploration of Church history. Learn how Ganesh's progressive stance and writing ignited reactions from his circle leading to the Church sending a Cease and Desist. Discover why he chooses to remain a member as you tune in for a candid exploration of faith, change, and identity.
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Join John and RFM as they go over the evidence that Joseph Smith was indeed a polygamist.
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We discuss the latest ruling in James Huntsman’s fraud lawsuit against the Mormon church. Joining us will be attorneys Radio Free Mormon and Kolby Reddish and Rebecca Bibliotheca.
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Stacey Harkey, formerly part of the original cast of BYU TV’s Studio C, is our guest today! He is known as an actor, writer, personal trainer, and for his involvement with Diversity Equity and Inclusion training and consulting in Equality Utah. Stacey shares his journey as a black and gay convert to the LDS Church. He navigated code-switching between Mormonism and Baptist culture, eventually questioning the Church's teachings about race. Returning to BYU after serving a mission to Brazil, he finally felt more comfortable and accepting of his identity. Stacey advocates for understanding and nuance, emphasizing that anger is not an effective way to create change. His story of self-discovery and resilience offers hope and inspiration to those facing similar struggles.
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Over the past several years faithful Mormon Tim Ballard has brought much attention to the topic of human trafficking via his work with Operation Underground Railroad and the new movie "Sound of Freedom." During Ballard's fundraisers he often invokes his LDS faith as the foundation for his anti-trafficking. One possible problem with Ballard's Mormon-based anti-trafficking advocacy is that the founder of his religion - Joseph Smith - would very possibly qualify by today's standards as a human trafficker. In today's episode we use The Nauvoo Expositor - published by LDS Church 1st Presidency Member William Law - as the jumping off point to explore the question: was Joseph Smith involved in human trafficking? Joining us will be Julia Sanders, Nemo, and Samantha Shelley.
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Join us for part two with our insightful guest, Celeste Davis. Picking up from where we left off she takes us on her transformative path of leaving the Mormon Church and reevaluating her beliefs with courage and vulnerability. From deconstructing patriarchy, capitalism, and monogamy to embracing uncertainty and finding self-compassion, Celeste shares practical tools and profound insights for spiritual growth. Her journey of self-discovery offers a fresh perspective on beliefs about God, Jesus, and the afterlife, inspiring listeners to explore their own unique paths and live authentically. If you're seeking enlightenment, emotional regulation, and a deeper understanding of self, this conversation is a must-listen.
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Join John and Margi as they interview spiritual director, Celeste Davis. Celeste was born and raised in the church, went to BYU, served a mission in Slovenia, and married in the temple. For many years Celeste wrote for the Church’s official blog and, as of today, those articles can still be found there. During the church’s involvement with Prop 8 and the 2015 Exclusion Policy, Celeste’s husband began to lose hope in the church. Celeste grappled with the burden of holding her family in Mormonism but began to question even God himself. Who is God and how can we have a relationship with him? Celeste Davis
- Instagram - Celeste M. Davis
- Website - celestemdavis.com
- Substack - Celeste M Davis
- Tik Tok - Celeste M Davis
- Blog - Marriage Laboratory
- Poem - Why I don't talk about Jesus anymore
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Step into the thought-provoking world of hosts John Larsen, Carah Burrell, and John Dehlin as they delve into the life and beliefs of Ezra Taft Benson, an influential figure in Mormonism. Uncovering historical insights, they explore Benson's views on communism, civil rights, and his perplexing association with conspiracy theories. From dissecting Benson's rigid authoritarian stance to questioning his understanding of communism, they candidly evaluate the impact of his leadership within the Church.
With engaging discussions on American exceptionalism, the divinity of the Constitution, and the role of women in Benson's teachings, this episode invites listeners to reflect on how religious leaders can shape doctrines and beliefs. Whether you're curious about the intersections of religion and politics, the complexity of prophetic claims, or the enduring legacy of influential figures, this enthralling conversation will leave you pondering the relevance of Ezra Taft Benson's teachings in today's ever-changing world. Explore the fascinating journey of a man whose beliefs have sparked both admiration and controversy, and join the hosts in exploring the possibility of reconciling past prophecies with present realities.
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Tina's upbringing in the Mormon Church seemed uneventful until she had a troubling temple experience that made her question whether it was a cult. Zane, initially attracted to Tina's spirituality, went through his own faith crisis after reading anti-Mormon literature but eventually had a "spiritual experience" reaffirming his belief in the church.
Their story takes a dramatic turn when Tina starts losing her testimony, leading to emotional turmoil within their marriage, especially since Zane is called to be a bishop. The couple navigates the complexities of a non-believing bishop leading a congregation and the challenges of facing their doubts and fears while remaining true to themselves and their family.
Note: The airing of this episode was delayed at the request of the Beards until they felt more comfortable in their circumstances for it to become public.
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John Dehlin is joined by guests Spencer Anderson, Radio Free Mormon, and Rebecca Bibliotheca to go over the latest Widow’s Mite Report shedding light on the financial practices and transparency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We discuss the church's significant wealth and delve into its historical and current approach to charitable giving. We expose discrepancies in reported figures, revealing how the church combines various donations to inflate its humanitarian efforts. We explore whether the church could do more with its immense resources and discuss its environmental stewardship initiatives. Additionally, the conversation touches on tax issues in Australia and Canada. If you're curious about the financial side of religious institutions and their charitable efforts, this eye-opening discussion provides valuable insights.
The Widow's Mite Report Overview
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Join hosts Mike, Nemo, and John Dehlin as they delve into the intricacies of spiritual witnesses within Mormonism. How do sincere seekers often end up with different answers when appealing to "the Spirit"? Can individuals be exploited by circumstances deliberately designed to create feelings of spiritual confirmation? What are the consequences when "spiritual witnesses" go wrong?
Join us as we dive into the psychological phenomena of spiritual witnesses. We examine topics such as indoctrination, repetition, and the Illusory Truth effect, as well as other psychological mechanisms like confirmation bias, the backfire effect, and motivated reasoning. This episode can provide insight to your own spiritual experiences and provide tools to recognize attempts to manufacture the experience in you.
Overview of Testimonies and Spiritual Witnesses in Mormonism (ldsdiscussions.com)
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Today we will be covering the new hit movie Sound of Freedom - based loosely on the work of Tim Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad.
If you have first-hand stories of experiences with Tim Ballard and/or OUR, or other information that could be helpful to this episode, please email them to me at mormonstories@gmail.com.
Joining us for the interview will be journalists Anna Merlan and Tim Marchman, who have both been heavily involved in coverage of this story.
Human Trafficking Advocacy | Freedom Network USA
Articles from Vice on Tim Ballard and OUR can be found below:
- 7/13/2023: Tim Ballard Has ‘Stepped Away’ From Operation Underground Railroad, Org Says
- 7/6/23: Anti-Trafficking Group With Long History of False Claims Gets Its Hollywood Moment
- 6/10/22: Operation Underground Railroad Touts Non-Existent Partnership With American Airlines
- 8/24/21: Inside the Shadowy Anti–Sex Trafficking Group OUR
- 6/10/21: Operation Underground Railroad’s Carefully Crafted Public Image Is Falling Apart
- 8/12/21: Anti-Trafficking Charity Operation Underground Railroad Has Another Murky Rescue Story
- 3/8/21: Inside a Massive Anti-Trafficking Charity's Blundering Overseas Missions
- 12/10/20: A Famed Anti-Sex Trafficking Group Has a Problem With the Truth
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Join us for part three of our interview with Bill and Amanda Reel as we navigate the intricate topics of identity, spirituality, and the profound impact of shedding religious frameworks. We delve into discussions on morality, sexuality, and the complexities of relationships in a post-religious context, explore the meaning and purpose of life beyond religious constructs and the challenges of finding community and support outside of traditional religious structures. Prepare to be inspired and challenged as we venture into the realms of existentialism, the resolution of death, and the embrace of the present moment. Join us on this captivating exploration of life, spirituality, and the endless possibilities that lie beyond the confines of religious dogma.
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Dive deeper into the captivating story of Bill and Amanda Reel as they embark on the second part of their remarkable journey. We explore their gripping encounters with church authorities, their disillusionment with Mormonism's truth claims, and their courageous decision to become whistleblowers within the faith. Discover the challenges they faced, including the lack of safety to be honest and the harm caused by the Mormon Church. Bill gives insight into the world of Mormon apologists and their ethics, as well as the transformative power of real authenticity when you can leave behind the burden of inauthenticity. Explore the shifting landscape of progressive Mormonism and the ultimate question of whether the Church's good outweighs its flaws. Prepare to be captivated by this thought-provoking exploration of faith, honesty, and the personal sacrifices made in pursuit of truth and freedom.
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Discover the captivating story of Bill and Amanda Reel as they share their extraordinary journey through Mormonism, exploring Bill's transformation from a troubled youth seeking fatherly guidance to a dedicated bishop caught in a web of doubt and awakening. Unveil the challenges faced by this couple within the Mormon patriarchy, their relentless pursuit for truth, and how their experiences ultimately led them on a path of self-discovery and personal growth. Join us as we delve into the untold chapters of their lives, exposing the complexities and contradictions of faith, family, and the power of questioning within a religious institution.
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Unearth the captivating rise of Brigham Young from the mesmerizing “Transfiguration” that altered Mormonism's course. Mike, Nemo, and John explore this event through meticulous analysis of historical records, contemporary journals, and a carefully constructed narrative. Unveil the astonishing accounts of miracles, including a highly cited backdated miracle and the use of carefully worded descriptions in "Saints." Discover why the Transfiguration holds immense significance for Mormonism and how it serves as a guide to the birth of miracle stories.
Overview of the Transfiguration of Brigham Young and Miraculous Stories (ldsdiscussions.com)
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In today's episode, we delve into the remarkable story of Rachel Weaver—another member of BYU's Black Menaces. Prepare for an inspiring exploration of Rachel's life as a black convert to a conservative religion in a liberal environment to her life as a student at BYU. What eventually led her to forge her own path by stepping away from the faith that once defined her?
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Today we discuss a recent Supreme Court ruling permitting businesses to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community. It has been alleged that the case was based on a fake document. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a prominent Christian organization, was heavily involved in the case and the Mormon Church submitted an amicus brief supporting the discrimination. Join us as we briefly examine some of this contentious case's facts.
LDS Church's Amicus Brief
Brenton Erickson – Public Defender
- Brenton's Linked In
- Brenton’s Tiktok
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In this episode we will review two books the Church "quietly" edited, making significant changes on the DL. The first is the Double Day version of the Book of Mormon published in 2004. The second is Rex Lee's "What do Mormons Believe? published in 1992.
Join with John Dehlin and Gerardo as we interview social media influencer Hayley Rawle. She is the host of the “Girlscamp” Podcast, she was raised in the church, served a mission, married in the temple, and got her degree at BYU. In her story we will cover the struggles she had within her family, modesty culture, the hardships of serving a mission, gender roles in marriage, infertility, and more. As she puts it, “It’s like a normal Mormon story with a twist.”
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Join with us as we have a panel discussion of the new documentary series “Shiny Happy People” and its comparison to Mormonism. There are a striking number of similarities between Joseph Smith and IBLP leader Bill Gothard. We discuss the umbrella structure of IBLP and how abuse occurs so often in these High Demand groups and religions. Tia Levings, Brooke Arnold, and Lindsey Williams were personally interviewed and featured in Shiny Happy People because of their involvement with this group.
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Today we break new ground on Mormon Stories Podcast - we are interviewing a currently serving Mormon bishop who no longer believes in the core truth claims of the Mormon church (e.g. that it is the "one true church," that the Book of Mormon is historical, that Joseph Smith as a prophet in the way we are taught, in paying tithing, etc). Join us now as we learn about how he became a Mormon bishop, how he lost his literal Mormon faith as bishop, why he chose to "come out" on Mormon Stories Podcast while serving as bishop, and what he thinks the consequences will be for his actions.
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Join us as the two daughters of a Mormon Church’s Ensign Peak executive unravel the controversies, corruption, and conscience surrounding the LDS Church’s investment firm and its impact on the Mormon Church. Rylee and JoCee Porter share their initial doubts and concerns, discussing the morality of non-profits acting as for-profit entities and their reactions to David Nielsen's whistleblowing. We discuss the opulent Mormon temples in impoverished areas, the staggering $100 billion figure, and the ethical use of funds. Rylee and Jocee talk about their conversations with family members about Ensign Peak’s breaking of laws and the troubling implications of church leaders' involvement. Join us for an enlightening conversation that encourages critical thinking about the complexities surrounding Ensign Peak, raising questions about ethics, responsibility, and societal impact.
- Rylee Porter (@ryleecoyotee) • Instagram photos and videos
- Rylee Porter on Facebook
- JoCee 💻📚 (@jocee.holladay) • Instagram photos and videos
- Code Pretty
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We continue delving into the challenges faced by sisters JoCee and Rylee Porter, daughters of an Advisor to Ensign Peak, the controversial Mormon investment company. JoCee’s story takes center-stage in this episode as she recalls feeling the need to be her family’s “Nephi”, (golden child) as both a reaction to the turmoil caused by Rylee’s perceived rebelliousness and an intense desire to feel her father’s love and attention. However, the more she achieves, the more she feels the constriction of Mormon gender roles. JoCee describes her journey into feminism, self-determination, self-discovery, and reconciliation with her sister Rylee just as the whistleblower leaks about Ensign Peak were coming to light…
- Rylee Porter (@ryleecoyotee) • Instagram photos and videos
- Rylee Porter on Facebook
- JoCee 💻📚 (@jocee.holladay) • Instagram photos and videos
- Code Pretty
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Discover Rylee and JoCee Porter's challenges in a life intertwined with the LDS church, where their father served as an Ensign Peak Advisor, part of the Mormon Church's controversial investment company. In this episode, Rylee and Jocee recall their experiences as cultural minorities while their father worked on Wall Street and the cultural disparities they encountered upon moving to Utah, where they struggled with bullying and the insidious nature of Utah Mormonism. Uncover the pivotal moments that led Rylee to question the validity of the church’s truth claims and moral credibility, and eventually make the courageous decision to break free from the church at the cost of her family relationships. Get ready for an eye-opening conversation that delves into the complexities of faith, personal integrity, and the power of one's own principles.
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Come listen and get involved as John and Nemo discuss the groundbreaking developments happening in the UK. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United Kingdom, due to the activism work of 21st Century Saints and the Britvengers Collective, is making DBS checks mandatory for those who work with children and youth.
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Saane takes us through her time at BYU and how that experience further shaped her views and personal experiences with diversity and inclusion at BYU and within the context of Mormonism as a whole.
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Today John Dehlin is joined by Tongan Mormon, Saane Siale, with special guests Nate Spencer from BYU’s Black Menaces, and Beau, her former Bishop, as they delve into the unique experiences and challenges faced by racial minorities within Mormonism. They discuss the integration of Mormonism into Tongan culture, the complexities of being part of an ethnic ward, and the impact of white beauty standards on individuals of color. They also explore the internalized racism and the pursuit of academic excellence within marginalized communities, shedding light on the need for advocacy and social justice. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation as Saane shares her journey, from her upbringing to her awakening as an activist, while grappling with her faith and preparing for her future at BYU.
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Join John, Nemo, and Mike in a captivating episode as they unravel the intricate tapestry of influences that shaped the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith. From the unique doctrines of Mormonism to the enigmatic Book of Mormon, they embark on a thought-provoking journey through history and religious texts. Discover the surprising connections between revival sermons and the sermons in the Book of Mormon, and explore the profound influence of figures like Alexander Campbell on Joseph Smith's religious framework.
Delve into the visionary experiences that shaped Smith's spiritual journey, from the lesser-known first visions of Norris Stearns and Asa Wild to the fascinating early versions of "memes" in American history. Uncover the intriguing connections between the priesthood restoration and the teachings of the Campbellites, as well as the incorporation of the Book of Enoch in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. Journey through the Word of Wisdom and its links to the Temperance Movement and explore the historical contexts that influenced Smith's perspectives on the Curse of Cain and the Curse of Ham. Finally, peel back the layers of the Endowment Ceremony and its similarities to the Masonic Ceremony, shedding light on Joseph Smith's quest to restore ancient rituals.
Prepare for an eye-opening exploration of the diverse influences that shaped Joseph Smith and the emergence of Mormonism. In this episode, you'll uncover the intricate connections between historical events, religious movements, and Joseph Smith's visionary experiences, shedding new light on the foundations of one of America's most influential religious movements.
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In this enlightening interview, John Larsen explores with John Dehlin and Carah Burrell the concept of superiority within Mormonism and its far-reaching implications. He delves into the various ways in which superiority is ingrained in Mormon theology, scriptures, and practices, shedding light on the inherent biases and discriminatory narratives that persist within the community. From the belief in white skin as inherently superior to the patriarchal nature of the priesthood and the reinforcement of rigid gender roles, John uncovers the damaging effects of these doctrines. He also discusses the patronizing language used to describe those outside the faith, the exploitation of immigrant labor, and the prevalence of fraud among Mormons. Join John Larsen as he unpacks the complex dynamics of superiority within Mormonism and raises critical questions about its impact on individuals and society.
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In Part 2 of this eye-opening interview, Jared and Ashley Jones courageously share their experiences with child abuse within the Mormon community and the disturbing lengths to which leaders will go to protect abusers, even at the expense of victims. They recount the heart-wrenching journey that ensued after discovering sexual abuse allegations involving the teen son of a Bishopric member. Despite their efforts to seek justice and protect others, they faced resistance from church leaders who prioritized the reputation of the church and the experiences of the abuser's family over the safety and well-being of the families of his many victims time and time again. As Jared and Ashley shed light on the systemic failures and manipulations they encountered to silence and discredit them, they offer insights into the urgent need for change within the Mormon church. Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation that delves into the complexities of abuse, power dynamics, and the call for accountability. Episode Show Notes
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Discover the heart-wrenching story of Jared and Ashley Jones as they bravely shed light on the sensitive issue of child abuse within the Mormon community. In this eye-opening interview, they delve into Jared's Mormon upbringing and the damaging effects of constant messages about pornography and sexual sin. Uncover the cycle of shame and guilt that Jared experienced, including the inappropriate questioning by Bishops and the downplaying of their own childhood sexual abuse. Gain insight into the failures of the church and family system in addressing and protecting victims. Explore the profound impact of Mormon sexual shame on their marriage and the punitive measures they faced when seeking help. Don't miss this powerful discussion on the far-reaching consequences of spiritual abuse within Mormonism.
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Join John, Rebecca and Michael Shermer to discuss his book, Conspiracy: Why People Believe the Irrational.
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Mark Pugsley is back in the house with John Dehlin and Gerardo Sumano to discuss the recent 60 minutes coverage of the current investigation into the Mormon Church's financial dealings. Do members deserve to know where their dollars go? Or do those details deserve to be kept secret?
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Please join John Dehlin as he hosts an evening to honor Podcast Host Bill Reel (and possibly his wife Amanda). As you know, Bill is the host of Mormon Discussions podcast, and the co-host of Mormonism Live podcast. At the main event (7pm in Alpine), Bill will provide a short speech, and a fun/live Q&A will be held as well. A VIP event will be held at 6pm (with food) as well, for those wanting a little more personal time with Bill and John. This is your chance to meet and thank Bill (and Amanda) for their roles in your Mormon journey!!! All proceeds from this event will be donated to Bill and Amanda Reel. Base ticket price is $10/person, but the system allows you to donate extra to Bill and Amanda if you so choose. The VIP dinner is $30/person. Please spread the word! I would love nothing more to have a full room give Bill and Amanda a standing ovation for the important role they've played in Mormonism. Click here to register for the event. And please spread the word!
Join Lori Vallow's cousin (Megan Conner), John Dehlin, Gerardo Sumano, and Hidden True Crime's Lauren Mathias as they react live to Lori Vallow's verdict. Episode Show Notes YouTube Link
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Discover the truth behind Mormon Patriarchal Blessings in this eye-opening interview with hosts Mike, Nemo, and John. From reflections on their own blessings to the harmful effects of this mechanism of control over members, the hosts delve into the nuanced nature of these individualized messages from God. With insights on how even past prophets have framed patriarchal blessings, and the agelessness of their messages, you won't want to miss this deep dive into revelation in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
LDS Discussions essay on personal revelation
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Join Nan and Rod Osborne on a journey through their lives as devoted Mormons, parents, and spouses, and discover how their faith shaped their family culture. From Nan's early years in the LDS community to Rod's conversion and mission, to the challenges of raising a large family, no topic is off-limits in this captivating interview. Along the way, they share their experiences with temple worship, gender roles, and the pressure to keep their children on the "Mormon train." However, when their children start to question their faith, Nan and Rod's world is turned upside down. Will their family survive these faith crises, or will it tear them apart?
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Join Nan and Rod Osborne on a journey through their lives as devoted Mormons, parents, and spouses, and discover how their faith shaped their family culture. From Nan's early years in the LDS community to Rod's conversion and mission, to the challenges of raising a large family, no topic is off-limits in this captivating interview. Along the way, they share their experiences with temple worship, gender roles, and the pressure to keep their children on the "Mormon train." However, when their children start to question their faith, Nan and Rod's world is turned upside down. Will their family survive these faith crises, or will it tear them apart?
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Today accused murderer Lori Vallow’s cousin, Megan Conner, shares what it was like to grow up as a cousin to the Cox family. She also discusses the Mormon ties to the Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell murders and discusses her own Mormon faith transition.
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Join Gerardo, Lauren, Mindy, and John for an all-new episode as they discuss the second and third weeks of Lori Daybell's trial. This is your chance to catch up on one of the most bizarre trials of the year, as the panel guides you through the latest jaw-dropping testimonies, and intriguing Mormon themes unfolding in Ada County's courthouse.
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In this thought-provoking interview, Mike, Nemo, and John Dehlin delve into the controversial topic of personal revelation in Mormonism. The discussion covers a range of doctrinal problems and contradictions that challenge the idea of personal revelation, from the dangers of blind obedience to leaders, confirmation bias, silencing dissenters and emotional manipulation. The conversation ultimately questions who has the authority to decide what constitutes valid personal revelation.
LDS Discussions essay on personal revelation
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In Part 2 of her interview, Janae Thompson shares her journey as a young widow navigating the Mormon doctrine of eternal families and the challenges of dating and remarriage. She discusses the disparities in church policies and teachings that caused her to question her faith and ultimately led her down the rabbit hole of learning about the history of Mormonism. Janae talks candidly about exploring her sexuality and finding new rituals and practices to connect and uplift her after leaving the church. Her story is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the possibilities for happiness and health after leaving a religious institution.
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In this emotional and gripping interview, Janae Thompson shares her journey as a Mormon woman and the struggles she faced in a religion that demanded perfection and conformity. From her early years in the Mormon church, to her time at BYU and beyond, Janae recounts the challenges of fitting into a narrow mold while dealing with her own personal struggles, including an eating disorder and the pressure to find an eternal companion. But it was the sudden death of her husband Grant that truly tested Janae’s strength and resilience. Through her raw and honest reflections, Janae offers a powerful insight into loss, grief, and the search for meaning and purpose in the face of tragedy.
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Carah Burrell and John review the recent, deeply troubling devotional delivered earlier this week by David Glen Hatch at BYU-Hawaii.
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Join us as we discuss surprises, let downs, best talks, worst talks etc in this year’s April General Conference, where members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) listen to messages from top leaders in the Church. What were the real intentions and messages behind this year’s talks? Did they address the recent scandals & controversy regarding the SEC fine for fraudulently creating shell companies to hide its wealth from members and the public? Was anything missing that we would normally expect to hear?
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Join us for part 2 of our review of the Widow’s Mite Report, which investigates and reports on LDS Church finances. Today we will discuss Ensign Peak Advisors, the Mormon church’s real estate holdings, and their extensive construction of temples.
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Join us as we explore the story of what would lead a super-faithful and believing Mormon mother of three to try psychedelic mushrooms (psilocybin) for the first time...and what happened next.
Today we discuss several problematic "revelations" by LDS prophets that succeeded Joseph Smith. These include:
- John Taylor's 1886 revelation on the continuation of polygamy.
- The multiple "manifestos" allegedly ending the practice of polygamy (but not really).
- The lifting of the 1978 priesthood and temple ban against Mormons of African descent.
- Changes to the LDS temple ceremony over the years.
- Russell M. Nelson's condemnation of the use of the "Mormon" identity after Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson's strong support of the "Mormon" identity.
- The 2015 LGBTQ Exclusion policy, and the subsequent 2019 reversal of the policy/doctrine.
- The Mark Hofmann forgeries.
Click here for the LDS Discussions essay upon which this episode is based.
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Join Lance and Brandee Heppler as they share their personal journeys in Mormonism and delve into mental health challenges they faced as they tried to be good Mormon parents. In this episode, Lance talks about his orthodox upbringing in Oregon, serving his mission in South Carolina, and his panic of finding someone to marry before graduating from BYU. Meanwhile, Brandee shares her struggle of not fitting in at church due in part to her parents being converts and her undiagnosed ADHD, making her wonder why it seemed God made her too "rowdy" as a woman instead of more subdued and "proper".
Together they navigate the traditional gender roles expected of them as a married couple in the church while raising young children and serving in various callings. As they grapple with issues such as feminism and LGBTQ issues in the church, they also confront their own mental health struggles and the lack of support from the Mormon community. They share powerful insights about the often transactional nature of Mormon relationships and the harmful effects that come from some teachings that associate mental health struggles with sin. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those raised in Mormonism and the impact it can have on mental health.
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When Mormons talk about happiness what do they mean? We will deconstruct how the Church uses the concept of happiness to control and gaslight members.
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Join Lance and Brandee Heppler as they share their personal journeys in Mormonism and delve into mental health challenges they faced as they tried to be good Mormon parents. In this episode, Lance talks about his orthodox upbringing in Oregon, serving his mission in South Carolina, and his panic of finding someone to marry before graduating from BYU. Meanwhile, Brandee shares her struggle of not fitting in at church due in part to her parents being converts and her undiagnosed ADHD, making her wonder why it seemed God made her too "rowdy" as a woman instead of more subdued and "proper".
Together they navigate the traditional gender roles expected of them as a married couple in the church while raising young children and serving in various callings. As they grapple with issues such as feminism and LGBTQ issues in the church, they also confront their own mental health struggles and the lack of support from the Mormon community. They share powerful insights about the often transactional nature of Mormon relationships and the harmful effects that come from some teachings that associate mental health struggles with sin. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those raised in Mormonism and the impact it can have on mental health.
Episode Show Notes
Youtube link
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Join world cult expert Steven Hassan as he shares almost 50 years of experience regarding how to heal and grow after a high demand religion or cult.
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Please join us today as Dr. Steven Hassan tells us the story of how he was recruited into a cult (The "Moonies"), and how he became one of the world's experts in cults. A few links are included below:
3/18/22 - THRIVE Unite Registration (Lehi and Ogden) 3/19/22 - Full-day workshop with Steven and John (tickets) on Understanding Cults: A Foundational Course for Clinicians
YouTube Link
Episode Show Notes
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Martine and Stuart Smith are back in part three to discuss experiencing the “heavy hand” of Priesthood Authority from their Stake President; from false teachings affecting lives, being told not to watch a specific show he didn’t like, making youth “covenant” to go on missions and never date non-Mormons, only to see him be released and excommunicated for embezzlement. Martine had previously sympathized with the Stake President, who was sometimes unemployed and had five children. She later found out that he had put her membership status as “on probation” though she had never been notified as per policy, and that she had been “blacklisted” from certain callings. The couple began attending Sunstone, where they explored the gray areas of life and Mormon feminism.
During this time, they began to question the Church's teachings, including the Plan of Salvation, which involved separating families more than bringing them together. They also researched the lives of polygamous women and the Equal Rights Amendment. Stuart, an intellectual, was called into the bishopric as an unorthodox member. They stayed in the Church for its utility, but also for their son's sake. Martine became the RS Pres during the Sept Six Era, a time of more progressive leaders and scholars at BYU and at Women's Conferences and in leadership.
Eventually the walls crack on their belief and Martine and Stuart find they can no longer stay in a church that goes against their values.
Episode Show Notes
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Martine & Stuart have their first child, Nathaniel, who was diagnosed with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare, painful, and ultimately fatal genetic skin condition. Caring for a child with EB is an immense emotional toll on them due to the constant pain the baby suffers with basic daily tasks like feeding & changing diapers. This episode delves further into the contradictions and complexities of Mormon doctrine around reproduction which made it difficult for Martine and Stuart to come to terms with Nathaniel's condition. They felt guilt and self-blame upon his diagnosis, questioning whether it was punishment for wanting to wait to have children, or due to a "Saturday's Warrior" type pact agreed to in the pre-existence. The doctrine of pre-mortal decisions and the effects on disabilities was also discussed, along with the contradictory messages about disabled or sick children and those who die before accountability.
As Nathaniel's condition worsened, the couple sought healing through priesthood blessings, but were met with disappointment when they didn't work. John discusses expectations vs. the reality of priesthood blessings and the theological justifications used when they don't work. The couple eventually came to accept the idea of letting Nathaniel go, and he passed away. Martine & Stuart describe the emotional aftermath of Nathaniel's death, including the funeral and how Mormons deal with death.
Despite some trepidation, the couple decides to have another child, which was met with mixed reactions from their community. Martine became pregnant again and gave birth to a healthy son. They later moved to Louisiana, where they became involved in their LDS branch and had a third child, Sarah, who was also born with EB. The episode discusses the routine of care for Sarah and the support they received from their branch. The second death of an infant affected their faith, with Stuart becoming angry at God and turning down a leadership position in the church. Despite this, Martine still wanted more children, and the episode ends with the couple meeting with a General Authority to discuss the deaths of their children and birth control.
Episode Show Notes
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Youtube Link
Martine and Stuart Smith are back in part three to discuss experiencing the “heavy hand” of Priesthood Authority from their Stake President; from false teachings affecting lives, being told not to watch a specific show he didn’t like, making youth “covenant” to go on missions and never date non-Mormons, only to see him be released and excommunicated for embezzlement. Martine had previously sympathized with the Stake President, who was sometimes unemployed and had five children. She later found out that he had put her membership status as “on probation” though she had never been notified as per policy, and that she had been “blacklisted” from certain callings. The couple began attending Sunstone, where they explored the gray areas of life and Mormon feminism.
During this time, they began to question the Church's teachings, including the Plan of Salvation, which involved separating families more than bringing them together. They also researched the lives of polygamous women and the Equal Rights Amendment. Stuart, an intellectual, was called into the bishopric as an unorthodox member. They stayed in the Church for its utility, but also for their son's sake. Martine became the RS Pres during the Sept Six Era, a time of more progressive leaders and scholars at BYU and at Women's Conferences and in leadership.
Eventually the walls crack on their belief and Martine and Stuart find they can no longer stay in a church that goes against their values. Episode Show Notes
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Youtube link Martine & Stuart have their first child, Nathaniel, who was diagnosed with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare, painful, and ultimately fatal genetic skin condition. Caring for a child with EB is an immense emotional toll on them due to the constant pain the baby suffers with basic daily tasks like feeding & changing diapers. This episode delves further into the contradictions and complexities of Mormon doctrine around reproduction which made it difficult for Martine and Stuart to come to terms with Nathaniel's condition. They felt guilt and self-blame upon his diagnosis, questioning whether it was punishment for wanting to wait to have children, or due to a "Saturday's Warrior" type pact agreed to in the pre-existence. The doctrine of pre-mortal decisions and the effects on disabilities was also discussed, along with the contradictory messages about disabled or sick children and those who die before accountability.
As Nathaniel's condition worsened, the couple sought healing through priesthood blessings, but were met with disappointment when they didn't work. John discusses expectations vs. the reality of priesthood blessings and the theological justifications used when they don't work. The couple eventually came to accept the idea of letting Nathaniel go, and he passed away. Martine & Stuart describe the emotional aftermath of Nathaniel's death, including the funeral and how Mormons deal with death.
Despite some trepidation, the couple decides to have another child, which was met with mixed reactions from their community. Martine became pregnant again and gave birth to a healthy son. They later moved to Louisiana, where they became involved in their LDS branch and had a third child, Sarah, who was also born with EB. The episode discusses the routine of care for Sarah and the support they received from their branch. The second death of an infant affected their faith, with Stuart becoming angry at God and turning down a leadership position in the church. Despite this, Martine still wanted more children, and the episode ends with the couple meeting with a General Authority to discuss the deaths of their children and birth control.
Episode Show Notes
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Martine, a Belgian convert to Mormonism, shares what growing up in Belgium was like and how she and her sister end up converting to Mormonism. She eventually made it to the United States to attend General Conference and get her Patriarchal Blessing when her sister decided to serve a mission. Due to connections with several families of missionaries, she finds a job as a nanny and eventually makes it to BYU where she is reintroduced to Stuart, whom she'd briefly met as a missionary in Belgium.
Though he hadn't known her well, Stuart instantly recognized Martine at a Young Single Adult (YSA) activity and things took off from there until he asked her to be with him for eternity. Martine happily accepts this proposal from an established, generational Mormon returned missionary. However, the engagement is soon jeopardized by challenges between Martine's desire to follow the brethren's admonitions not to put off having children (and wanting a dozen of them!) as the quintessential Mormon housewife with Stuart's practicality regarding his ability to financially support children while still having several years of school left.
Episode Show Notes
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YouTube Link
In this engaging interview, Mike from LDS Discussions, Nemo the Mormon, and John Dehlin review the failed prophecies of Mormonism's founder, Joseph. They start by discussing what the Bible says about failed prophecies and those who tell them. They then delve into specific failed prophecies, including the Second Coming of the Lord in 1891, the fall and overthrow of the US government, and the "everlasting" covenant of the United Order. Other failed prophecies discussed include the failed treasure seeking mission to Salem and the failed attempt to sell the Book of Mormon copyright.
Was Joseph wrong or is it was God's fault? What good is having General Conference, either way? The hosts also discuss how FAIR Mormon tries to spin failures into fulfillments and concludes with some final thoughts on the implications of these failed prophecies of Joseph for Mormons today.
LDS Discussion Essay on Joseph Smith's Revelations.
Donate to Nemo
Episode Show Notes
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YouTube Link The interview discusses the tensions between Mormon historians and church leadership in the 1970s, focusing on the publication of a pamphlet responding to a critical book by the Tanners. Initially rejected by Mormon leadership for publishing due to their discomfort with the real history revealed in it, the pamphlet is instead published privately under the pseudonym, A Latter-day Saint Historian, or, as the Tanners dubbed him, "Mr. Clandestine." Episode Show Notes
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We are excited to announce Thrive Unite 2023 - which is scheduled for March 18th. Events will be held in the following cities:
- Idaho Falls
- Denver
- Ogden
- Seattle
- Zurich Switzerland
- Calgary Canada
- Portland
- Lehi
- Omaha
- Chicago
- Fort Wayne
Ticket costs Range between $0-40. Each of these events provides opportunities to meet with people that have experienced a change in faith. There are some amazing opportunities to hear from experts and prominent voices in recovering from religious transitions.
Examples include:
- Lehi & Ogden - Dr. Steven Hassen (Cult Expert)
- Seattle - John Larsen
- Idaho Falls - Anthony Miller
Tickets and Information about Events
Tickets for the all-day workshop with Steven and John Dehlin
YouTube Link
Jill and Julie Durrant share their Mormon upbringing and the challenges they faced within the faith. They discuss the expectations placed on Mormon children and the milestones they must achieve to be considered successful in the community. Julie's scrupulosity and the patriarchal blessing she received add to her struggles. Jill talks about the superiority you can feel as a Mormon and the cognitive dissonance she experienced when her sister, Alli, came out as a lesbian. Jill went on a mission to find answers about her siblings, and Julie's faith crisis begins in earnest after talking with her son, Tom. They discuss the complications of navigating family dynamics and the difficulty of leaving the church. Ultimately, the Durrant family's story is one of resilience, growth, and learning to navigate the complexities of life within and outside of Mormonism.
Episode Show Notes
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YouTube Link
New findings and discussion on the Widow's Mite Report in light of the recent SEC findings. Episode Show Notes
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Youtube link
Author Leah Sotille will be joining John and Rebecca to discuss her book examining the culture of end times paranoia and the trail of mysterious deaths surrounding former beauty queen Lori Vallow and her husband, grave digger turned doomsday novelist, Chad Daybell. When The Moon Turns to Blood tells a gripping story of extreme beliefs, snake oil prophets, and explores the question: if it feels like the world is ending, how are people supposed to act? Join the Mormon Stories Book Club Facebook Group Here!
Next book: Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational by Michael Shermer
Episode Show Notes
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Youtube link Today we identify and analyze four problematic patterns in Joseph Smith's "revelations": 1) Using revelations to convince others to submit to his requests, 2) Using revelations to get out of a jam, 3) Changing revelations to fit Joseph Smith’s evolving theologies, and 4) a look at Biblical errors made in Joseph Smith's revelation. Today we are joined by Mike of LDS Discussions and @NEMOTHEMORMON. Episode Show Notes
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Youtube Link
For the first time ever, a sitting Mormon Bishop joins us to discuss the current situation with the Church's activity rates and its misleading membership statistics. Get ready for an insightful episode!
Episode Show Notes
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YouTube Link
Is the Mormon Church honest in all of its dealings? The Securities and Exchange Commission announced charges against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for obscuring the Church’s money and misstating Ensign Peak’s control over the Church’s investment decisions. To settle the charges, Ensign Peak agreed to pay a $4 million penalty and the Church agreed to pay a $1 million penalty. SEC Order Against Ensign Peak Advisors & The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
If people want to help they can call the Senate finance committee and urge them to take action and have a hearing on this issue. Senate Finance Committee phone: 202-224-4515
Senate Finance Committee fax: 202-228-0554
Religion Unplugged article with full Senate Finance Committee memo Whistleblower Details New Allegations About $100 Billion LDS Fund Mark Pugsley's Law Firm
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Nate Byrd discusses his experiences as a Black Mormon and how he navigated his identity in a church with a history of white supremacy. He talks about being the only Black family in his wards and the pressure to conform to white norms, including attending BYU and marrying a Black Mormon. He also shares his experiences with racism at BYU, both from white students and from the church's teachings on race.
Byrd discusses his journey of self-discovery and how he channeled his anger into making things better for Black students at BYU, including starting a Black Student Union. He also talks about his TikTok channel, where he discusses the cringey and racist things he experienced at BYU, and his intentions to help others in similar situations. Byrd concludes by reflecting on the challenges of reconciling his faith with the church's history of white supremacy and how he continues to grapple with these issues.
Episode Show Notes
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Radio Free Mormon joins the usual crew (Mike, John & Nemo) as they discuss evidence for prophecies that appear to have been backdated after the events of the supposed prophecy already happened.
LDS Discussion Essay on Backdating Prophecy
Episode Show Notes
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Dallin Seely from YouTube channel @TheDashleys grew up as a multigenerational Mormon. When he was seven years old, his father passed away from stomach cancer. Despite this tragedy, the church provided a lot of support to him and his family. The early death of his father leads Dallin to experience intense scrupulosity as he worries that he will never see his father again in heaven if he isn't "worthy" according to LDS Standards. A strict Bishop exacerbates Dallin’s scrupulosity but is somewhat alleviated when a new bishop tells him that his worthiness was not determined by others. Dallin went on a mission for the church and had a mix of positive and negative experiences. When he came home from his mission, he was encouraged to get married, but he continued to have doubts about the church's teachings, such as the priesthood ban for black members.
Dallin felt the Holy Ghost told him to marry a certain woman, but he falls in love with Ashley, another faithful woman but who seems a bit less "proper" to Dallin for things like expressing humor through sarcasm. Dallin follows his own heart and marries Ashley anway. The couple deals with the church’s inherent sexism, including in the temple and the teaching of “the patriarchal order” in the Mormon church. Continuous marriage struggles lead them to seek therapy. This led to the healthiest time in their marriage, as they were able to have emotional intimacy and talk about their feelings, including Ashley's feelings about General Conferences and sexism. They did not want to teach their daughter to feel inferior to men. They also talk about embracing their true selves and raising their children in a way that eliminates guilt and fear. They describe their understanding of the brain and how therapists aim to change relationships to thoughts and feelings, and not be enslaved by them.
TheDashleys on YouTube
Episode Show Notes
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There are so many super cool events coming to Utah I can't even stand it. Here are a few you should know about:
- Mixed Faith Marriage Workshop (Marriage on a Tightrope) (Begins 2/19/23). Details and registration here.
- Sunday THRIVE Provo - (2/19/23 11am, FREE!). Provo Towne Center Mall. Details here.
- Unveiling Dr. Clandestine w/ Signature Books (2/22/23, 7pm). 508 W. 400 N. Salt Lake City. Website here.
- THRIVE St. George (2/24-2/26). Register here.
- Steven Hassan Speaking at Lost & Found Club (3/17/23). Check here for more details. Faith Journey Meet-Ups Facebook Group here.
- Steven Hassan is speaking at THRIVE Unite in Lehi and Ogden (3/18/23). See here for a THRIVE Unite event near you! Other cities include Idaho Falls, Denver, Seattle, Zurich Switzerland, Calgary CA, Portland, Omaha. More to come!!!
- Recovery from Mormonism All-day Workshop w/ World-Renowned cult expert Steven Hassan and John Dehlin (Alpine, UT - 3/19/23). Details and registration here.
- Mormonpalooza (4/1-4/2, Salt Lake City). Details and registration here.
- THRIVE Women's Conference (6/2-6/3, Ogden, UT). Details and registration here.
- Vintage THRIVE (55+, 8/11-8/14). Details here.
- THRIVE Cruise (10/15-10/22, Galveston and Western Caribbean). Details here.
Blog Post
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YouTube Link
Join John, Margi and special guest Randy Bell in exploring a lesser-studied era of Joseph's life and his family connections to nearby Dartmouth. Do many supposedly unique Mormon doctrines have their origin not with Joseph, but at Dartmouth?
Episode Show Notes
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For Heather Gay, becoming a cast member on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” was like “drawing a line in the sand” with her identity as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When she joined the Bravo show in 2019, she realized her move to quietly quit the faith would become very loud. - The New York Times
Heather Gay visits John and Margi in studio and brings along a familiar face for fans of Mormon Stories and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Dre Robinson! Heather tells the story of how her memoir, Bad Mormon, came to be, the challenges she faced to write and publish it (and trademark it), her hopes for the future and what she and Dre are working on now.
From the publisher:
Between attending orthodox services, embarking on an eighteen-month mission, attending Brigham Young University, and marrying into a "royal" family, Heather was the definition of a "good Mormon." However, when the doting wife's husband unexpectedly filed for divorce, she was left out in the cold by her church and her community. In this funny, brash, and unbelievably vulnerable book, Bad Mormon recounts Heather's experiences as a single mother to three girls, navigating life post-divorce and post-Mormonism."
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/nEW7ZshLBcU
Cracks start to form in the testimony and identities of both Liz and her husband Sam. Sam begins to question the narratives he was raised with after a trip to Palmyra and as his degree opens his eyes to the cold, corporate nature of the Church, while Liz struggles to keep her faith despite the growing number of things that feel so wrong and cause so much harm not just to Liz, but her marriage, children, extended family, community, and even the nation at large. Liz recognizes how much of herself she continually denied and gave up trying to belong and finally realizes that she no longer WANTS to belong to an organization at such odds with her nature and values.
Episode Show Notes
*** Liz Lambson is a Korean/African American artist, musician, and writer, and - along with her spouse Sam - is a parent to five boys residing in Salt Lake City. Liz performs as a string bassist with the Ballet West Orchestra as well as the children’s singer-songwriter Lizzy Luna, the creator of the music-and-movement program Yoga Storytime & Songs. Liz performed for and toured with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for several years. She released her first album of original children’s yoga music, Reach to the Sky, in 2018. Her writing has been featured in publications including the New Era and the New York Times. As an active member of Utah’s arts and culture community, Liz formerly served as the Executive Director of the Utah Black History Museum. Her artwork is featured on Salt Lake City’s Black Lives Matter mural at City Hall. Liz is also an aspiring film actress. In her spare time she enjoys needlework, gardening, road trips, and Scrabble. Liz's Instagram: @lizzylambson Liz's Music & Social Media Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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Youtube link: https://youtu.be/83bjqlHTxaA After Liz decides to stay at BYU, she meets her future husband, Sam. Liz takes us through her courtship with Sam, their reasons for marrying each other, and the various complications they faced early on in their marriage. Like many LDS women trying to properly fulfill their purpose, Liz finds motherhood alone cannot make her feel happy & fulfilled with the exclusion of the things that make Liz who she is and bring her joy. Episode Show Notes Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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We continue Liz’s journey as she goes to BYU and gets baptized. Liz explains her interactions with church and BYU culture, and the effect of “worthiness” interviews w/LDS leadership once she is an official member.
At BYU Liz struggles to fit in with white culture and begins struggling with symptoms of mental illness along with outbursts of creativity. Things get heavy with a friend’s suicide as she battles her own depressive thoughts.
Episode Show Notes
YouTube Link
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Liz Lambson is a Korean/African American artist, musician, and writer, and - along with her spouse Sam - is a parent to five boys residing in Salt Lake City. Liz performs as a string bassist with the Ballet West Orchestra as well as the children’s singer-songwriter Lizzy Luna, the creator of the music-and-movement program Yoga Storytime & Songs. Liz performed for and toured with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for several years. She released her first album of original children’s yoga music, Reach to the Sky, in 2018. Her writing has been featured in publications including the New Era and the New York Times.
As an active member of Utah’s arts and culture community, Liz formerly served as the Executive Director of the Utah Black History Museum. Her artwork is featured on Salt Lake City’s Black Lives Matter mural at City Hall. Liz is also an aspiring film actress.
In her spare time she enjoys needlework, gardening, road trips, and Scrabble.
Liz's Instagram: @lizzylambson
We begin Liz’s story with her family and growing up years as a biracial Korean/African American struggling to assimilate into white culture. Her mother converted to Christianity and became a religious fanatic, leading to her eventual abandonment of her husband & children. Liz is introduced to Mormonism shortly after and finds Joseph Smith’s early religious confusion relatable. With continued exposure to LDS peers, including a boy who particularly holds her interest, Liz gains a testimony of the Book of Mormon and falls in love with Mormon culture.
Liz also shares her struggles with academic, artistic and spiritual perfectionism in high school. We learn ways Liz gives up pieces of herself as she tries harder to assimilate into Mormon culture and eventually makes the decision to attend BYU.
Episode Show Notes
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Please join us for a panel discussion regarding a recent two-day LDS multi-Stake training in Canada focused on understanding LGBTQ members -- led by faithful gay Mormon podcasters Charlie Bird and Ben Schilaty (hosts of "Questions From the Closet" podcast).
Some questions that will be addressed by the panel include:
- What aspects of this training are groundbreaking and should be celebrated?
- How do efforts like this one help LGBTQ youth in the LDS pews?
- Is this a local/grass-roots effort or is it sanctioned by top LDS Church leadership?
- Does this training represent a "Gay Mormon Rescue" of sorts, reminiscent of the Swedish Rescue and Boise Rescue from previous years (see here and here)?
- What possible risks do trainings like this introduce for LGTBQ youth and young adults?
- To what extent do less-official, "grass roots" efforts like this prevent top Mormon church leaders from taking responsibility for the LGBTQ crisis (past and present) within Mormonism?
Episode Show Notes
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Why don’t more people leave the Church in the face of overwhelming evidence that it isn’t what it claims to be? In this episode we will discuss how the Normalcy Bias can help explain this behavior.
Episode Show Notes
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Why don’t more people leave the Church in the face of overwhelming evidence that it isn’t what it claims to be? In this episode we will discuss how the Normalcy Bias can help explain this behavior.
Episode Show Notes
Mormon Expressions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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In this episode we recap all the different areas where Joseph Smith claims to have translated an ancient source and we analyze his work and compare it against modern scholars and experts in the field to see how he did.
Co-host: Nemo the Mormon
LDS Discussion Essay: Overview of Joseph Smith's Translations
Episode Show Notes
_________________________
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John is in the hot seat again as Shelise Sola of @CultstoConsciousness does the interviewing around the topic of what and how John Dehlin would change the Mormon (LDS) Church if he were prophet. John expertly synthesizes and explains in easy-to-understand chunks the largest problems facing the Mormon Church today and ways it harms its most ardent believers and their families from past racism, current treatment of women and homophobia, covering up real history etc.
While Shelise only recently started her podcast, “Cults to Consciousness,” she is quickly gaining viewership and a following due to her vibrant personality and quality content and interviews. In her own words: “From psychedelics to sexual distortions, I interview cult experts, cult survivors, cult advocates, therapists, way-showers, authors, healers, guides, shamans and more, to uncover how they find independence and healing through awareness and true individual sovereignty.”
- Cults to Consciousness on YouTube
- Cults to Consciousness on Patreon
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Mormon Stories has experienced an amazing amount of growth for which we are thankful to our viewers, guests, staff, donors, and collaborators! John shares about the growth of the channel and answers viewer questions.
How was 2022? What helped the channel’s growth? What were the stand-out episodes?
And what have we got planned for 2023? Join us to find out!
Episodes and Source Show Notes
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Did Joseph Smith have another shot at translating ancient scripture, or is it just rumor? Mike, Nemo and John take a look at the Kinderhook Plates. What were they? Did Joseph Smith try to translate them, and what was the result? As usual, we dive into the apologetics around multiple scenarios and why they are each attractive to differing views.
Co-host: Nemo the Mormon
LDS Discussion Essay on the Kinderhook Plates
Episode Show Notes
_________________________
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Co-host: Nemo the Mormon
Stephen Bullivant holds professorial positions at St Mary's University, London, and the University of Notre Dame, Sydney. He has doctorates in theology (Oxford, 2009) and sociology (Warwick, 2019). His studies of contemporary nonreligiosity have received wide international coverage, including from the BBC, New York Times, Economist, Financial Times, and Der Spiegel.
The United States is in the midst of a religious revolution. Or, perhaps it is better to say a non-religious revolution. Around a quarter of US adults now say they have no religion. The great majority of these religious "nones" also say that they used to belong to a religion but no longer do. These are the nonverts: think "converts," but from having religion to having none. There are currently has about 59 million of them in the United States.
Nonverts explores who they are, and why they joined the rising tide of the ex-religious. One of world's leading experts on contemporary atheism and nonreligiosity, sociologist and theologian Stephen Bullivant draws on dozens of interviews, original analysis of high-quality survey data, and a wealth of cutting-edge studies, to present an entertaining and insightful exploration of America's ex-religious landscape. Bullivant criss-crosses the country, talking to everyone from ex-Mormons in Utah to ex-Catholics in Pennsylvania, from ex-Evangelicals in Georgia to ex-Muslims in California, showing not only what they have in common but also how the traditions they left behind continue to shape them.
While American religion is not going to die out any time soon, ex-Christian America is a growing presence in national life. America's religious revolution is not just a religious revolution--it is catalyzing a profound social, cultural, moral, and political impact. Nonverts will serve as an indispensable guide to this shifting landscape, as well as the future of American life.
Join John and Nemo as they dive deeper into just why it is that people leave the LDS church.
Nonverts: The Making of Ex-Christian America
Episode Show Notes
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Fans of Mormon stories will be familiar with Channel Achenbach, who has been a guest on LDS Discussions' Race & Mormon Scripture Part 1 and Part 2 , Gender Discrimination in the Mormon Church with John Larsen and Mormon Leader Ahmad Corbitt Condemns Activism Towards the LDS Church or they may know her from her tiktok channel, @Bettenoir4. This is a 3-part series of Channel’s story.
We’re back for a wrap-up of Channel’s story. Starting from where Part 2 left off, Channel, Margi and John discuss racism in general in the United States, and racism experienced in Utah by Channel and her children in Utah based on their skin color, with even her lighter-skinned children getting treated better than those with darker skin.
Channel finally starts finding her own voice and speaking out about her experiences and observations in the church but with continued pushback from leaders, Channel decides to resign and starts her platform on Tiktok.
We learn where and how Channel is doing now that she's left the Church and found her voice and is finding herself again after all this time.
Episode Show Notes
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Fans of Mormon stories will be familiar with Channel Achenbach, who has been a guest on LDS Discussions' Race & Mormon Scripture Part 1, Gender Discrimination in the Mormon Church with John Larsen and Mormon Leader Ahmad Corbitt Condemns Activism Towards the LDS Church or they may know her from her tiktok channel, @Bettenoir4. This will be a 3-part series of Channel’s story.
Channel is continuing her story from her marriage, an embarrassing disciplinary council where she is judged for her “sins” by a group entirely of white men, and dealing with the fall-out of a marriage that was ill-suited from the beginning and facing the stigma of divorce within the LDS church as a woman of color. Channel marries again, this time to a non-member of the church and has two children. Despite her husband’s encouragement to leave, Channel continues to seek acceptance and approval from her religion despite her skin color. As she becomes disillusioned over time, Channel manages to stay in because of the influence of a few good friends, especially when her second marriage dissolves, and she finds herself needing more help.
We learn more about issues around race issues in general such as the difference between racism and white supremacy and how both show up in the Church’s doctrines, practices, and members, including being constantly talked down to and told what to do with her life and what to think even by friends over a decade younger than she.
Episode Show Notes
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Fans of Mormon stories will be familiar with Channel Achenbach, who has been a guest on LDS Discussions' Race & Mormon Scripture Part 1, Gender Discrimination in the Mormon Church with John Larsen and Mormon Leader Ahmad Corbitt Condemns Activism Towards the LDS Church or they may know her from her tiktok channel, @Bettenoir4. This will be a 3-part series of Channel’s story.
In Part 1 We get some background on Channel’s family growing up, how black families and black culture differ substantially from Mormon white culture, what led Channel to seek God and how that led to her joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Channel tells us the good, bad & ugly of how she was treated as a black teenage convert, when she learned of the Church’s racism, and ways that she accepted, excused, and eventually internalized it to see herself as “less” than her white counterparts.
This became most apparent in dating and marriage. While white men in the church may find her exotic and are willing to date her, Channel finds that they are unwilling to marry her as “mixing seed” would pass her “curse” [black skin] to children that could otherwise have two white parents. As Channel loses herself and what makes her unique to the cultural expectations of the Church she marries another black member of the church at the counsel of her Bishop against her better judgment.
Episode Show Notes
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We've had an incredible year at Mormon Stories Podcast, but hope to have an even better year in 2023. Please donate to support us if you value what we do, and want to see it continue to grow. You can donate here: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m
Mark Schultz was a 3-time NCAA champion, Olympic champion and 2-time World champion wrestler. He also joined the Mormon church in 1991 shortly after being hired as a BYU wrestling coach. Mark coached wrestling at BYU for around a decade.
A few months ago, Mark started studying factual LDS church history - focusing specifically on Joseph Smith's polygamy revelation in D&C Section 132 - and lost his Mormon faith. He reached out to John this week requesting to tell his story.
Episode Show Notes
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In Parts 1 and 2 of this series Mike, John, and Nemo explored the history and controversies over whether the Book of Abraham is a literal translation of Egyptian as claimed by Joseph Smith. Now for Part 3 they are back to look at what the text of the Book of Abraham actually says, including many prime LDS doctrines. What have been the consequences of believing those doctrines? Does the Book of Abraham merit being considered “revelation” and therefore binding to believing Saints today? LDS Discussion Essay on Book of Abraham Episode Show Notes _________________________
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Carol discusses ways that she has enabled herself mentally and spiritually to stay in the Church, despite periods of inactivity and varying levels of hope. Has she gone through a “faith crisis” as many know it? What did she keep and what has she thrown away? Why does she stay?
How does Carol feel she makes a difference by staying in and also how and why has she been able to avoid excommunication, a common fate for those who undertake advocacy in the Church and come under the ire of leadership?
Carollynnpearson.com
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Carol Lynn Pearson is an amazing woman and still-active member of the Church who has done more advocacy for feminism and LGBTQ rights than any other member and for far longer through her songs, books, poetry, speaking engagements and other appearances (even Oprah)! Carol Lynn Pearson is the example and embodiment of pure love. Anyone would do well to follow her example. In today's episode, Carol describes how she finds both feminine and masculine traits in the divine, and in such a lovely way that even hard-core atheists can find beauty and inspiration in her thoughts. Episode Show Notes Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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Today we’re going through various apologetics and theories around the Book of Abraham to reconcile it being considered scripture along with what we know the literal interpretation of these things to be. What problems do these apologetics create in other areas for believers? Do these theories hold water without a strong bias to believe in spite of all evidence? Do some apologists even admit it? LDS Discussion Essay on Book of Abraham Episode Show Notes _________________________
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The best way to consume Mormon history is through original source documents, but where do you find them? In this episode we will review a list of primary sources for early Mormon history that are accessible and affordable to the budding historian.
John's List:
- An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith
- The Essential Joseph Smith
- Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text
- Book of Commandments
- John Whitmer History
- Messenger and Advocate
- Lectures on Faith: Restoration Edition
- Lectures on Faith: Unabridged
- Evening and Morning Star
- Far West record: Minutes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1844
- Times and Seasons
Episode Show Notes
Mormon Expressions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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Welcome back for part two where we learn how Kelsey's faith journey began in earnest. What has been the public and private reaction to her ongoing faith journey? What benefits and challenges has Kelsey faced?
@KelseyEdwards has a unique upbringing as a child actor who was homeschooled by her Mormon parents. Driven by a desire to do what’s right and excel, Kelsey develops a perfectionism that goes beyond religious adherence into body image and leads to disordered eating. Kelsey is able to recover with help from her parents, only to be thrown into another family crisis as her father succumbs to an opiate addiction after chronic back pain and leaves both the Church and the family. As many children do, Kelsey feels she shares blame for the destruction of her family and re-commits to the LDS religion for strength and comfort.
Social Media:
- New Song: Life in a Box
- Insta: www.instagram.com/kelseymarieedwards
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kelseymarieedwards
- YouTube.com/@kelseyedwards
- Kelsey Edwards on IMDB
Squad Goals: Courses.kelseyedwards.co (For teen girls about making/keeping good friends)
Episode Show Notes
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Content Warning: Disordered Eating, Drug Addiction
National Eating Disorder Helpline: 1-800-931-2237
National Eating Disorders Association Website
Kelsey Edwards has a unique upbringing as a child actor who was homeschooled by her Mormon parents. Driven by a desire to do what’s right and excel, Kelsey develops a perfectionism that goes beyond religious adherence into body image and leads to disordered eating. Kelsey is able to recover with help from her parents, only to be thrown into another family crisis as her father succumbs to an opiate addiction after chronic back pain and leaves both the Church and the family. As many children do, Kelsey feels she shares blame for the destruction of her family and re-commits to the LDS religion for strength and comfort.
When her family moves to Provo, Utah, Mormon purity culture has costs for Kelsey’s self-esteem and body image as she continues pursuing performance at high school and BYU. Kelsey’s first doubts come as she serves a mission in Birmingham Alabama and grapples with the spirituality and fulfillment members of other faiths feel. Kelsey realizes belief in “eternal families” is far from unique to Mormonism but what IS unique about the Mormon version is the dark element that it’s predicated on a God deliberately separating families first.Join us for the rest in Part 2!
Social Media:
- New Song: Life in a Box
- Insta: www.instagram.com/kelseymarieedwards
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kelseymarieedwards
- YouTube.com/@kelseyedwards
- Kelsey Edwards on IMDB
Squad Goals: Courses.kelseyedwards.co (For teen girls about making/keeping good friends)
Episode Show Notes
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Nearly since its founding, leaders of the LDS Church have excommunicated members for wrongdoing. In earlier times, such punishments might have lasted only weeks. Over the course of succeeding decades, this practice became more severe, constituting a wrenching removal from the community. Gaining readmittance often required intense penance and evidence of significant change stretching over a prolonged period of time. Sometimes this process even involved the leaders' colleagues. Justice and Mercy offers in-depth examinations of several high-profile case studies in church discipline, using journals and other sources close to the participants to provide candid detail.
Today we interview author Gary James Bergera and Editor Bryan Buchanan.
The book can be purchased here: Justice & Mercy
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PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
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Today we get to meet Special Guest Scott Dyer from Rameumptom Ruminations, a podcast centered on Mormon theology & interpretations of scripture through the lens of philosophy, literature and art under the Mormon Discussions Podcasts umbrella.
John and Scott discuss Brian Harris, a recent guest on Rameumptom Ruminations who was an employee at church headquarters in the correlation department. Brian offers us a chance to pull back the curtain and learn a little bit more about what goes on behind the scenes. How does the church gather and use data from its members? How far up the chain does that data go? What goes into the creation, revising, or scrapping of church programs?
Rameumptom Ruminations Playlist on YouTube
Episode Show Notes
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Starting Book of Abraham! Join us at noon today for the intro to the issues around the "translation" of this controversial piece of Mormon scripture.
LDS Discussion Book of Abraham Essay
Episode Show Notes
_________________________
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Louisa Killian is back to talk about what happened after losing her job at BYU, and what resources helped her heal and grow. What have been her victories and challenges in rebuilding her life? How did her family react to her loss of faith? What role does art and creativity play in healing? How does Louisa navigate her marriage, parenting, self-care, and spirituality?
Louisa Killian
Episode Notes
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After her marriage to a "worthy" priesthood-holding Returned Missionary goes south when her husband is arrested for fraud, Louisa Killian finds love & equality in a relationship outside of the Church and a fulfilling career teaching dance at BYU. But when it's time to renew her Temple Recommend to keep her ecclesiastical endorsement (a requirement for employment at the Church school), Louisa finds that honesty has severe consequences.
Louisa Killian
Episode Notes
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Content Warning: Suicidal Ideation
Gary and Ernie were both raised members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They only had one major problem - they were gay. While Ernie tried marrying a woman and having children to "make the gay go away," Gary pursued graduate school, tried to date women, and eventually pursued a life of celibacy. At some point, both of their lives broke down.
Join us today for a true love story for the ages - how Gary and Ernie found love together, and how they are thriving today.
Gary & Ernie: Go Forward
Episode Show Notes
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Join Kattie & Allan from Marriage on a Tightrope as they interview John & Margi on the various aspects of faith transitioning as a couple.
Marriage on a Tightrope started as a resource for mixed-faith couples (like themselves) after Allan lost his faith. Mixed faith marriages have their own unique complications and issues and Allan & Kattie hold vulnerable conversations about their mixed faith marriage in order to give the listener context and resources to navigate their own relationship. They have helped hundreds of couples and families stay together and learn to love, accept, and communicate with each other when one goes through a faith transition.
Marriage on a Tightrope:
- Facebook Group
- Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast
- Mixed-faith workshops for couples
Email Allan & Kattie: MarriageonaTightrope@gmail.com
Donate to Marriage on a Tightrope
Episode Show Notes
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Content warning: Suicidal ideation, Drug addiction
Tani Berlo was raised in Australia as a biracial Mormon of Maori descent. Showing an early love for history, Tani asked many questions of her LDS seminary teacher regarding science and history that caused concern. This included questioning the validity of the "Lamanite" identity (from the Book of Mormon) handed to her as a descendent of the Maori people.
Later in Tani's teenage years she was shamed by her LDS church leaders for normative sexual exploration, and was ultimately summoned to a disciplinary council where she was asked sexually explicit questions by multiple men, and was disfellowshipped by the church. This led to significant sexual shame as a temple married Latter-day saint. After having children, Tani experienced significant post-partum depression and an opiate addiction, which when combined with her questioning of Mormon truth claims, led to a full-on faith crisis.
Today Tani hosts a TikTok channel on history with over 1.1 million followers.
This is Tani's Mormon story.
Episode Show Notes
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Join us for a discussion on the Mormon Church coming out "in support" of the Respect for Marriage Act, which many Mormons are mistakenly interpreting as support for LGBTQ people, and for same-sex marriage.
Co-host: Gerardo Sumano
Episode Show Notes
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Join us for our first Mormon Stories Book Club episode covering LIGHTHOUSE - Jerald and Sandra Tanner, a biography written by Ronald Huggins.
Co-host: Rebecca Bibliotheca
- The Good Book Club: For post and nuanced Mormons
- Mormon.ish Podcast
Special Guests:
Sandra Tanner
- Utah Lighthouse Ministries Website
Ronald Huggins
Episode Show Notes
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Despite reports of progress, the Church today remains a highly discriminator organization. In this episode the panel will identify and discuss specific, concrete examples of how the Church explicitly discriminates today.
Co-host: Sam Shelly
- Samantha Shelley Coaching
- Zelph on the Shelf
Special Guest: Channel Achenbach
- Tiktok: @Bettenoir4
Episode Show Notes
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Join John, Mike & Elisha Lee as they discuss common problematic apologies around the practice of polygamy in early Church History. From lies being called “carefully worded denials” and attempts to differentiate between “plural marriage” which God approved of or “spiritual wifery” which was not, and the fact that this is still current doctrine and what women have to look forward to in eternity and the harms caused past and present from this doctrine.
Special Guest: Elisha Lee
- Faith Unraveled Tiktok (Faith Transition Focused)
- Soul Unraveled Tiktok (Personal Journey Focused)
LDS Discussion Essay on Polygamy Apologetics
Episode Show Notes
_________________________
LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors!
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Content Warning: Suicide Ideation
For Part 2 we come back to Shaye and Amanda's story after Shaye returns home from his mission. We learn how Shaye got involved in film with Mormon music group "The Piano Guys," their early issues with infertility, Amanda's schooling and career and the class (and book) that started her slowly on the path to finding out the real history of her belief system.
We also take a deep dive into Shaye's growing dysphoria into their marriage how that developed into severe internalized transphobia, which extended to the whole LGBTQ community as a whole as even allyship felt too "close" and "dangerous" to the secret he was trying to keep buried.
Episode Show Notes
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Content Warning: Gender Dysphoria & Suicidal Ideation
Amanda and Shaye already have a following on their YouTube Channel "Great Scotts" but their video "Why we left the Mormon Church - coming out story" made an even bigger splash. Join us as we hear their stories growing up in Mormon families, their early testimonies and experiences with the Church, Shaye's gender dysphoria and thoughts of suicide, how they met, Shaye serving a mission, and their subsequent marriage after returning.
YouTube Channel: Great Scotts
Episode Show Notes
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In part 5 of our 6-part series on polygamy within the LDS Discussion project, we discuss "The Happiness Letter," which was the letter Joseph Smith wrote to Nancy Rigdon to try to convince her to become one of his plural wives.
Episode Show Notes
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Join us as we analyze a Mormon leader's private talk given to a small group of Church leaders that has stirred up the Mormon community. In his talk Ahmad S. Corbitt, first counselor in the LDS Church Young Men general presidency, vehemently condemns activism toward the Church.
Episode Show Notes
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In Part 3 of 3 on this riveting story of Jeff & Larissa, we join them again as they bravely share their stories of sexual dysfunction due to LDS purity culture doctrines, Larissa's battle with breast cancer, Jeff's experiences with porn/masturbation, and BOTH Jeff and Larissa suppressing their sexuality. They share their journey of healing and growing together in intimacy, as well as other changes post-Mormonism. What is parenting like? How have their beliefs changed and what do they believe now? Larissa Kindred
- Instagram: @lkindred
- Twitter: @exmo_mama
Jeff Kindred:
- Twitter: @jeff_kindred
Episode Show Notes
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In this Part 2 of 3, we return to Jeff & Larissa's story. Now married, Larissa gives up her University Studies to help Jeff through Med school. They share their struggles with infertility, the adoption process, and adopting black children as orthodox Mormons. Larissa faces difficulties in early motherhood and building resentment as they settle into traditional LDS gender roles. Larissa feels she is losing herself wrapped up in her husband's life, while at the same time trying to silence that part of her that is unhappy, seeing it as "wrong." Larissa is called as a RS President, even as she becomes more vocally progressive/feminist and has hope for the Church to change, but it doesn't last. Jeff realizes the Gospel can't fix Larissa's unhappiness as the root cause is Patriarchy. He serves in Bishoprics for 7 years before discovering more about Church history from the CES Letter, and Rough Stone Rolling, with the Gospel Topics Essays being the final straw. Jeff & Larissa finally recognize the level of harm of systemic racism & sexism in Mormonism and no longer wish to be a part of it. Larissa Kindred * Instagram: @lkindred * Twitter: @exmo_mama
Jeff Kindred:
- Twitter: @jeff_kindred
Episode Show Notes
Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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Join us as we meet Jeff & Larissa Kindred and follow their stories growing up as Latter-day Saints. Jeff's story includes a grooming scoutmaster, his love of sports, attending Snow College, and serving a mission in Jackson, Mississippi where he dealt with scrupulosity, unhealthy diet and exercise, becoming AP, and wrestling with racism in the Church culture & scripture.
Larissa's story involves her Japanese-American heritage, and gives a brief introduction on the history of anti-Japanese sentiment in Utah, including having been home to a Japanese "Work" Camp in Topaz. Larissa tells of the struggles her grandparents faced assimilating into Utah Culture and dealing with the loss of their own. Larissa also describes racism she experienced growing up in American Fork, UT and Mormon culture's ideals matching white beauty standards.
And this is just the beginning! Jeff and Larissa have a lot of experiences that many current and former Mormons will relate to and experiences that will be new for many to hear.
Larissa Kindred
- Instagram: @lkindred
- Twitter: @exmo_mama
Jeff Kindred:
- Twitter: @jeff_kindred
Episode Show Notes
Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
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Join Simon Southerton and Neville Rochow as they discuss the breaking news story of potentially fraudulent behavior by the LDS Church in Australia.
Original Stories:
- Mormons Inc: Church accused of multinational tax rort
- The Sydney Morning Herald: Labor, Greens push for tax office investigation into Mormon donations
Simon Southerton
- Simon.southerton11@gmail.com
Neville Rochow
Episode Show Notes
Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
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Join Mike (LDS Discussions), Elisha, and John as they continue in Part 2 to look at the techniques of influence that Joseph Smith used to propose to his plural wives.
LDS Discussion Essay on Polygamy
Special Guest: Elisha Lee
- Faith Unraveled Tiktok (Faith Transition Focused)
- Soul Unraveled Tiktok (Personal Journey Focused)
LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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- LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube
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Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com
Mormon Stories Podcast PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117
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Content Warning: Suicidal Ideation
Join us as Brinley returns to share what rebuilding her life was like after returning home from her mission and how she finally found her voice & happiness.
Brinley's Instagram
Episode Show Notes
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
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Content Warning: Suicidal Ideation & Planning
Join John & Margi as they interview young and spunky Brinley Jensen, a Gen Z returned missionary, as she shares her experiences growing up in the Church and the consequences she's faced at various times as she's spoken up for herself and grown into the person she is.
Brinley's Instagram
Episode Show Notes
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
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Join Mike (LDS Discussions), Elisha, and John as they look at the techniques of influence that Joseph Smith used to propose to his plural wives.
LDS Discussion Essay on Plural Marriage Proposals
Special Guest: Elisha Lee
- Faith Unraveled Tiktok (Faith Transition Focused)
- Soul Unraveled Tiktok (Personal Journey Focused)
LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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- LDS Discussions on Spotify
- LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube
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- Email: ldsdiscussions@gmail.com
Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com
Mormon Stories Podcast PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Social Media:
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- Join the Discord
Join us for two unique Mormon Stories as John Dehlin & Samantha Shelley interview Tommy & Madison Johnson. Tommy made fans and haters on both sides of belief when he hit the TikTok scene during COVID with funny skits on the peculiarities of Mormonism. What viewers couldn't see was that Tommy was struggling to know how to deal with many of the messier topics in Church History as well as the darker sides of modern Mormon doctrines such as the stance against the LGBTQ+ community, which includes his own sister, while ALSO navigating his mixed-faith marriage with Madison who stopped believing entirely after their Temple Marriage. Madison describes her life as having been "born into a faith crisis" due to stigma and family shame around being conceived out of wedlock by a teen mother. Madison's struggles with the faith continued through most of her life despite her levels of activity/involvement in the Church, even through her Temple Marriage with Tom. Madison leaves the Church upon finding the CES letter and she and Tommy work through what this will mean for their marriage, and even end up on an episode of the podcast "Marriage on a Tightrope" with Katie & Allan Mount. They finish off with where the couple is at today and how life is going since all of the changes they've been through. Guests:
- Tommy
- Instagram: @thetomsters
- TikTok: @thetomsters
- Madison
- Instagram: @madison.ashlee
- Tiktok: @madsashlee
- Samantha (host)
- Samantha Shelley Coaching
- Zelph on the Shelf
Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com Mormon Stories Podcast PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Social Media: * Insta: @mormstories * Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast * Join the Discord
Supreme Court Amicus Curie briefings are a way for organizations to influence and become involved in significant Court cases. For many years the church has used its high-powered attorneys to file briefs in major cases. We will discuss which cases and what the church truly values.
Special Guest: Sam Shelly
- Samantha Shelley Coaching
- Zelph on the Shelf
Mormon Expressions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
- Donate to support John/Carah for Mormon Expressions
John & Carah on Other Platforms:
- Mormon Expressions Podcast on Spotify
- Nuancehoe on YouTube
- Nuancehoe on Patreon
- John Larsen on YouTube
Support Mormon Stories Podcast here:
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- Spotify
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Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Social Media: * Insta: @mormstories * Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast * Join the Discord
Today’s episode continues the discussion on Polygamy with the (in)famous revelation still canonized in Mormon/LDS scripture as Section 132 of the Doctrine & Covenants. Mike sets up the historical & personal context of the timing of this revelation and the problematic ideas presented in it as coming from God including how God views women, redefining adultery and other moral issues, and the various rules and justifications given by God to practice polygamy.
Mike goes on to show that Joseph admits himself that polygamy is something he wanted, and despite being the receiver of the various specific rules defined by God, he nevertheless proceeds to break every one of them.
Finally, Mike goes over the many apologetics around this section of the Doctrine & Covenants and the problems with most of the arguments attempting to justify the revelation, Joseph’s polygamy, and the resulting polygamy among many of the branches of Mormonism, some continuing to this day.
LDS Discussion Essay on Polygamy
Episode Show Notes
Special Guest: Elisha Lee
- Faith Unraveled Tiktok (Faith Transition Focused)
- Soul Unraveled Tiktok (Personal Journey Focused)
LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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- LDS Discussions Website
- LDS Discussions on Anchor
- LDS Discussions on Spotify
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Going through a faith crisis can be a lonely and isolating experience, especially in a believing family, so imagine the relief to find someone else is going through the same thing! Join John & Margi as they interview Chris Lee and Mitch Hadfield about their Mormon Story, their struggles with the faith, their relief to find understanding, support & solidarity with each other, and where their lives are now.
In Part 2 of 2, Chris and Mitch explain the sources of their individual faith crises and how they processed it. Chris’ was a slow burn with a long amount of time spent in progressive Mormonism, while Mitch went from fairly conservative to a nonbeliever overnight. They explain the results of sharing their faith loss with each other, their wives, and other believing family members and where Chris and Mitch find themselves today.
Chris Lee:
- Tiktok
Episode Show Notes
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Going through a faith crisis can be a lonely and isolating experience, especially in a believing family, so imagine the relief to find someone else is going through the same thing! Join John & Margi as they interview Chris Lee and Mitch Hadfield about their Mormon Story, their struggles with the faith, their relief to find understanding, support & solidarity with each other, and where their lives are now.
In Part 1 of 2, Chris and Mitch tell their respective stories growing up in Mormon families and share their individual struggles serving missions for the Church. Chris struggles deeply with depression and anxiety resulting in going home early though at the cost of guilt that will last for years. Mitch experiences shame over “unrepented sins,” difficulties of the mission, and deals with suicidal ideation, though his does finish the full two-year term.
Chris Lee:
- Tiktok
Episode Show Notes
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Mike and John discuss the timeline and cultural context surrounding Joseph Smith at the time he claims to receive the revelation on polygamy which became canonized and is still considered scripture for many modern Mormon branches, some who still practice it today, and even ones who don't, like the largest Mormon branch headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
LDS Discussion Essay on Polygamy Episode Show Notes =====
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Content Warning: Mention of sexual acts, suicide, & suicidal ideation
Join us for a very special episode & guest, Daniel Spencer (@DanBamBam on Social Media) to share his heartwarming story with us. From growing up as a closeted gay Mormon teenager in a country where being gay isn't just illegal, but dangerous, to his mission experiences and discovering his talent not just for comedy but for starting important conversations at BYU and beyond! Daniel Spencer (@DanBanBam)
- TikTok: @danbanbam
- Dry Bar Special: Accents Make You Hotter. Daniel Spencer
- Insta: @danbanbam
Trigger Warning: Suicides & Suicidal Ideation
In this part 2 of 2, Daniel returns to share what the remainder of his mission was like, his studies at BYU, dealing with his homosexuality, learning more about the Church's history and truth claims, and his attempts to learn to speak his truth out loud after decades of hiding who he was. Daniel attempts to use social media to bring attention to important issues as well as give people a chance to speak their truth, even if anonymously.
Episode Show Notes
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Content Warning: Mention of sexual acts, suicide, & suicidal ideation
Join us for a very special episode & guest, Daniel Spencer (@DanBamBam on Social Media) to share his heartwarming story with us. From growing up as a closeted gay Mormon teenager in a country where being gay isn't just illegal, but dangerous, to his mission experiences and discovering his talent not just for comedy but for starting important conversations at BYU and beyond! Daniel Spencer (@DanBanBam)
- TikTok: @danbanbam
- Dry Bar Special: Accents Make You Hotter. Daniel Spencer
- Insta: @danbanbam
Content Warning: Mention of sexual acts
In Part 1 of 2, Dan tells us about his Mormon upbringing in Zimbabwe, from how his parents met each other, ended up in Zimbabwe, and what may be different for Zimbabwean Latter-day Saints from the more common US & Utah-based stories. We learn what his teens were like, including sexual mores and education where Dan grew up and he shares his own experiences. We also learn when and how Dan began to gain his testimony of the Gospel, his decision to attend BYU and serve a mission, and what his experiences were like going through the Temple for the first time and his early mission experiences.
Episode Show Notes
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Description: Join us for our very first General Conference Panel of Discussion on Mormon Stories Podcast. John, Samantha, Gerardo, Nemo, and John’s dad, David will analyze a few statements made during the October 2022 Mormon General Conference. You can't miss this one! Official Channel for General Conference Guest Panelists:
- Samantha Shelly
- Samantha Shelley Coaching
- Zelph on the Shelf
- Nemo the Mormon
- Nemo the Mormon YouTube Channel
Episode Show Notes
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Join Mike and John as they discuss Mormonism’s early connection with Masonry through Joseph Smith and the unique problems it creates for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to grapple with today.
Covered topics include the timeline of Joseph becoming a Master Mason before introducing the similarly-themed rituals of the Temple Endowment Ceremony, why many members and apologists claim Masonry to be of ancient origin despite evidence to the contrary, the many parallels between the secret rituals of both organizations, and whether or the Temple Endowment involved false doctrines.
Episode Show Notes
=====
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Trigger Warning: Suicidal Ideation Evan Smith rose through the ranks of Mormon leadership ultimately becoming a Stake Presidency member. While serving as an LDS Bishop, Evan struggled with the Church’s positions on LGBTQ+ issues and later found out that his son Weston was gay. Even after coming out, Weston decided to serve an LDS Mission as an openly gay man, leading him to high levels of depression and heartbreaking experiences during and after coming back early from his mission. Evan became an advocate for LGBTQ people in the Church. His position as a Stake Presidency Counselor led him to a few confrontations/discussions with General Authorities and a later meeting at Church Headquarters where they discussed Evan’s progressive beliefs on LGBTQ matters. In Part 3 of 3, Evan describes getting called as a Stake Counselor, his attempts to be an ally for LGBTQ individuals and his subsequent faith crisis. Evan has a few debates/confrontations with Area Seventy Elder McCune (higher than Stake Presidency in Mormon leadership) over his gay son. Evan emails Apostles and other leaders on how the Church can change to be more loving and accepting of LGBTQ members resulting in a meeting with General Authority Allen D. Haynie. Evan continues faith deconstruction when his wife begins her faith crisis, and they both come to see the issues with sexism in the Church, biblical scholarship opening up new issues, and the family’s ultimate decision to leave the Church. * Gay Latter-day Saint Crossroads * This Body of Water: Surviving Mormonism as a Queer Man
Episode Show Notes
=====
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Trigger Warning: Suicidal Ideation
Evan Smith rose through the ranks of Mormon leadership ultimately becoming a Stake Presidency member. While serving as an LDS Bishop, Evan struggled with the Church’s positions on LGBTQ+ issues and later found out that his son Weston was gay. Even after coming out, Weston decided to serve an LDS Mission as an openly gay man, leading him to high levels of depression and heartbreaking experiences during and after coming back early from his mission. Evan became an advocate for LGBTQ people in the Church. His position as a Stake Presidency Counselor led him to a few confrontations/discussions with General Authorities and a later meeting at Church Headquarters where they discussed Evan’s progressive beliefs on LGBTQ matters. In Part 2 of 3, we start off where we left with Weston’s story growing up as a gay Mormon kid, discovering his sexuality, his suicidal ideation, and his decision to serve a mission as an “out” gay Mormon. Upon experiencing suicidality again on his mission Weston has a “spiritual experience” which leads to his resolve to leave the church and live a happy life. Meanwhile, Evan gets a call to become a 1st counselor in the Stake Presidency. * Gay Latter-day Saint Crossroads * This Body of Water: Surviving Mormonism as a Queer Man
Episode Show Notes
=====
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Evan Smith rose through the ranks of Mormon leadership ultimately becoming a Stake Presidency member. While serving as an LDS Bishop, Evan struggled with the Church’s positions on LGBTQ+ issues and later found out that his son Weston was gay. Even after coming out, Weston decided to serve an LDS Mission as an openly gay man, leading him to high levels of depression and heartbreaking experiences during and after coming back early from his mission.
Evan became an advocate for LGBTQ people in the Church. His position as a Stake Presidency Counselor led him to a few confrontations/discussions with General Authorities and a later meeting at Church Headquarters where they discussed Evan’s progressive beliefs on LGBTQ matters. Join John and Gerardo as they interview Evan and his son Weston about their fascinating Mormon Story.
In Part 1 of 3, we learn of Evan’s relatively normal LDS (Mormon) upbringing in Utah, early testimony-building experiences, and troubling issues on his mission regarding difficult Church topics including the Church’s racism & homophobia. Evan attends BYU and meets his wife, Cheryl, and works through law school with three children. He becomes a Branch President (leader of a local congregation-similar to a Bishop, but over a smaller congregation) and begins learning Gospel teachings and experiences weren’t as simple as they initially seemed, culminating in his son, Weston, coming out to him as gay.
- Gay Latter-day Saint Crossroads
- This Body of Water: Surviving Mormonism as a Queer Man
Episode Show Notes
=====
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Join us for Part 2 of our discussion on Race and the Book of Mormon. Today Mike and John go over the various apologetics for the apparent racism in the Book of Mormon and early Church leaders, from denying those particular scriptures are literal, to saying “everyone was racist back then” and of course, breaking down the various problems each creates for a Church said to be built on the basis of revelation to modern prophets.
Episode Show Notes
=====
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Tim Kosnoff is back to share an update about the Boy Scouts of America Bankruptcy Filing and urgent deadline at the end of 2022 for anyone in California who was abused by a Boy Scout Leader outside of official BSA activities to be able to join a class-action lawsuit before the window is closed forever.
Anyone with questions or think this might apply to themselves or someone they love are encouraged to contact an attorney (ideally one with experience with child abuse claims) to learn more. Tim Kosnoff is a US attorney who has spent the last two decades representing victims of abuse and has graciously volunteered to talk with anyone who may have questions about this case. Contact info provided below.
Free BSA Consult Hotline: 206-785-7326
Tim Kosnoff: kosnoff.com
https://twitter.com/SexAbuseAttys
Abused In Scouting Website
Free BSA Consult Hotline: 206-785-7326
Recent Episodes:
1639: The Mormon Church Abuse Hot Line with Attorney Tim Kosnoff
1640: Boy Scout Abuse and the Mormon Church with Attorney Tim Kosnoff
=====
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Join Mike from LDS discussions.com and John as they discuss race and Mormon scripture. This is part 1 of a 2-part series. We are also grateful to have a few call-in guests for this episode.
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Join us for Part 2 of our 2-part interview with pilot Greg Gerritsen
Join us for Part 2 of our 2-part interview with pilot Greg Gerritsen - grandson of the late and much believed Mormon or LDS Church apostle Joseph B. Wirthlin. In this series, Greg shares with us more of his own journey in the Church including:
- Greg's mission experiences, many made more difficult by knowledge of his relationship with Elder Wirthlin
- What Greg learned at Weber that began affecting his testimony
- How often General Authorities miss out on family activities and events in service to the Church
- How the Church deals with aging apostles once they begin to lose lucidity
- How Greg lost his LDS testimony in spite of descending from the Mormon "elite," and what led him to want to tell his story.
Also, Greg shares his opinion on whether his grandfather actually "saw" Jesus Christ as an LDS apostle. We hope you enjoy!!!
Episode Show Notes
=====
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Join us for Part 1 of our 2-part interview with pilot Greg Gerritsen - grandson of the late and much believed Mormon or LDS Church apostle Joseph B. Wirthlin. In this series, Greg shares with us many fascinating stories about his experiences with his grandfather including:
- The tendency of LDS church members to overly worship General Authorities, along with the unhealthy obsession some Mormons have with "access" to General Authorities.
- The undying love Elder Wirthlin had for his wife (Elisa), his family, and for football.
- The extent to which nepotism, cronyism, and patronage play a part in the selection of LDS church General Authorities.
- The downsides/sacrifices of being an LDS church Apostle/General Authority.
- The existence of divisions and "cliques" in the LDS church quorum of the 12 Apostles.
- The unhealthy pressures and expectations put on the children and grandchildren of LDS General Authorities, that often lead to a familial emphasis on "public appearance" over healthy relationships.
- The "code" that exists within families of LDS General Authorities to never do or say anything to bring dishonor to the family name or church, including speaking out about a loss of faith, which leads many descendants of LDS apostles to lie about and/or hide their loss of faith.
Episode Show Notes
=====
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=====
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[TW] Abuse, suicide
Carah B, John L, and John D go over the tropes and stereotypes of "hateful" ex-Mormons.
Episode Show Notes
________
Donate to support John/Carah Show for Mormon Expressions
Mormon Expressions Podcast on Spotify
Nuancehoe/Carah Burrell’s Channel
John Larsen’s Channel
=====
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John and Mike discuss the origins and influences around Joseph Smith and the Creation of the Word of Wisdom.
Episode Show Notes
=====
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Patrick Mason returns to flip the script and put John under scrutiny!
Patrick Q. Mason holds the Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at USU. He has written or edited several books, including Proclaim Peace: The Restoration’s Answer to an Age of Conflict (Maxwell Institute and Deseret Book, 2021); Mormonism and Violence: The Battles of Zion (Cambridge University Press, 2019); What Is Mormonism? A Student's Introduction (Routledge, 2017); Out of Obscurity: Mormonism since 1945, co-edited with John Turner (Oxford University Press, 2016); Directions for Mormon Studies in the Twenty-First Century (University of Utah Press, 2016); and The Mormon Menace: Violence and Anti-Mormonism in the Postbellum South (Oxford University Press, 2011). He was a Fulbright Scholar in Romania in 2015 and is a past president of the Mormon History Association. Professor Mason is frequently consulted by the national and international media on stories related to Mormon culture and history. He teaches courses on Mormonism, American religious history, and religion, violence, and peacebuilding.
1656-1658: A Scholarly Defense of Mormonism - Patrick Mason
Patrick Mason
- Patrick Mason (@patrickqmason) / Twitter
- Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt
- Proclaim Peace: The Restoration’s Answer to an Age of Conflict
- Restoration: God’s Call to the 21st Century World
- Patrick Mason’s other books
=====
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Join us today for part 2 of our interview with faithful Mormon scholar Dr. Patrick Mason. In part 2 John and Margi discuss with Patrick his approach to thoughtful, faithful Mormonism as a scholar of Mormon Studies. Patrick Q. Mason holds the Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at USU. He has written or edited several books, including Proclaim Peace: The Restoration’s Answer to an Age of Conflict (Maxwell Institute and Deseret Book, 2021); Mormonism and Violence: The Battles of Zion (Cambridge University Press, 2019); What Is Mormonism? A Student's Introduction (Routledge, 2017); Out of Obscurity: Mormonism since 1945, co-edited with John Turner (Oxford University Press, 2016); Directions for Mormon Studies in the Twenty-First Century (University of Utah Press, 2016); and The Mormon Menace: Violence and Anti-Mormonism in the Postbellum South (Oxford University Press, 2011). He was a Fulbright Scholar in Romania in 2015 and is a past president of the Mormon History Association. Professor Mason is frequently consulted by the national and international media on stories related to Mormon culture and history. He teaches courses on Mormonism, American religious history, and religion, violence, and peacebuilding.
1656-1658: A Scholarly Defense of Mormonism - Patrick Mason
Patrick Mason
- Patrick Mason (@patrickqmason) / Twitter
- Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt
- Proclaim Peace: The Restoration’s Answer to an Age of Conflict
- Restoration: God’s Call to the 21st Century World
- Patrick Mason’s other books
=====
Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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Mormon Stories Podcast
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LDS Scholar, author & apologist, Patrick Mason, shares his (brief) Mormon Story, including his childhood & teenage years before serving a Mission in Seattle, Washington. Patrick studies history at BYU, then Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution at Notre Dame. Patrick explains how became nuanced and how he navigates difficult issues with the Mormon Church. He currently holds the Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University.
1656-1658: A Scholarly Defense of Mormonism - Patrick Mason
Patrick Mason
- Patrick Mason (@patrickqmason) / Twitter
- Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt
- Proclaim Peace: The Restoration’s Answer to an Age of Conflict
- Restoration: God’s Call to the 21st Century World
- Patrick Mason’s other books
=====
Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:
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Mormon Stories Podcast
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John & Mike discuss changes made to the Doctrine & Covenants, part of the Mormon Canon.
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
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Show notes:
- LDS Discussions Essay
- Book of Commandments link in the Joseph Smith Papers project
- David Whitmer’s “An Address to All Believers in Christ”
- LDS Discussions episode on Priesthood Restoration
- LDS Discussions episode Anachronisms in the BOM
- LDS Discussions episode on Book of Mormon Translation
- LDS Discussions on Anchor
- LDS Discussions on Spotify
- LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube
Wanting to share latest thoughts and feelings about our recent successes and our recalibration.
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Contact Us! MormonStories@gmail.com Mormon Stories Podcast PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Elissa Wall is internationally known as the "woman who brought down Warren Jeffs." Never before has she been able to tell her full story, in an un-edited way. This is part 3 of her story, focusing on her efforts to put Warren Jeffs in prison, and how she has rebuilt a life since.
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
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Elissa Wall is internationally known as the "woman who brought down Warren Jeffs." Never before has she been able to tell her full story, in an un-edited way. This is part 2 of her story, focusing on her forced marriage to her first cousin at age 14 by FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs.
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Elissa Wall is internationally known as the "woman who brought down Warren Jeffs." Never before has she been able to tell her full story, in an un-edited way. This is part 1 of her story, focusing on her upbringing in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Join John & Mike as they discuss the timeline for the restoration of the Priesthood compared to the current Church narrative.
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#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Show notes:
- LDS Discussions Essay
- MormonThink on the Priesthood Restoration
- MS/LDS Discussions First Vision episode
- MS/LDS Discussion Anachronisms
- Dan Vogel YouTube Priesthood Authority Playlist
- Sunstone History episode about Priesthood Restoration “Restoring What Was Lost”
MS/LDS Discussions
- LDS Discussions on Anchor
- LDS Discussions on Spotify
- LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube
John's in the hot seat AGAIN as Steve Pynakker from YouTube Channel Mormon Book Reviews interviews John on his Spiritual Journey after being excommunicated from the Mormon Church.
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
John takes the hot seat this time as Rick Bennett from YouTube Channel Gospel Tangents does the interviewing. Gospel Tangents is a channel looking to represent a 360 degree view of Mormonism and welcomes guests representing various views and experiences of the Restoration Gospel started by Joseph Smith.
Rick calls John Dehlin the "grandfather" of Mormon podcasting. Not that he's old, but rather internet-old! Rick asks John about his journey in and out of the Church, dating an Oscar-winning actress in high school, some of his dealing with general authorities, and his excommunication and aftermath. They also discuss his tangles with apologists & neo-apologists, the Swedish Rescue, and whether he really wants people to stay LDS.
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Show notes:
- Richard D. Poll: What the Church Means to People Like Me
- Mormon Baseball Baptism Era D. Michael Quinn
- MS 101-103: Ted Lyon on LDS Church Change, Latin American Missions, LDS Membership Statistics & Thoughtful Faith
- The Cumorah Project
- Ordain Women
- John’s TED Talk
- Sunstone
- New Order Mormon
- Mormon Matters
- Wheat and Tares
- By Common Consent
- Dialogue Journal
- No man knows my history
- Rough Stone Rolling
- Reuters Special Report: Mormonism besieged by the modern age
- MS 343-344: Mormonism and the Internet with John Dehlin, Scott Gordon (FAIR) and Rosemary Avance
John and Mike discuss historical & theological issues surrounding the accounts of Joseph Smiths "First" Vision.
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
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Show Notes:
- LDS Discussions on Anchor
- LDS Discussions on Spotify
- LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube
- LDS Discussions First Vision Essay
- Joseph Smith Papers on the First Vision
Dr. Thomas Murphy presents his fascinating findings regarding 19th Century Native American Christian converts that closely resemble important personages in The Book of Mormon. Join John and Gerardo as they are captivated by these stories and discuss the probability that these are the stories that inspired Joseph Smith’s creation of Book of Mormon characters.
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
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#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Shownotes: * Views from Turtle Island Article: Message Thomas to ask for a copy on facebook or email tmurphy@email.edcc.edu * Original Interview with Thomas on MS: Ep 638-639 * Bear Ears MS Interview * Passion Isn't Enough | Hidden Brain Podcast * Other Scriptures: Grief, Gratitude, and the Haudenosaunee Great Peace * Angelo Baca “In Laman’s Terms” * Decolonizing Mormonism * Mormonism LIVE: Neophytes & Lamanites * Mormon Book Reviews Interview * Sin, Skin, and Seed: Mistakes of Men in the Book of Mormon * Imagining Lamanites: Native Americans and the Book of Mormon * Other Scriptures: Restoring Voices of the Gantowisas (clan mothers) to an Open Canon * The Mound Builder Myth: Fake History and the Hunt for a "Lost White Race" * Race and the Making of the Mormon People * Shannon Caldwell Montez: + 1336: The Rise and Fall of B.H. Roberts – with Shannon Caldwell Montez + 1337: Shannon Caldwell Montez – From Wife and Mother to Groundbreaking Mormon Historian + 1346: Shannon Caldwell Montez – The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922 * Lori Taylor: Telling Stories about Mormons and Indians
The Mormon Church has struggled with the engraved racist passages in its most holy book of scripture such as the divine curse that came upon the Lamanites turning them into loathsome people with a skin of blackness. Anthropologist Dr. Thomas Murphy joined John and Gerardo to discuss racism in The Book of Mormon and how Joseph Smith stole native culture, mixed it with racist ideas of his time, published it, and sold it as theirs. We also discuss how these racist ideas contained in the Book of Mormon have transcended into modern Mormon Culture and beliefs.
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
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#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Shownotes: * Views from Turtle Island Article: Message Thomas to ask for a copy on facebook or email tmurphy@email.edcc.edu * Original Interview with Thomas on MS: Ep 638-639 * Bear Ears MS Interview * Passion Isn't Enough | Hidden Brain Podcast * Other Scriptures: Grief, Gratitude, and the Haudenosaunee Great Peace * Angelo Baca “In Laman’s Terms” * Decolonizing Mormonism * Mormonism LIVE: Neophytes & Lamanites * Mormon Book Reviews Interview * Sin, Skin, and Seed: Mistakes of Men in the Book of Mormon * Imagining Lamanites: Native Americans and the Book of Mormon * Other Scriptures: Restoring Voices of the Gantowisas (clan mothers) to an Open Canon * The Mound Builder Myth: Fake History and the Hunt for a "Lost White Race" * Race and the Making of the Mormon People * Shannon Caldwell Montez: + 1336: The Rise and Fall of B.H. Roberts – with Shannon Caldwell Montez + 1337: Shannon Caldwell Montez – From Wife and Mother to Groundbreaking Mormon Historian + 1346: Shannon Caldwell Montez – The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922 * Lori Taylor: Telling Stories about Mormons and Indians
Renowned anthropologist Dr. Thomas Murphy comes back to update us on his journey engaging with Mormon scholarship and decolonization efforts. Join John and Gerardo as they enter into a fascinating discussion with Dr. Murphy about Book of Mormon apologetics and criticisms through the lens of a Mormon anthropologist's life.
Original Interviews:
638-639: Dr. Thomas Murphy Book of Mormon/Lamanite DNA & His Near Excommunication
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
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#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Shownotes: * Views from Turtle Island Article: Message Thomas to ask for a copy on facebook or email tmurphy@email.edcc.edu * Original Interview with Thomas on MS: Ep 638-639 * Bear Ears MS Interview * Passion Isn't Enough | Hidden Brain Podcast * Other Scriptures: Grief, Gratitude, and the Haudenosaunee Great Peace * Angelo Baca “In Laman’s Terms” * Decolonizing Mormonism * Mormonism LIVE: Neophytes & Lamanites * Mormon Book Reviews Interview * Sin, Skin, and Seed: Mistakes of Men in the Book of Mormon * Imagining Lamanites: Native Americans and the Book of Mormon * Other Scriptures: Restoring Voices of the Gantowisas (clan mothers) to an Open Canon * The Mound Builder Myth: Fake History and the Hunt for a "Lost White Race" * Race and the Making of the Mormon People * Shannon Caldwell Montez: + 1336: The Rise and Fall of B.H. Roberts – with Shannon Caldwell Montez + 1337: Shannon Caldwell Montez – From Wife and Mother to Groundbreaking Mormon Historian + 1346: Shannon Caldwell Montez – The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922 * Lori Taylor: Telling Stories about Mormons and Indians
TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of Sexual Assault, Rape, Child Abuse
In light of the recent Associated Press article about the Mormon church abuse hotline, we decided to ask our podcast listeners if any of them had ever been discouraged by Mormon leadership from reporting abuse to the police. Hundreds of listeners responded with concrete, and heart-wrenching examples. In Friday's episode, John and Jenn will be reading many of the accounts (scrubbed of identifying information), so as to highlight the longstanding and ongoing problem of abuse cases NOT being reported to police within the Mormon church.
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Join John Larsen, John Dehlin and Carah Burrell as they discuss how prior to the 1837 edits, The Book of Mormon was squarely trinitarian in its approach to God and Jesus christ. Some trinitarian elements remain in the book today. We will discuss and analyze each Passage to determine what Smith's theology was in the early days of Mormonism.
________
Donate to support John/Carah Show for Mormon Expressions
Mormon Expressions Podcast on Spotify
Nuancehoe/Carah Burrell’s Channel
John Larsen’s Channel
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Show Notes * + Mormon Stories essay on First Vision + MS First Vision podcast + 1830 version of Book of Mormon + Lectures on Faith + King Follet Discourse + ED Howe: Mormonism Unveiled + Letterbook 1 First Vision Account
Join John and Mike, from LDS Discussions for an introduction to the multiple authors of Isaiah and what that means for the Book of Mormon.
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Show Notes:
- LDS Discussions on Anchor
- LDS Discussions on Spotify
- LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube
- LDS Discussions Essay on Deutero-Isaiah
- Tight vs Loose Translation Episode
- David Bokovoy MS episodes
- David Bokovoy: Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis - Deuteronomy
- MS Bart Ehrman episode
- Noah’s Flood - w/ Simon Southerton
- Adam and Eve MS episode with LDS Discussions:
- BOM translation episode with LDS Discussions
- Maven’s MS Episode
- By Common Consent: 2 Nephi and the Deutero-Isaiah Problem in the Book of Mormon #BOM2016
- Anthony Miller’s MS episodes
Join John as he interviews Utah Representative Angela Romero, Lindsey Lundholm, and Dr. Julie Hanks about the upcoming Protect Kids rally, in favor of requiring clergy to report abuse.
ALL adults across the state, without exception, should be mandated to report child abuse. Representative Angela Romero has championed this legislation over the past two years. She is sponsoring the rally and will be the keynote speaker. Lindsey Lundholm is the grassroots organizer for the Protect Kids rally, and passionate about giving children one more safe line of defense against abuse. As a therapist and member of the LDS faith, Dr. Julie Hanks, stands in support of eliminating the clergy loophole. Please join us at the south steps of the Utah State Capitol this Friday @ 6:30pm. WEAR TEAL in support of SA survivors.
More details here: https://fb.me/e/2G8FC1foR
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed live. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held fully online via Facebook live at 6:30pm on Friday, August 19th. Currently in Utah law, clergy are exempt from mandatory reporting of child abuse. Recent news stories have highlighted how this exception can lead to serious harm for children, and a grey area for clergy.
Let’s make the law clear: protecting children from abuse is the first priority. We are rallying to educate and encourage the state to pass laws that close the clergy loophole. We believe this is the year we can get it passed, to provide a safer Utah for children.
How you can help in the meantime:
🔹 RSVP to the Facebook event, and invite your circle of influence: https://fb.me/e/2G8FC1foR
🔹 Follow, like, and share on Instagram @mandateclergyreporting
🔹 Sign this petition (40k+ signatures): Make LDS Clergy Mandatory Reporters: https://chng.it/6DvQJS5rLF
🔹 DM or email us at mandateclergyreporting@gmail.com to lend support, offer to volunteer, etc.
🔹 Share your story. If you would like to express how you or a loved one has been impacted by the clergy exemption, please follow this link for more details:
- Find your representative link: https://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1n4Ai...
TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of Sexual Assault, Rape, Child Abuse
Join John and Gerardo as they interview attorney Tim Kosnoff about the relationship between the Boy Scouts of America abuse epidemic and the Mormon church.
Tim Kosnoff is a US attorney who has spent the last two decades representing victims of abuse.
His introduction to the LDS Church and their lawyers was when he represented Jeremiah Scott who was sexually abused by a serial paedophile Frank Curtis. His work, in this case, appears in Lisa Davis’ legal thriller, The Sins of Brother Curtis. This case has led to a practice in which he has come to represent over 150 Mormon abuse victims bringing him face to face with the Mormon law machine repeatedly.
Tim Kosnoff:
People can reach my office at 206.785.7326
https://www.kosnoff.com https://twitter.com/SexAbuseAttys
https://abusedinscouting.com/
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#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Show Notes:
- AP: Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen
- AP: How Mormon church 'help line' hid child sex abuse
- Abused in Scouting (Tim’s legal efforts)
- The Sins of Brother Curtis
- Spotlight Movie
- Scouts Honor - Sexual Abuse and the BSA
- The Three R’s - Recognize, Review, and Report (BSA Abuse training)
TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of Sexual Assault, Rape, Child Abuse, Suicide
Join John and Gerardo as they interview attorney Tim Kosnoff about the history and evolution of the Mormon church abuse hotline. This hotline has resurfaced recently in the news in response to an Associated Press news story about the Mormon church (through its abuse hotline) telling two Arizona Mormon bishops not to report abuse to authorities, leading to seven years of child abuse in the abuser’s family.
Tim Kosnoff is a US attorney who has spent the last two decades representing victims of abuse.
His introduction to the LDS Church and their lawyers was when he represented Jeremiah Scott who was sexually abused by a serial pedophile Frank Curtis. His work, in this case, appears in Lisa Davis’ legal thriller, The Sins of Brother Curtis. This case has led to a practice in which he has come to represent over 150 Mormon abuse victims bringing him face to face with the Mormon law machine repeatedly.
Tim Kosnoff:
People can reach my office at 206.785.7326
https://www.kosnoff.com https://twitter.com/SexAbuseAttys
https://abusedinscouting.com/
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PO Box 171085
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#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Show Notes:
- A Thoughtful Faith Podcast Ep 258: Taking the Mormons to Court: Defending Sexual Abuse Victims against the LDS Church: Tim Kosnoff
- Donate to A Thoughtful Faith Podcast
- AP: Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen
- Church Offers Statement on Help Line and Abuse (Response to AP)
- Opinion: The Church’s response is lacking
- The Sins of Brother Curtis
- Spotlight Movie
TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of Sexual Assault, Rape, Child Abuse
When a father of a 5-year-old girl who was in counseling with his Mormon Bishop admitted to abusing his daughter, the Bishop followed the guidance of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and called a so-called "helpline" and he was advised by Church Lawyers to tell no one. The man continued to abuse his daughter for 7 more years and went on to assault her newborn sister. The AP has done a deep investigation into the Mormon Church's mishandling of child abuse and their article from last week has spread like wildfire.
The LDS Church has put its PR department and news media outlets on high alert and they issued an official response and at least two articles trying to respond to the egregious revelations by the Associated Press.
Join John, Gerardo, and Utah criminal defense attorney Brenton Erickson as they do a deep dive into the AP article and analyze whether the Church adequately explained the alarming allegations in the article.
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Show Notes:
- AP: Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen
- AP: How Mormon church 'help line' hid child sex abuse
- Church Offers Statement on Help Line and Abuse (Response to AP)
- Deseret News Opinion: Perspective: I survived abuse. I worked for the church’s help line. The AP story broke my heart
- Church responds to AP story on abuse of a child and reporting hotline
- Spotlight Movie
- MormonLeaks 1999 Protocol for Abuse Helpline [PDF]
- Are Publicized Abuse Cases Exceptional or Representative of Our Faith?
TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of Sexual Assault, Rape, Child Abuse
The bombshell article by the Associated Press about the LDS Church’s abuse cover-up in Arizona and West Virgina has taken the Mormon community by storm. As the kickoff episode to our series covering the Mormon church’s handling of abuse John, Jenn, and Gerardo will react to a shocking 2018 interview by Gina Colvin with attorney Tim Kosnoff about his experiences representing over 150 Mormon sexual abuse victims that have brought him face-to-face with Kirton & McConkie and the Mormon law machine.
On Friday we will be interviewing Tim Kosnoff in studio to discuss the AP article in more detail, provide an update on the church's handling of abuse cases, and to discuss the Boy Scouts of America case. A link to Gina's original interview is in the show notes below.
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
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#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Show notes:
- A Thoughtful Faith Podcast Ep 258: Taking the Mormons to Court: Defending Sexual Abuse Victims against the LDS Church: Tim Kosnoff
- Donate to A Thoughtful Faith Podcast
- Saints for All Seasons: Lavina Fielding Anderson and Bernard Shaw's "Joan of Arc"
- Writer excommunicated during ‘September Six’ purge loses her bid to rejoin the LDS Church
- The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology [PDF]
- 542-543: Gina Colvin – KiwiMormon and Fearless/Faithful Mormon Heretic
- The Sins of Brother Curtis
- Spotlight Movie
- Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormon officials let it happen
- Church Offers Statement on Help Line and Abuse (Response to AP)
- 1550-1551: Speaking Out When a Mormon Bishop Abuses Children – Kolby & Cami Reddish
Join us as we welcome Jessica Parker to the Thrive Stories podcast to discuss her journey of accepting and finding peace in infertility. As a woman who was raised in a faithful Latter-day Saint home, Jessica absorbed all the messages about the role of women and her divine purpose to bear children. She served a mission, got married in the temple, and gave her time and energy to the church for years. All of this came into question when Jessica began her faith journey--which then led to deconstructing and rebuilding her innate sense of value, identity, and purpose as a human being.
Thrive Stories is a podcast series where Margi (alongside John or Jenn) interviews a member of the community once per month. The interviews are shorter (2-3 hours), story-based, and are focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). They generally happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism.
If you would like to nominate someone you know who would be a great candidate for a THRIVE interview, please nominate them (or yourself) here.
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Show notes:
- Continual Becoming with ALOK
- Cesletter.org
- Under the Banner of Heaven book
- Under the Banner of Heaven series
- Steven Pynakker - Mormon Book Review Podcast
- Unfuckyourbrain Podcast
- Faith Journey meetups FB group
- Mormon Stories Podcast Community
- Mormonism Live FB Community
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is known globally for its massive missionary force. Over the past year we have received several independent reports suggesting serious distress in the Mormon missionary program, including:
- A sharp decline in the number of LDS missionaries overall.
- A sharp decline in the number of young men willing to serve missions.
- A significant increase in the number of LDS missionaries returning home early.
- Troubling new rhetoric/teachings from Mormon church leadership suggesting (out of seeming desperation) that Mormon missionary service for young men is mandatory/compulsory.
On Thursday at 4pm (mountain) we will be exploring this issue. If you have any data or stories regarding these (or other) developments regarding Mormon missionary work, please post them as comments below, or email us at: mormonstories@gmail.com and we can include your input in the show (anonymously if requested). Also, please plan to join us live for this show, wherein we hope to accept live video call-ins from viewers.
-
Show notes:
- Mormon Stories episodes on Missionary Injuries, Mental Health & Sexual Assaults:
- 787: Parent of Mormon Missionary is Not Allowed to Contact Son in Houston Hurricane
- 976-979: Experiencing Sexual Assault as a Missionary - Camille & Maddy
- 1492-1493: Sexually Assaulted by My Companion as a Mormon Missionary - McKay Johnson
- 1481-1482: My Mormon Mission Left Me Disabled - Lauren Rogers
- Mormon Stories Early Return Series:
- 643: Mormon Missionary Faith Crises and Early Return Pt 1 - Josh Tesch & Facebook
- 644: Mormon Missionary Faith Crises and Early Return Pt 2 - Depression & Suicidality
- 645: Missionaries Pt 3 - Mike Woodruff - Gay, Abused on Mission, PTSD, Early Return
- 646: Missionaries Pt 4 - Tre Shortland - Tormented over "Self Abuse," Disillusioned by Uninspired Mission Leadership
- 647: Missionaries Pt 5 - Rose Sorenson - Becoming an Atheist as a Missionary
- 648: Missionaries Pt 6 - Jacob - Sent Home Early for Cuddling with Zone Leader
- Mormon Stories 1548: Is the Mormon Church in Decline?
- Rameumptom Ruminations: Inside the Curtain of Church Headquarters
- (LDS.org) Why is there so much pressure on young men to go on a mission?
- Mexican Youth Mission Activity (Spanish)
- Mormon Stories episodes on Missionary Injuries, Mental Health & Sexual Assaults:
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
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#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Ally, a returned-missionary and member of BYU’s elite choir, BYU Singers, describes her struggles with perfectionism, mental health, harmful aspects of BYU culture, and discovering her asexuality in the context of marriage-centric Mormonism.
Show Notes:
- AllyChristiansen.com
- Ally Christiansen Instagram
- LDS Church Proclamation on the Family
- Contrapoints YouTube channel
- Gretchen Day MS Interview
- RFM Investigation of MTC Sex Scandal
- “Oh Ye Fair Ones” - Christian Asplund
- BYU Survival Guide
- MS Episode - Bradly and Ilana, BYU Survival Guide. How to survive BYU as a non-traditional or non-believing student
- Utah Valley University
- Beauty in the Now (Margi's Coaching)
- Ally Finlinson Christiansen Facebook
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Ally, a returned-missionary and member of BYU’s elite choir, BYU Singers, describes her struggles with perfectionism, mental health, harmful aspects of BYU culture, and discovering her asexuality in the context of marriage-centric Mormonism.
Show Notes:
- AllyChristiansen.com
- Ally Christiansen Instagram
- A Little Book of Ace
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Mormon Stories Podcast
PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
#LDS #Mormon #PostMormon #ExMormon #MormonStories #Religion #Education #Truth #History #JosephSmith #ChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints #HighDemandReligion #Cult #Patriarchy #WomensRights
Description: A look at how a late addition to the New Testament ended up in the Book of Mormon and what that tells us about the Book of Mormon's credibility as an ancient text.
-
Show Notes:
- LDS Discussions: Long Ending of Mark
- MS Episode on KJV and the BOM
- MS Episode on Deutero Isaiah and the BOM (TBD)
- MS Episode on Tight vs. Loose translation of Book of Mormon
- Radio Free Mormon Podcast: Backdating Prophecy
- Bart Ehrman MS Episode
- Bart Ehrman Books
- Bart Ehrman Blog
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*PO Box 171085
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In 1984 Elder Ron Poelman gave a conference talk that was modified and re-recorded. What was done and why was it done?
Donate to support John/Carah Show for Mormon Expressions
Mormon Expressions Podcast on Spotify
Nuancehoe/Carah Burrell’s Channel
John Larsen’s Channel:
________
Show Notes Ronald Poelman – Censored General Conference Talk – Nov 16, 1984
The Gospel and the Church – Sunstone Article
Elder Poelman’s Famous Speech (Sunstone Blog)
Dr. Brown’s 7 Honest Questions for Atheists – My Reply:
MS Episode Elbert Peck
Metaphors We Live By, Lakoff & Johnson
Packer’s “Unwritten Order of Things”
MS Native American Women and the Lamanite Myth
Free/Moral Agency and Missions Talk
Book: This is My Doctrine, Charles Harrell
MS Episode: BYU Professor Charles Harrell & Evolution of Mormon Doctrine
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MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
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*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In 1984 Elder Ron Poelman gave a conference talk that was modified and re-recorded. What was done and why was it done?
Donate to support John/Carah Show for Mormon Expressions
Mormon Expressions Podcast on Spotify
Nuancehoe/Carah Burrell’s Channel
John Larsen’s Channel:
________
Show Notes Ronald Poelman – Censored General Conference Talk – Nov 16, 1984
The Gospel and the Church – Sunstone Article
Elder Poelman’s Famous Speech (Sunstone Blog)
Dr. Brown’s 7 Honest Questions for Atheists – My Reply:
MS Episode Elbert Peck
Metaphors We Live By, Lakoff & Johnson
Packer’s “Unwritten Order of Things”
MS Native American Women and the Lamanite Myth
Free/Moral Agency and Missions Talk
Book: This is My Doctrine, Charles Harrell
MS Episode: BYU Professor Charles Harrell & Evolution of Mormon Doctrine
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MSP on Apple Podcasts
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*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Ari talks about growing up in the picture perfect Mormon family, and how it all crumbled when she was excommunicated from that family for speaking out against abuse. In this episode, we discuss how Ari lost her faith in the church when she realized that it, too was rooted in abuse and lies, and set on excommunicating those who spoke out against those things. In her discovery, she concluded that the church creates toxic family systems and even abuse cycles. Ari and Adam are parents to 9 kids, and are now cycle breakers.
Show Notes:
- 12 Rules of a dysfunctional narcissistic family: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-narcissist-in-your-life/202003/the-12-rules-dysfunctional-narcissistic-family
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20366662
- http://Cesletter.org
- Stronger than the dark book - Cory Reese: https://www.amazon.com/Stronger-Than-Dark-Relationship-Depression/dp/1736966405
- LDS Gospel Topics Essays: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/plural-marriage-in-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints?lang=eng
- Jeremy Runnells MS Interview: https://mormonstories.org/podcast/jeremy-runnells-and-his-letter-to-a-ces-director/
- No Man Knows my History - Fawn Brodie: https://www.amazon.com/No-Man-Knows-My-History/dp/0679730540
- Mormon History Timeline: https://mormonstories.org/truth-claims/chronology-of-mormon-history/
- Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents: https://www.amazon.com/Adult-Children-Emotionally-Immature-Parents/dp/1626251703
- Educated - Tara Westover: https://www.amazon.com/Educated-Memoir-Tara-Westover/dp/0399590501
- Tara Westover MS interviews (there are 2): https://mormonstories.org/podcast/tara-westover/
- Recovering Agency: https://www.amazon.com/Recovering-Agency-Lifting-Mormon-Control/dp/1489595937
- The BITE model: https://freedomofmind.com/the-bite-model-and-religious-cult-groups/
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We dive into the Sermon on the Mount and look at why it appears in the Book of Mormon along with what the changes tell us about the author of the Book of Mormon.
Show Notes:
LDS Discussions article:
Track Changes: The Sermon on the Mount – Book of Mormon vs. New Testament:
Book of Mormon Central explanation:
Brent Metcalfe MS episode
MS Episode with Bart Ehrman
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Dive into the fascinating story of Jonas Jödicke with John Dehlin and Nemo the Mormon. Born in the church in Germany, Jonas discovered an artistic talent which would lead his work to be adored all over the world. At the same time, Jonas had begun to discover his sexuality and what that would mean for his place in Mormonism.
Show Notes:
Jonas Jödicke (Fantasy Art) (@jojoesart) • Instagram photos and videos
Nemo the Mormon - YouTube
Thrive Beyond Religion
Musikalischer Abend Der Verlorene Sohn am 8. Dezember 2018 in Berlin
Moroni and the Swastika: Mormons in Nazi Germany: Nelson, David Conley
https://mormonstories.org/?s=scrupulosity
1144-1146: A More Effective Approach to Masturbation and Pornography: For Teens and Adults - Mormon Stories
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or dial 988 (US)
http://Cesletter.org
MormonThink
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MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
What happens when a true believing mormon mom discovers that two of her “future missionary” sons are gay/queer/nonbinary? Just when Linda Barney thought she had the perfect life planned for her family, she discovered that letting her kids be exactly who they are and loving them unconditionally was a far happier and healthier path to follow than the one she had always been taught to believe in. Join us for this compelling Thrive Stories episode about Parenting LGBTQIA children.
Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John or Jenn) will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month. The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). They will happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism.
We review the historicity of the Tower of Babel and how the story is written into the Book of Mormon and directly leads to the stones that Joseph Smith claims were buried with the gold plates.
Show notes:
Show Notes
http://ldsdiscussions.com/babel
David Bokovoy MS episodes
MS Bart Ehrman episode
Noah’s Flood – w/ Simon Southerton
Adam and Eve MS episode with LDS Discussions
BOM translation episode with LDS Discussions
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Singer songwriter Ellee Duke and her husband Auz Engemann share what life was like growing up in affluent (even idyllic) Mormon communities (Provo and Draper, Utah) and why they decided to eventually distance themselves from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ellee explains how she got her start in music, why she turned down American idol, and what challenges she had to overcome to finally bring her career into alignment with what she truly wanted—without losing herself in the expectations of others.
Other topics include Auz’ connections to big names like Larry David and the Osmonds, his struggle with Adderall addiction, the dangers of bishop roulette, and Ellee losing her gay uncle to suicide.
We also premiere Ellee’s newest single about her Mormon faith crisis entitled “Deeper” - available on Spotify.
Ellee’s TikTok & Instagram: @elleeduke
Ellee Duke Web site
Paul Cardall MS Episode
Jessie Funk MS Episode
Mindy Gledhill MS Episodes
Tyler Glenn MS Episode
Wayne Sermon MS Episode
Sarah Sample MS Episode
Ellee Duke the Singer Who Said No to American Idol
"Deeper" by Ellee Duke
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*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Singer songwriter Ellee Duke and her husband Auz Engemann share what life was like growing up in affluent (even idyllic) Mormon communities (Provo and Draper, Utah) and why they decided to eventually distance themselves from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ellee explains how she got her start in music, why she turned down American idol, and what challenges she had to overcome to finally bring her career into alignment with what she truly wanted—without losing herself in the expectations of others.
Other topics include Auz’ connections to big names like Larry David and the Osmonds, his struggle with Adderall addiction, the dangers of bishop roulette, and Ellee losing her gay uncle to suicide.
We also premiere Ellee’s newest single about her Mormon faith crisis entitled “Deeper” - available on Spotify.
Singer songwriter Ellee Duke and her husband Auz Engemann share what life was like growing up in affluent (even idyllic) Mormon communities (Provo and Draper, Utah) and why they decided to eventually distance themselves from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ellee explains how she got her start in music, why she turned down American idol, and what challenges she had to overcome to finally bring her career into alignment with what she truly wanted—without losing herself in the expectations of others. Other topics include Auz’ connections to big names like Larry David and the Osmonds, his struggle with Adderall addiction, the dangers of bishop roulette, and Ellee losing her gay uncle to suicide.
Pt 2: https://youtu.be/mzepGTUAdXY
Ellee’s TikTok & Instagram: @elleeduke
Ellee Duke Web site
Paul Cardall MS Episode
Jessie Funk MS Episode
Mindy Gledhill MS Episodes
Tyler Glenn MS Episode
Wayne Sermon MS Episode
Sarah Sample MS Episode
Ellee Duke the Singer Who Said No to American Idol
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How the story of Noah, the arc, and the global flood is necessary for the veracity of Mormon scripture/doctrine, and a closer look at the historicity of the Biblical accounts of Noah and the flood.
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Show Notes:
- LDS Discussions:
- David Bokovoy episodes on Old Testament:
- Simon Southerton MS episode on Global Flood:
Join Margi and John for our next episode of Thrive Stories. Samantha Shelley (co-host of Zelph on the Shelf) will be stopping by the studio to share her journey from childhood growing up in England in an atheist/agnostic home through her teen years where she converted to Mormonism and into young adulthood when Sam left the church and began to rebuild her life and sense of self. We will talk about the wounds that emerged during those years as well as how Sam coped. If you have ever wondered about what it means to heal ourselves, this is the conversation for you! If you are interested in hearing more about reparenting, conscious coping, healing, or if you just want to hear some wisdom from Samantha--we would love to have you join us!
- Samatha’s Coaching Practice:
- Thesamspo instagram:
- Samantha’s spotify:
- Sam & Tanner’s Mormon Stories Episode:
- Attached book:
- How to change your mind:
- “My dad wrote a porno” podcast (British):
- Inner Bonding - Margaret Paul (Book):
-
Eckhart Tolle -
- The Power of Now:
- A New Earth:
-
Tara Brach
- True Refuge:
- Radical Acceptance:
- Tao de Ching:
- The Tao of Pooh:
- The Comfort Crisis:
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Christine Carol Robinson Burton is the niece of the late Mormon prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, and the daughter of Oliver Preston Robinson and Christine Hinckley Robinson. Christine's father, Preston or "Pres" was a prominent professor of advertising a the University of Utah, general manager of the Deseret News Publishing Company and editor of the Deseret News, and a personal mentor to the late Mormon prophet Thomas S. Monson. Preston was mentioned seven different times in the LDS Church-approved biography of Thomas S. Monson.
In Christine's heartbreaking and inspiring story, she relates several tragic Mormon-related stories, including:
- Experiencing psychological, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her parents.
- Feeling deep confusion trying to reconcile her parents' abuse with her own self-worth, given that her parents/family were publicly lauded on multiple occasions by several Mormon prophets as being exemplary. This included her father being called as mission president in England, and both of her parents receiving their Second Anointing after the abuse.
- Her attempts to tell both Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson (as sitting prophets/apostles) about the abuse she experienced at the hands of her parents - wherein she was told by both that she needed to "put it behind her."
- The death by suicide of her gay son.
- Her loss of Mormon faith.
- Her commitment to helping others heal and grow after Mormonism.
We hope you find value in this heartbreaking and inspiring episode.
Show Notes:
- O. Preston Robinson's (her father's) Obituary
- In Sacred Loneliness
- Emily Dickenson Robin In Nest Poem
- The Trevor Project
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A look at the historicity of Adam and Eve and the impact that scholarship has on the scriptures of Mormonism.
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Called as an LDS/Mormon Bishop in the U.K. at just 23 years old, we will explore the effect such a calling has on someone so young. Join John Dehlin and Nemo the Mormon as they take time to get to know the man behind “Priesthood Dispatches”! PD is a man of many stories, and we can’t wait to explore them with you all!
If you or anyone you know is affected by abuse, please reach out to the numbers below:
For help in the UK 08088 010818
For help in the USA 800.656.HOPE
Show Notes:
- Nemo’s Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NEMOTHEMORMON/
- Priesthood Dispatches: https://youtube.com/channel/UCx5yNRufseSR_JxYC8GJ2iA
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Join John and Jenn as they hear the unique Mormon Story of Sam and Melissa Zitting Wyson. Sam grew up in the FLDS church in Short Creek. After leaving the FLDS at age 18 he converted to the mainstream LDS church. He then met and fell in love with his beautiful wife, Melissa.
Listen in part two as Sam and Melissa begin to question doctrine of the LDS faith and their transition together out of the mainstream LDS church.
Listen in part two as Sam and Melissa begin to question doctrine of the LDS faith and their transition together out of the mainstream LDS church.
You can find them on their amazing YouTube channel Growing Up In Polygamy! https://www.youtube.com/c/GrowingUpinPolygamy
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Join John and Jenn as they hear the unique Mormon Story of Sam and Melissa Zitting Wyson. Sam grew up in the FLDS church in Short Creek. After leaving the FLDS at age 18 he converted to the mainstream LDS church. He then met and fell in love with his beautiful wife, Melissa.
Listen in part two as Sam and Melissa begin to question doctrine of the LDS faith and their transition together out of the mainstream LDS church.
Listen in part two as Sam and Melissa begin to question doctrine of the LDS faith and their transition together out of the mainstream LDS church.
You can find them on their amazing YouTube channel Growing Up In Polygamy! https://www.youtube.com/c/GrowingUpinPolygamy
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To what extent are Joseph Smith & Warren Jeffs similar vs. different?
The new Netflix documentary called "Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey" deals with the history of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its current prophet Warren Jeffs.
In today's episode, John and Jenn are joined by:
- Sam and Melissa from the super popular "Growing Up in Polygamy" YouTube channel. Sam was raised in the FLDS church under Rulon and Warren Jeffs, and Melissa was raised in the mainstream LDS/Mormon church.
- Joanna, also raised in the FLDS church.
The focus for today's episode will be the similarities and differences between Mormon church founder Joseph Smith and FLDS church prophet Warren Jeffs.
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A recap of how scholars can show the Book of Mormon is a 19th century text and a look at how Joseph Smith could have produced it.
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The Great Salt Lake is currently facing an environmental disaster that threatens the seat of Mormonism. What is the responsibility of the church and how will they respond? Join us for an episode with John Larsen, Carah, and John about this fascinating discussion.
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Join us for an epic but daunting story of the Mormon Church going out of its way to persecute and discipline a same-sex married and non-endowed member who was trying to live a happy life outside the fear and shame of Mormon orthodoxy. With audio recordings of phone calls, meetings, and the Disciplinary Council itself, we will show the constant misrepresentations, deflections, and gaslighting perpetrated by the Bishop and the Stake President to protect the good name of the church. A modern case of lying for the Lord.
After moving out of his home-Stake, not attending church for 4 years, and 6 months after posting on Facebook about getting married to the love of his life, Brennen was handed a letter at his door. He was utterly stunned and confused as he read the document signed by his childhood bishop who was summoning him to a Disciplinary Council on the basis of his same-sex marriage.
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Join us as we continue Rachel’s story through her LDS faith crisis to Evangelical Worship Leader to Ex-Christian.
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Join John and Jenn as we hear Part 1 of Rachel’s Mormon Story! From growing up on the east coast, the difficulties of moving to Utah in high school and the pressure of a temple marriage.
Show Notes:
- 1116-1119: Liz Layton - Millennial Post-Mormon, Former Utah Jazz Dancer, Coping with the Suicide of Loved Ones
- Earl Wunderli Book on Book of Mormon
- Under the Banner of Heaven
- MS Episode with Pastor Rick at South Mountain
- Hillsong Documentary
- Rachel (@rachel_wunder) TikTok | Watch Rachel's Newest TikTok Videos
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Join John and Mike as they discuss the mistranslations in the King James Version that end up in the Book of Mormon and the problems it presents.
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Join John and Mike from LDS Discussions as they discuss the Anachronisms in the Book of Mormon!
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Join Margi and John for our next episode of Thrive Stories this coming Tuesday at noon (MST).
Rachel of PostMormon Parenting on Instagram will be joining us in the studio! Rachel was born and raised in a Mormon family on the east coast. She spent her youth preparing to be a “mother in Zion.” She had three children before her faith transition, and her parenting style was modeled after the examples she found in the scriptures and at church. During and after her faith transition, she realized that this style was doing more harm than good, and things needed to change. Hear her story and WHAT has changed in her parenting style on Thrive Stories!
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Teal Swan is a highly controversial New Age guru with millions of online followers. Teal specifically markets her services to vulnerable, often suicidal individuals, and advances highly controversial and/or damaging beliefs and techniques including:
- Encouraging graphic suicidal ideation.
- Nurturing false memories and false accusations of ritual abuse by family members through thoroughly debunked recovered memory techniques.
- Waterboarding as a trauma treatment.
- Downplaying the severity of death by suicide by likening it to “hitting the reset button” into a future reincarnated life.
Teal’s practices are covered more thoroughly in the recently released Hulu series entitled “The Deep End.” Several deaths by suicide have been attributed to Teal’s practices.
In today’s episode we interview Diana Hansen Ribera, who was one of Teal’s closest childhood and adolescent friends. In her interview, Diana provides thorough detail to challenge Teal’s false claims of being a victim of satanic ritual abuse and sex trafficking as a child, and explains how Teal developed her coercion skills and harmful techniques with Diana — that Teal would eventually employ on a broader scale.
Warning: This interview contains graphic and disturbing content. Viewer and listener discretion is advised.
Show Notes:
- Zelph on the Shelf YT channel
- Zelph on the Shelf MS episode
- The Deep End Hulu Series
- MS Satanic Ritual Abuse episode
- Jared Dobson MS episode
- The Gateway podcast episode on Teal
- BBC Episode on Teal
- Teal’s interview by Idaho journalist
- Girl, Interrupted movie
- You’re Wrong About podcast Human trafficking episode
- Remembering Satan Book
- Diana's Email: DianaTellsHerTruth@gmail.com
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Join Simon, John, and Gerardo as they discuss Mormon Cosmology as it relates to the origin and development of the universe based on LDS teachings and scriptures.
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Join us for the last part of our response to Elder David Bednar's most interesting section of his National Press Club Conference in which he is questioned about the declining LDS membership in the US, same-sex marriage, and the $100 billion Church fund.
John, Jenn, RFM, and Gerardo will be discussing Elder Bednar's remarks and what he left out!
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Join John and Mike from LDS Discussions as they breakdown the surrounding influences of the Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith.
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Join John Dehlin, John Larsen and Carah Burrell tonight at 7:00PM MT as they discuss the Tower of Babel as only John Larsen can!
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Please join us today at 2pm mountain as we respond to Mormon Apostle David Bednar’s recent National Press Club conference in Washington DC. We will be welcoming call-ins from our audience.
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Follow Holly's journey as John, Jenn and Holly discuss her faith crisis and building her comedy career beyond religion.
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Join John, Jenn and Holly Laurent from MEGA Podcast as we hear her high demand upbringing from an Evangelical religious space. —————
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John, LDS Discussions and Nemo go over the tight and lose translations of the Book of Mormon.
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Join Margi and John for our next episode of Thrive Stories tomorrow, Tuesday May 24th, at noon (MST). Marc Oslund will be joining us in the studio! Marc spent most of his young adult life and the entirety of his time in the Mormon church trying to fit in. After converting to Mormonism, Marc’s tendency to be hard on himself grew into scrupulosity--a form of religious OCD that made his self-worth plummet. Marc began to believe that he was never good enough--a belief that took a steep toll on his mental health. After years of suffering, Marc acquired skills that aligned with principles of innate worth, shame resilience, mindfulness, self-compassion that allowed him to overcome his scrupulosity. This episode conveys Marc’s experience ending the hustle to find worth and the lessons learned in the process of coming home to himself.
Disclaimer: although Marc is a mental health professional and therapeutic principles are conveyed in this episode, this not meant to be considered mental health treatment or professional advice.
Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John or Jenn) will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month. The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). They will happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism. If you would like to nominate someone you know who would be a great candidate for a THRIVE interview, please nominate them (or yourself) HERE.
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Join John, Jenn and Maven as we explore the Making of Maven. She takes us through her faith crisis and reconstruction with touching stories, beautiful insight and hope. —————
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Tune in today at 1pm MST to join John, Jenn and Maven, from Mormonism Live, for part one of Maven's Mormon Story. Her story begins in rural Utah, next door to Fundamental Mormons, and later serving an LDS mission.
In part 2, join John, Jenn and Maven as we explore the Making of Maven. She takes us through her faith crisis and reconstruction with touching stories, beautiful insight and hope.
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What would you think if your Church Leaders were on the defendant's witness list of your child's sex abuser? In this episode, we will discuss a disturbing Mormon sex abuse case in which the Branch and Stake presidents submitted affidavits that would have aided the dismissal of new charges brought against Elders Quorum President and registered sex offender Michael Adam Davis.
Join us this Tuesday evening as LDS Member Michael Benjamin walks us through the details of this alarming case in which The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, once again, chooses to protect the institution over sexually abused children.
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Join John, Mike, and Gerardo, as they break down DNA and the Book of Mormon, and how these tell two different stories. Show Notes:
- LDS Discussions Website
- Simon Southerton DNA and the Book of Mormon Mormon Stories Podcast
- Three geneticist talk about the DNA evidence MS podcast
- Jamie Hanis Handy MS Episode DNA and the essays
- Gospel Topic Essay on Lamanites
- Losing a Lost Tribe - Simon Southerton
- The sacred curse - Simon Southerton
- Adam/Even and Garden of Eden
- Noah and the Flood
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Join John and Anthony Miller as he shares about his Mormon Faith Crisis TEDx talk with us LIVE this coming Monday, May 16th, at 2:30 PM MST.
Show Notes:
- Anthony’s TEDx Talk:
- Anthony Miller MS Episode:
- Sunstone
- Thrive Beyond Religion
- Billings Mormon Spectrum group:
- Mormon Discussions
- Kyle Ashworth MS Podcast
- Recovering Agency (Book) by Luna Lindsey Corben:
- Brene Brown books:
- Mormon Faith Crisis Podcast/YouTube channel:
- Mormon Faith Crisis Retreat:
- Mormon Stories Discord Server:
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Join our new European Producer Nemo the Mormon as he interviews Christina, who left the Mormon Church as a Youth in The Netherlands.
Christina will share with us how an encounter with Dieter F. Uchtdorf planted the seed of her faith transition, what the state of the LDS church in The Netherlands is, and share the LDS experience from a Dutch perspective!
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Join us for another fascinating conversation with LDS discussions on the lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon.
Show Notes:
- Lavina Fielding Anderson’s book on Lucy Mack Smith
- Lectures on Doubt website
- LDS Discussions
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Join Margi and John for our next episode of Thrive Stories this coming Tuesday at noon (MST). One of the most pressing questions parents ask after a faith shift is, “What do I do about my kids?” Without orthodoxy, the way forward feels disorienting. In this interview, Jon Ogden, co-founder of UpliftKids.org, suggests that a strong foundation already exists in the form of science and wisdom. With this foundation, we don’t have to feel like we’re starting with nothing.
Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John or Jenn) will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month. The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). They will happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism.
If you would like to nominate someone you know who would be a great candidate for a THRIVE interview, please nominate them (or yourself) here.
Show Notes:
- Uplift for Kids
- When Mormons Doubt Book by John Ogden
- Eyre parenting books:
- Covey parenting
- Secular Buddhism - Noah Rasheta:
- Lower Lights - Thomas McConkie:
- Oasis - SLC, Utah County:
- LIttle book of Spirituality:
- The Spiritual Child - Lisa Miller -
- Listen so your kids will talk - Book
- The Awakened Family - Shefali Tsabary Book
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Join us for an epic episode on the Mormon teaching of Noah and the worldwide flood with Dr. Simon Southerton and renowned geologist Dr. David Montgomery, professor of geology at the University of Washington in Seattle. We will discuss the probability of Noah’s flood being a factual event in history and how the Mormon Church has dealt with this issue. Dr. Southerton will share an interesting Australian perspective regarding the flood. Show Notes:
- “Dingo genome suggests Australian icon not descended from domestic dogs,” by Alice Klein, New Scientist, April 22, 2022
- From the slide presentation:
“The flood and the Tower of Babel,” by Donald W Parry, Ensign, January 1998 - “DNA and the Book of Mormon” on Mormon Stories
- The Rocks Don’t Lie by David Montgomery
- "Noah's flood and the development of geology," David Montgomery's TedTalk
- William Buckland
- Ice Dam on the Clark Fork River breached 14,000 years ago, National Park Service
- Bonneville Outflow via Red Rock Pass, Idaho, 14,000 years ago, Earth Science Picture of the Day
- Missoula floods 1920s
- “The Dream Mine,” on Mormon Expression podcast
- “Noah’s Flood: Modern scholarship and the Mormon Tradition,” by Duane E Jeffery, Sunstone, January 1, 2004
- “5 answers to difficult questions about Noah and the flood,” by Stephen O. Smoot, LDS Living, January 1, 2022
- “Race and the Priesthood,” Gospel Topics Essay
- “Founder of the Book of Mormon Heartland Model,” in Part 2 Rod Meldrum discusses race on Mormon Stories
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Already missing friends since THRIVE Unite? Here is another chance to get together. The date will be May 21, 2022. The location is:
Olde Kings Head
46 Lower Bridge Street
Chester
CH1 1RS
Get a chance to say hello to John Dehlin as he plans to attend in person. Meet your favorite podcasters, and find new community. This is an event you will not want to miss! Space is limited, so sign up now.
We have the venue until midnight, so plan to spend the evening with us if you like.
You may purchase tickets for this event HERE.
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Join John, Jenn, Randy Bell and RFM as we go through Randy’s 15 steps of critical thinking for Mormons. What steps did you skip as an active believing Mormon?
Show Notes:
- Post Traumatic Thriving
- Mormonism Live
- Heaven’s Gate
- Mormon Stories Podcast with Randy Bell
- Mormon Stories Podcast with RFM
- Mormon Stories "From TBM to RFM Part 1"
- Mormon Stories "From TBM to RFM Part 2"
- Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking by Richard Paul and Linda Elder
- Tom Phillips Case
- Hugh Nibley
- Recovering Agency
- Mormon Stories Luna Lindsey
- Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan
- Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
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Join John Larsen, Carah Burrell, and John Dehlin for an extensive exploration of the implications of the LDS Church’s Plan of Salvation.
Show notes:
- Mormon Expression
- Mormon Expression Donorbox
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Join John, Jenn and Mike from LDS Discussions as we break down the “translation” of the Book of Mormon.
Show Notes:
- LDS Discussions
- Mormon Expression Podcast
- Russel M Nelson seer stone article
- Follow the Footnotes article on LDS Discussions:
- Richard Bushman MS Episode
- Robert Ritner MS Episode
- Dan Vogel YouTube series on Book of Mormon Characters
- LDS Discussions Now You Know
- Brent Metcalf MS Interview
- CES Letter
- Letter for my wife
- William Davis MS Episode - Visions in a Seer Stone
- William Davis’ book Link, Visions in a Seer Stone
- John Hamer MS episode on how th4 Book of Mormon was created
- David Bokovoy MS Episode
- Jim Bennet
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Jillian Orr became a national news story last week when she flashed rainbow colors sewn into her graduation gown during her graduation from Brigham Young University - coming out as bisexual. This is her story.
Show notes:
- Matt Easton MS Interview
- Jeff Holland Musket talk MS episode
- Number of women in BOM
- Latter-gay stories "On the Record" document
- CES Letter
- Jillian’s Instagram Account
- Glennon Doyle - Untamed
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Today John is joined by LDS Discussions and Nemo to review the history of the "Golden Plates" as they relate to the creation of the Book of Mormon.
The discussion is based on the essay entitled "Book of Mormon: Gold Plates of the Book of Mormon" which was created on the LDS Discussions website.
Show notes:
- Gold Plates essay on LDS Discussions
- MS Episode on Gold Plates fabrication
- MS Episode on Robert Ritner
- "Now You Know" episode by LDS church on plates
- Examples of FairLDS apologetics on Prygi Plates
- Sandra Tanner
- Dan Vogel
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Join Margi and John for our next episode of Thrive Stories this coming Tuesday at noon (MST). Come listen and participate in the conversation as we talk to Dre Robinson, cofounder of BeautyLab. Dre will talk a bit about her life growing up as a smart, assertive, and driven woman existing in a structure and culture that had a very limiting beliefs about women and their roles in the home, life, and the world. As things began to fall apart, Dre came into her own and began embracing and redefining herself in ways that have allowed her to show up in her relationships and in life in an integrated and honoring way. .Join us in a conversation about gender roles and the limiting structure of the gender binary! Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John or Jenn) will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month. The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). They will happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism.
If you would like to nominate someone you know who would be a great candidate for a THRIVE interview, please nominate them (or yourself) here.
Show Notes:
- Mormon Stories Podcast Real Housewives
- Don’t leave foundation
- Beauty Lab Laser
- Untamed By Glennon Doyle
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Join John and Jenn for part two of our interview with popular Mormon podcaster Radio Free Mormon, wherein he shares with us the story of how he lost his Mormon faith.
Listen to Part 1 of this interview by clickig the links below:
- On Apple Podcasts
- On Spotify
Show Notes:
- Radio Free Mormon podcast
- Mormonism Live with RFM and Bill Reel
- "A Treasured Testament," by Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, July 1993; one of few early examples of the Church admitting Joseph used a rock in a hat to produce the Book of Mormon
- New Testament Scholar Bart Ehrman on Mormon Stories
- Discuss Mormonism forum (RFM uses the handle "consiglieri")
- RFM's first interview on Mormon Stories
- Cleanthes' "Hymn to Zeus"
- Secular Buddhism podcast
- "Race and the Priesthood," Gospel Topics Essay
- "How About an Apology for the Priesthood Ban?" on Radio Free Mormon
- Bishop Bill Reel on Mormon Stories
- "Bill Reel Discusses His Falling Out with FAIR and Faithful Dissent of LDS Policy" on Mormon Stories
- "Bill Reel's Evolution" on Mormon Stories
- "Bill Reel's Pre-Excommunication Interview" on Mormon Stories
- "The Excommunication of Mormon Bishop and Podcaster Bill Reel" on Mormon Stories
- "John Larsen interviews RFM" on Radio Free Mormon
- "The Adam-God Historical Subterfuge," on Mormon Discussion podcast
- Robert Ritner's interview on Mormon Stories
- RFM vs. Midnight Mormons Debate
- The Church is Not True podcast, with Mike Norton
- "Rodney Meldrum Founder of the Heartland Model" on Mormon Stories
- Rodney Meldrum and the Heartland Model, Pt 3" on Mormon Stories
- Upcoming Events at Mormon Stories
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Mormon Stories Donors, We are super excited to let you know that we have organized a special event for you next week in Salt Lake City.
Beloved Mormon podcaster Radio Free Mormon (RFM) (Radio Free Mormon podcast and Mormonism Live Podcast) will be in town, and so we have scheduled an intimate evening with him...and YOU (our beloved donors)!
The event will be held on April 26th at 7pm in American Fork, Utah. There will be some treats, RFM will be preparing some remarks, and then we will invite you to ask RFM any question you want.
It should be a fun evening, and most importantly, it will be your/our chance to let RFM know how much he has meant to you/us over the years.
Please join us if you are able. Seating will be limited (150 max). Cost is $15/person and proceeds from the event will go to cut RFM a big fat check to thank him for his amazing work. You can register for the event here. The exact address for the event will be emailed to you register, a few days before the event.
We hope to see some of you there! And thank you for donating to support Mormon Stories Podcast. We couldn't do it without you.
Sincerely,
John Dehlin and the Mormon Stories Podcast Team
Join Margi and John for our next episode of Thrive Stories this coming Tuesday at noon (MST). Come listen and participate in the conversation as we talk to Holly Ashton Wallin. Holly will talk about the role of passion in her life, beginning as a young girl where she was a dreamer, a lover and a fighter. She will take us through how she lost herself along the way--and with that, her passion. Holly eventually came to experience the loss of her marriage, her faith, her career path, and her health. Witness how Holly rebuilt her identity and her life after loss by connecting back to that fire within. What does it mean to live “a life on fire?” Join us to find out!
Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John or Jenn) will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month. The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). They will happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism.
If you would like to nominate someone you know who would be a great candidate for a THRIVE interview, please nominate them (or yourself) here.
Show Notes:
- John Gottman - Marriage book- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
- Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples: Third Edition
- Esther Perel - The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity
- Brene Brown - Braving the Wilderness
- A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
- Falling upward by Richard Rohr
- Mormon Stories Thrive interview with Dave
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John John, Jenn, and special guest Aimee Heffernan as we check in with Natasha Helfer on the one year anniversary of her excommunication from the Mormon church, largely in response to her work as a licensed sex therapist to Mormons and ex-Mormons.
Show Notes:
- Natasha Helfer's Pre-Excommunication reflections on Mormon Stories
- Live Vigil at Natasha's Excommunication
- Natasha's Post-Excommunication Debrief on Mormon Stories
- Ward-less: A Post-Mormon Field Guide podcast with Aimee Heffernan
- "My Official Stance on Masturbation," by Natasha Helfer, August 6, 2012
- "I Am Not Broken," Natasha Parker, Thrive 2019
- "To Young Men Only," Boyd K. Packer's 1976 General Conference talk, in which he uses an extended metaphor comparing male genitals to a "Little Factory" to discourage masturbation
- Natasha's first interview on Mormon Stories, in which she was still afraid to talk openly about masturbation
- Feminist Mormon Housewives
- Natasha interviews Jennifer Finlayson-Fife on Mormon Mental Health podcast
- American Association of Pediatrics' position that masturbation is normative childhood behavior
- The 1982 letter from the First Presidency, calling oral sex "an unnatural, impure, or unholy practice;" this position was later officially reversed, but is still widely believed among members
- "The Lord's Standard of Morality," by Tad R. Callister, Ensign, March 2014
- "Morality? We can do much better than this..." Natasha's response to Callister condemning masturbation as "self-abuse"
- Mormon Mental Health podcast
- "We can all be more civil on LGBT issues, Mormon leader says," by Peggy Fletcher-Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, January 30, 2015
- "Elder Oaks…stop it!" Natasha's response to Dallin H. Oaks on LGBT issues
- "Come Follow Me," Russell M. Nelson, General Conference, April 2019, also known as the "Sad Heaven" talk
- "LDS Church has great power, which it has wielded irresponsibly," A letter to the prophet from a mental health practitioner, Salt Lake Tribune, April 21, 2019
- "Your Divine and Eternal Destiny," Dale G. Renlund addressing the Women's Session of General Conference, April 2022
- Sonia Johnson and Kate Kelly on Mormon Land podcast
- Jennifer Finlayson-Fife discusses Natasha's excommunication on Mormon Land
- Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism by Maxine Hanks
- "Teaching Adolescents from Twelve to Eighteen Years," A Parent's Guide, Ch 5
- Year of Polygamy with Lindsay Hansen Park
- Natasha's new project and website
- Symmetry Solutions
- Mormon Mental Health Association
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In this interview, Sandra Tanner talks about her journey with the book of Mormon from an LDS member who believed the Book of Mormon to be scripture, to a born-again Christian who continued to use the Book of Mormon as scripture, to her doubts about the Book of Mormon, to her ultimate rejection of the book as Scripture, and finally to her later work as a critic of the book.
Show Notes:
- Jerald and Sandra Tanner: Their Story by Ronald V. Huggins, coming from Signature Books in 2022
- "Jerald and Sandra Tanner: The Early Years," on Mormon Stories
- "Reflections on Mark Hofmann and Murder Among the Mormons," with Sandra Tanner on Mormon Stories
- "Mormon Polygamy Apologetics," with Sandra Tanner on Mormon Stories
- Part 1
- Part 2
- Part 3
- "Pauline Hancock and Her 'Basement Church,'" by Jason R. Smith,The John Whitmer Historical Association Journal, April 2022
- Transcript of the 1826 "Glass-Looker" Trial, State of New York v. Joseph Smith, Jr.
- The Tanners’ "Dear Friend" Letter, explaining why they were resigning from the LDS Church, reproduced in full in "Comments on the Book of Mormon Witnesses: A Response to Jerald and Sandra Tanner," by Matthew Roper, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, July 1993
- A New Witness for Christ in America: Evidence of Divine Power in the "Coming Forth" of the Book of Mormon by Francis W. Kirkham
- The Golden Bible: Or, The Book of Mormon, Is It From God? by Rev. M.T. Lamb
- Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Jerald and Sandra Tanner
- Joseph Smith's Plagiarism of the Bible by Jerald Tanner
- Studies of the Book of Mormon by B.H. Roberts, a compilation of manuscripts that suggest some General Authorities knew as early as 1922 that the Church's truth claims had significant factual problems
- View of the Hebrews, or the Tribes of Israel in America by Ethan Smith
- Archives of Salt Lake City Messenger, published by the Tanners since 1974
- Mormonism Unveiled: The Life and Confession of John D. Lee
- Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader's Guide by Grant Hardy
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Legendary researcher Sandra Tanner joins us for our third episode on Joseph Smith's polygamy and how the LDS church deals with this controversial subject. In this final episode, we will discuss the final part of Doctrine and Covenants 132, which tends to go unnoticed by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Follow along with textual references to Doctrine and Covenants 132
Show Notes:
- "Doctrine and Covenants 129-132 with Dr. Kate Holbrook," on followHIM podcast
- An Insider's View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer
- "Preguntas y Respuestas con Elder Bednar para JAS" (English audio), in which Bednar says Mormons do not have free agency because when they got baptized they agreed to follow their church leaders and God
- Full text of "The Happiness Letter," Joseph Smith's Alleged 1842 Letter to Nancy Rigdon
- "Your Divine and Eternal Destiny," Dale G. Renlund addressing the Women's Session of General Conference, April 2022
- The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy: Haunting the Hearts and Heaven of Mormon Women and Men by Carol Lynn Pearson
- Carol Lynn Pearson on Mormon Stories
- Carol Lynn on Mormon Stories discusses her book, The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy
- The Black Menaces on TikTok
- The Black Menaces on Instagram
- Upcoming Events at Mormon Stories
- Lost and Found Club
- Utah Lighthouse Ministry
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Cara Santa Maria is a Los Angeles Area Emmy and Knight Foundation Award winning journalist, science communicator, television personality, author, and podcaster. Cara is the science correspondent on National Geographic's popular television series Brain Games as well as the creator and host of the weekly science podcast Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria. In addition to co-hosting the long-standing Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, she also coauthored the Skeptics Guide to the Universe book.
Cara was also raised Mormon. This is her story.
*Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation. If you need help, reach out:
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-8255
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ+ Youth (866) 488-73876
Show Notes:
- National Geographic's Brain Games
- Talk Nerdy podcast with Cara Santa Maria
- Talk Nerdy
- The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast
- The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake by Steven Novella, et. al.
- Bill Maher "unbaptizes" Mitt Romney's dead father-in-law
- Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- "Existentialism is a Humanism," lecture by Jean-Paul Satre in 1946
- Cara's Instragram
- Cara's Facebook
- Cara's Twitter
- Godawful Movies
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Over the last decade, the Mormon Church has officially admitted that Joseph Smith and his family believed and practiced treasure-seeking using folk magic and occult methods. However, many people overlook how these fraudulent practices are closely related to the story that Joseph would tell later. In this episode, Mike from LDS Discussions will talk to us about what we know about Joseph Smith's treasure digging and how it relates to the Book of Mormon story and the Church as a whole.
Show Notes:
- LDS Discussions
- Essay on Treasure Digging on LDS Discussions
- Mark Elwood’s list of JS-involved treasure digs coming soon
- Mormon Think
- CES Letter
- Letter for my wife
- Mormon Stories Essays
- Carah/Nuancehoe
- Gospel Topic Essays
- Early Mormonism and the magic world view book by Michael Quinn
- Richard Bushman- Rough Stone Rolling book
- Joseph Smith Foundation Project
- Glasslooker
- Dan Vogal Mormon Stories Interview - treasure dig
- Luna Lindsey Corbon Mormon Stories Interview
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Join us for part 5 of our interview with Steven Pynakker, host of Mormon Book Reviews.
Show notes:
- Steven Pynakker
- Podcast: Mormon Book Reviews
- Ryan White - AIDS
- Aids Quilt at Washington Monument
- Exodus International - The Downfall of the Ex-Gay Movement
- New Evidence That Demands Verdict
- MS Podcast episode with David Bokovoy
- MS Podcast episode with Bart Ehrman
- A letter to a Christian nation book
- Shawn McCraney Podcast
- MS Podcast episode with Shawn McCraney
- MS Podcast episode with Chris Thomas
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Join us for part 4 of our interview with Steven Pynakker, host of Mormon Book Reviews. Show notes:
- Steven Pynakker
- Podcast: Mormon Book Reviews
- David Hall
- Chris Thomas
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Join us for part 3 of our interview with Steven Pynakker, host of Mormon Book Reviews.
Show notes:
- Steven Pynakker
- Podcast: Mormon Book Reviews
- John Hamer
- BH Roberts
- Dan McClellan TikTok
- A Pentecostal reads the Book of Mormon
- MS Paul H. Dunn Episode (Lynn Packer)
- Steven’s episode on reviewing BH Roberts on Mormon Book Reviews
- MS Episodes with Thomas Murphy
- MS Brent Metcalfe Episode
- MS Fawn Brodie episode with Newell Bringhurst
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Have you ever wanted a credible explanation for how the Book of Mormon was created?
Steven Pynakker knows more about Mormonism and Mormon history than 99.9% of all Mormons…. combined. Join us today as Steven shares his views on how the Book of Mormon was created.
Show notes:
- Steven Pynakker
- Podcast: Mormon Book Reviews
- Kathlene Melanocus - Secret Combinations: Evidence of Early Mormon Counterfeiting
- Alexander Campbell review of the Book of Mormon
- Thomas Payne
- Grant Palmer
- Johnathan Edwards “Natural Man is an enemy to God”
- Adam Clarke: Biblical translation
- William Morgan - Wrote exposé of Masons
- Thomas Murphy - Interview
- Dan Vogel
- CES Letter
- The Late War 1812
- Ethan Smith - View of the Hebrews
- The Glass Looker - Mark Elwood
- Benny Hinn
- Sally Chase
- Luman Walters
- John Hamer
- William Davis’ Theory
- Visions in the Seer Stone - William L. Davis
- Mormon Think timeline
- Letter for my wife
- Mike Brown Essays & Timeline
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Steven Pynakker, host of the Mormon Book Reviews YouTube channel, shares with us his story of how he gained an avid interest in Mormonism growing up as an Evangelical Christian.
Show notes:
- Steven Pynakker
- Podcast: Mormon Book Reviews
- Gospel Tangents Podcast
- A Pentecostal reads the Book of Mormon
- MS Chris Thomas Episode
- Full Gospel Business Men Association
- The late great planet earth: (1988)
- Godmakers Cartoon
- Ed Decker MS Interview
- No Man Knows My History
- Martha Beck - Leaving the Saints
- Encyclopedia of Mormonism
- Gospel Tangents
- Don Bradley: Lost 116 pages
- Palmer: The incomparable Christ
- Richard Bushman
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Since the founding of Mormonism in 1830 there has been a core belief in the imminent 2nd coming of Jesus Christ (thus the "Latter-day Saints" portion of the Mormon church's official name). Within modern Mormonism over the past few decades there has been an increasing trend towards "end times" preparedness - wherein ultra-orthodox Mormons begin preparing for the 2nd coming of Jesus by selling their 401k's and retirement plans, moving to rural areas, attending "Prepper" conferences like "Preparing a People," building fortresses, stockpiling food/weapons/ammunition/tents/trailers, denying traditional health care to children, etc., and preparing (i.e., "prepping") for the arrival of Jesus. This movement has been at best benign (for a few), but for many has led to extreme behaviors, divided families, financial ruin, a host of emerging "prophets" (e.g., charlatans) who prey on this mentality (e.g., Julie Rowe), and in some cases murder (e.g., Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow story).
Emma was raised in a Mormon Prepper household. In Part 3 of our 3-part series with Emma, she discusses "coming out" as lesbian while as BYU student, and how her emerging LGBTQ identity, along with family rejection and problems with her family's "Prepper" beliefs, led her to lose faith in the Mormon church, and to become alienated from her orthodox Mormon family.
Show Notes:
- "LGBTQ students at BYU light up the 'Y' in rainbow colors," by Courtney Tanner, Salt Lake Tribune, March 5, 2021
- "A Bishop's Family Questions Mormonism," Kelly and Kayla Mikesell on Mormon Stories
- Cultish podcast
- "Coming Out as a Non-Believer to Family Members," Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- Encircle: Utah Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth
- "Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Urges BYU to Embraces Its Uniqueness, Stay True to the Savior," the August 2021 speech at BYU, in which Holland urges "musket fire" in defense of the school's current standards under pressure for equal rights for LGBTQ+ students and staff
- The Out Foundation
- "Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus," Quentin L. Cook, General Conference October 2016, in which he warns against the "stumbling block" of "expensive preparation for end-of-days scenarios"
- Upcoming Events with the Open Stories Foundation
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In Part 2 of our 3-part interview with Emma about being raised as a Mormon "prepper," Emma discusses what it was like to serve an LDS mission in the Philippines, which included a corrupt wherein missionaries were encouraged to baptize impoverished Filipinos at any cost and by any means necessary, largely out of a desire to inflate mission statistics. See Parts 1 and 3 of this series with Emma to learn about the Mormon "Prepper" movement.
Show Notes:
- "I-Thou vs I-It Conversions: The Mormon 'Baseball Baptism' Era," by D. Michael Quinn, Sunstone Magazine, December 1993
- "Dr. Ted Lyon on LDS Church Change, Latin American Missions, LDS Membership Statistics, and Thoughtful Faith" on Mormon Stories
- "Kiddie Baptisms? My Mission Experience in Guatemala," John Dehlin on Mormon Stories
- "Stories from a CES Director, Mission President, and Trustee for Deseret Trust Company," Roger Hendrix on Mormon Stories
- "How a Mormon Mission President Lost His Testimony," Roger Hendrix on Mormon Stories
- "Tithing and the LDS/Mormon Church," Understanding Mormonism
- Church Membership Information for the Philippines
- "New Temples Veil Mormonism's Decline," Simon Southerton on Mormon Stories
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Since the founding of Mormonism in 1830 there has been a core belief in the imminent 2nd coming of Jesus Christ (thus the "Latter-day Saints" portion of the Mormon church's official name). Within modern Mormonism over the past few decades there has been an increasing trend towards "end times" preparedness - wherein ultra-orthodox Mormons begin preparing for the 2nd coming of Jesus by selling their 401k's and retirement plans, moving to rural areas, attending "Prepper" conferences like "Preparing a People," building fortresses, stockpiling food/weapons/ammunition/tents/trailers, denying traditional health care to children, etc., and preparing (i.e., "prepping") for the arrival of Jesus. This movement has been at best benign (for a few), but for many has led to extreme behaviors, divided families, financial ruin, a host of emerging "prophets" (e.g., charlatans) who prey on this mentality (e.g., Julie Rowe), and in some cases murder (e.g., Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow story).
Emma was raised in a Mormon Prepper household. In Part 1 of our 3 part series with Emma, she discusses what it was like to grow up in a Mormon Prepper household.
Show Notes:
- Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
- "Tara Westover, Author of Educated: A Memoir" on Mormon Stories
- "Ezra Taft Benson and the Making of the Mormon Right" with Matt Harris on Mormon Stories
Part 1
Part 2 - "The Mormon Influences on Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow" on Mormon Stories
- Visions of Glory: One Man's Astonishing Account of the Last Days by John Pontius
- Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie
- Doctrines of Salvation: Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith by Bruce R. McConkie
- "Is the Mormon Church in Decline? An Insider Report" on Mormon Stories
- "Rodney Meldrum: Founder of the Book of Mormon Heartland Model" on Mormon Stories
- "Rodney Meldrum and the Book of Mormon Heartland Model" on Mormon Stories
- Saturday's Warrior
- "Examining Mormon Mind Control with Luna Lindsey Corbden" on Mormon Stories
- "Entrata founder who accused 'Jews' of Covid-19 vaccine conspiracy steps down from software company's board," by Bryan Schott, Salt Lake Tribune, January 4, 2020
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Join Margi, John, and Gerardo for our next episode of Thrive Stories this coming Tuesday at noon (MST). Come listen and participate in the conversation as we talk to Jake Bellenfant. Find out how Jake has processed the damaging experiences of his youth and young adulthood growing up gay in the church and how he has reclaimed his own mental health. In addition, listen to how Jake has navigated grief and loss in witnessing both the death of his mother and the loss of his community. Jake is now a mental health advocate, studying at the #1 ranked Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Vanderbilt University. He aspires to improve the mental health of populations across the lifespan and in marginalized groups that are struggling with mental illness-- particularly those who have suffered the mental health effects of undue influence, high demand belief systems, abusive family dynamics, and religious trauma.
Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John and Carah) will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month. The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). They will happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism.
If you would like to nominate someone you know who would be a great candidate for a THRIVE interview, please nominate them (or yourself) HERE.
Show Notes:
- THRIVE story application form link
- Prop 8
- Podcast (icarly) Jennette McCurdy
- Empty Inside Podcast
- Kolby Sorensen MS Episode
- Combating Cult Mind Control
- Steven Hassan website
- Mind Over Mood
- Utah Crisis Line
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Steven Hassan - Influence Continuum Podcast
- Recovering Agency
- Documentaries on cult control and mental control:
- Bad Vegan - Netflix
- Wild Wild Country - Netflix
- The Matrix - HBO Max, Peacock TV & Redbox
- Pleasantville - Prime Video, Vudu Movie & TV Store, Redbox., Apple TV
- Tangled - Disney +
- Holy Hell - Amazon Prime
- The Invention of Lying - Prime Video, Vudu Movie & TV Store, VUDU, Apple TV or Redbox
- Smallfoot - Prime Video, VUDU, Vudu Movie & TV Store or Redbox
- The Vow - Hulu
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We've whipped up another epic episode discussing the context left out of LDS church curriculum around early Mormon polygamy. Sandra Tanner joins Mormon Stories as a special guest to address comments made on the followHIM podcast by church historian Kate Holbrook. Join John, Sandra, and Gerardo live Monday at 4:30pm MT.
Show Notes:
- "Doctrine and Covenants 129-132 with Dr. Kate Holbrook," on followHIM
- followHIM podcast with Hank Smith and John Bytheway
- Full text of "The Happiness Letter," Joseph Smith's Alleged 1842 Letter to Nancy Rigdon
- "A Study in Religious Manipulation," Jonathan Streeter on "The Happiness Letter"
- "Nancy Rigdon and the Happiness Letter," on Mormon Discussion podcast
- Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer
- "Kingdom Come," by David Van Biema, Time, June 24, 2001
- A Woman's View, Helen Mar Kimball Whitney's Journals
- "Joseph Smith and Other Men's Wives," by Dan Vogel
- Part 1
- Part 2
- Part 3
- Full court transcript of the "Temple Lot Case"
- "'Warts and all' in Smith biography," Deseret News, October 1, 2005
- Joseph Smith's Polygamy by Brian Hales
- Let's Talk About Polygamy by Brittany Nash
- "Polygamy and the Church's Past," Brittany Chapman Nash on All-In podcast
- "Rebuking Iniquity," 1856 Brigham Young address threatening to divorce his wives if they didn't stop "whining,"Journal of Discourses Vol. 4
- In Heaven as It Is on Earth: Joseph Smith and the Early Mormon Conquest of Death by Samuel Brown
- In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith by Todd Compton
- "For Eternity Alone," a poem by Helen Mar Kimball in which "for time" may mean she agreed to be sealed to Joseph, only to find out later that she was expected to have sex with him
- "The Joseph Smith-Sylvia Sessions Plural Sealing: Polyandry or Polygyny?" by Brian Hales, Mormon Historical Studies, April 2013
- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland at Sisters Devotional in Lima, Peru, in January 2020
- Utah Lighthouse Ministry
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Join us for Part 3 of our interview with Rodney Meldrum, wherein we discuss his beliefs regarding the Book of Mormon Heartland model.
Show Notes:
- Steven Hawkings
- Ancient Society - Lewis Henry MorganRodney Meldrum Book
- Jonathan Neville
- Camorah
- Gospel Topic Essays
- Charles Darwin
- Kay Godfrey
- Heartland Model
- Thomas Stuart Ferguson
- Gregory Smith’s article
- Hannah Stoddard
- Mormon Stories Interview with Thomas Murphy
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Join Margi, John, and Carah for our next episode of Thrive Stories this coming Tuesday at noon (MST). Come listen and participate in the conversation as we discuss sexuality, body confidence, and owning our own stories from this minute forward. Faith has found deeper meaning and exhilaration in celebrating sexuality and body autonomy in her life after Mormonism.
Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John and Carah) will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month. The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). They will happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism.
If you would like to nominate someone you know who would be a great candidate for a THRIVE interview, please nominate them (or yourself) here.
Show Notes:
- "Mindy Gledhill Discusses Her Mormon Faith Transition" on Mormon Stories
- "Broken Open," Margi Dehlin on Mormon Stories
- How to Change your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan
- Fantastic Fungi documentary
- Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What It Means for Modern Relationships by Christopher Ryan
- Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski
- Faith's Facebook
- Faith's Instagram
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Join us for Part 1 of a multi-part series where John Larsen discusses Mormonism and logical fallacies. We talk about how fallacious arguments are natural to the human brain and how people in and outside of the Mormon church use bad reasons to keep their line of thinking alive.
Please support this content and having John Larsen on by donating to the Mormon Expressions fund HERE!
Show Notes:
- Encyclopedia of Mormonism
- Mormonism - What everyone needs to know By Terryl Givens
- Richard Bushman Rough Stone Rolling
- Rodney Meldrum Books
- Mormon Expression Donations
- Mormon Expression Podcast Link
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Join hosts John Dehlin and Gerardo Sumano as they explore what happens when a Mormon missionary reads the CES Letter.
Kolby Sorensen was raised a devout Mormon in West Valley and West Jordan, Utah. In 2020, he was called to serve a mission as the COVID pandemic began, when missionaries were encouraged to use social media to proselytize.
Show Notes:
- Letter to a CES Director by Jeremy Runnells
- "Reflections on the CES Letter," Daniel Peterson, FAIRmormon Conference 2014
- "Belief after the CES Letter," Jim Bennett on Mormon Stories
- "A Faithful Reply to the CES Letter from a Former CES Employee," by Jim Bennett
- Jeremy Runnell's responses to "Debunkings of the CES Letter"
- "Missionaries returning home at their own insistence," Mission President's Handbook, Ch 4
- Kolby's posts on Ex-Mormon Reddit
- Kolby’s Instagram
- "Telling Your Loved Ones About Losing Your Faith," on Mormon Stories
- "Mormon Inoculation" on Mormon Stories
- "Personal Peace in Challenging Times," Quentin L. Cook, General Conference October 2021
- "Britvengers React: The Mormon British Rescue" on Mormon Stories
- "LDS Church addresses health of church president," by Ric Wayman, St. George News, May 3, 2015
- "Is the Mormon Church in Decline?" An Insider Report on Mormon Stories
- "No More Strangers," by Alexander B. Morrison, Ensign, September 2000
- "Strong Impressions of the Spirit," by D. Todd Christofferson, New Era, June 2013
- "Founder of the Book of Mormon Heartland Model," Rodney Meldrum on Mormon Stories
- Video by Shane Carpenter, an out gay LDS missionary
- "Jesus Christ is the Answer," Ronald A Rasband, Evening With a General Authority, February 8, 2019 [CW: May be triggering for those experiencing suicidal thoughts]
- "Daughter of Mormon General Authority Hartman Rector, Jr." Lila Tueller on Mormon Stories
- "Vogel and Metcalfe in Da House!" on Mormon Discussion
- Gerardo Sumano interview on Mormon Stories
- Kolby and Cami Reddish interview on Mormon Stories
- "From TBM to RFM: Radio Free Mormon Discusses His Transition from Mormon Apologist to Non-Believer," on Mormon Stories
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Welcome back Lizzy and Spencer Bean for the third and final part to their delightful, authentic, hilarious Mormon Stories interview! We dive in head-on in this episode hearing about how marriage for these two young Mormons was not what they expected. But with an interesting reframe to spirituality from an LDS therapist, Lizzy and Spencer’s autonomous spirituality began to emerge like never before. After having enough of spiritual gatekeeping and finding a way to make marriage finally work from them, Spencer describes almost being kicked out of BYU and the situation he was put in by a bishop telling him he had one week to read the Book of Mormon or lose his ecclesiastical endorsement. There are too many topics to list that we cover in this epic final episode with Lizzy and Spencer, but among them are: How and why some Mormons decide to supplement LDS church teachings with New Age spirituality, how wearing garments and Mormon body standards affect women, how empathizing with friends in the LGBTQ community can wake a person up to the realities and harms of Mormon doctrine, and so many other great insights and analogies that help describe why a couple would love Mormonism and choose to leave it!
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Welcome back Lizzy and Spencer Bean for part 2 of their delightful Mormon Stories interview! In part two, we have Spencer tell us about his upbringing in Orem, Utah as the son of the bishop and what led him to develop a testimony of the church. We hope you like our chat as we let it take us into discussions on missionary work in the developing world, undue influence, death, and the Plan of Salvation. Stick around for some interesting insights from Spencer’s mission to Sweden and even a story about Midsummer with Hans Maddsen’s brother, Leif.
We named this series “Loving and Leaving Mormonism” to allow our guests to speak authentically to their all-around good experiences being raised members of the LDS faith and hope you’ll stick around to listen to part three as Lizzy and Spencer describe the events and information that made them think twice about their membership in the religion they love.
Part 2 show notes:
- Packer talk on funerals
- Hans Mattsen Mormon Stories episode
- Swedish Rescue episode
- Mormon Civil War YouTube - Peter Bleakley
- Nemo the Mormon YouTube
- 21st century Saints
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Mormon Stories viewers are in for a treat with this series of episodes as we interview married couple Lizzy and Spencer Bean. In part one, we dive into Lizzy’s story and unique upbringing as just one of two siblings in a Mormon family with convert parents in Upstate New York. We discuss the influence of her involvement with the Palmyra Pageant on her developing testimony as well as the Mormon propensity towards music and theater. Other topics include the culture shock after arriving in Provo when her dad’s career led him to teach music education at BYU, and acclimating to the very LDS saturated environment as she developed her musical and theatrical talents. We named this series “Loving and Leaving Mormonism” to allow our guests to speak authentically to their all-around good experiences being raised members of the LDS faith and hope you’ll stick around to listen to part three as Lizzy and Spencer describe the events and information that made them think twice about their membership in the religion they love.
Show notes:
- Hosanna shout
- Austin Archer Mormon Stories episode
- Tim Minchin
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Mormon Stories viewers are in for a treat with this series of episodes as we interview married couple Lizzy and Spencer Bean. In part one, we dive into Lizzy’s story and unique upbringing as just one of two siblings in a Mormon family with convert parents in Upstate New York. We discuss the influence of her involvement with the Palmyra Pageant on her developing testimony as well as the Mormon propensity towards music and theater. Other topics include the culture shock after arriving in Provo when her dad’s career led him to teach music education at BYU, and acclimating to the very LDS saturated environment as she developed her musical and theatrical talents. We named this series “Loving and Leaving Mormonism” to allow our guests to speak authentically to their all-around good experiences being raised members of the LDS faith and hope you’ll stick around to listen to part three as Lizzy and Spencer describe the events and information that made them think twice about their membership in the religion they love.
Show notes:
- Hosanna shout
- Austin Archer Mormon Stories episode
- Tim Minchin
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Join Jenn as she introduces a new addition to Open Stories Foundation. The Open Arms Collective is a group of women and gender non-binary individuals meeting monthly along the Wasatch Front, with open arms, to embrace our family and friends wherever they are on their faith journey!
We hold monthly events to empower, learn, create and build community together.
Please click here to register for upcoming events.
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Join us Monday afternoon for a special episode with Ksenia Andrukhiv Everton from Ukraine. Get ready for a fascinating story about her family's journey in the Mormon Church. She will also talk to us about Russia’s war on Ukraine. European defenders are in huge need of military-grade Helmets and Armory Vests for Territorial Defense Battalions. The Ukrainian American Coordinating Council (financial coordinator), Razom for Ukraine (media partner), and International Charitable Foundation “Come back alive” (end user) with CO Foundation Serhiy Prytula (end user) are uniting their efforts to purchase this necessary equipment. Please consider a donation here.
Show notes:
- Nastia Bigun MS episode
- Douglas Stillgoe MS episode
- Helmets & Armory Vests for the European Defenders
- Nemo the Mormon Youtube channel
- Book: Red famine
- Book: Bloodlands
- NPR episode
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Recently the THRIVE Beyond Religion Foundation has been under attack by the Mormon church’s apologists, the Salt Lake Tribune, some vocal TikTokkers, and a few other Ex-Mormons. Such attacks have taken a heavy toll on many in the THRIVE Board, and on the THRIVE Community overall.
Please join members of the THRIVE Foundation board of directors this Monday at 9am (mountain) as we ask ourselves and the post-Mormon community whether or not we should allow the THRIVE Foundation to die.
Note: Our heartfelt support goes out to the people of Ukraine. Please join us Monday afternoon for a special Mormon Stories Podcast episode about Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Did a single first pair of humans (Adam and Eve) ever exist? Join us this Friday at 4:00 pm MT for an epic discussion with Dr. Simon Southerton about Mormonism’s core doctrine of Adam and Eve. We will analyze the conflicts between the undisputed fact of human evolution and the belief that all humans descended from a single couple of humans in Jackson County, Missouri. We will break down the different ways in which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its apologists have responded to conflicting scientific evidence and the ongoing debate regarding the existence of pre-Adamites. In addition, Dr. Michael Westaway will be joining us to speak about his groundbreaking research regarding the Mungo Man, the oldest and most famous human skeleton in Australia dated at 42,000 years, which was voted in the top 10 papers of the year by Science magazine in 2016.
Show Notes:
- Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church by Simon G. Southerton
- The Sacred Curse: How Native American DNA Exposes Mormonism’s Lamanite Myth by Simon G. Southerton
- Stated Clearly YouTube channel
- Michael Westaway
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The one and only Sandra Tanner joins Mormon Scoops as a special guest to address comments recently made on the Follow Him podcast by church historian Kate Holbrook. Join Carah, John, Gerardo and Sandra for this epic episode starting Thursday at 4:30pm mountain time!
Show Notes:
- "Doctrine and Covenants 129-132 with Dr. Kate Holbrook," on followHIM
followHIM podcast with Hank Smith and John Bytheway - "BYU professor [Hank Smith] calls gay student a Book of Mormon term associated with anti-Christ," by Courtney Tanner, Salt Lake Tribune, May 14, 2021
- Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults: A Face-to-Face Event with Elder Cook (and with historian Kate Holbrook)
- Kate Holbrook laughs while describing Joseph Smith's polygamy
- D&C101 as it appeared until 1835 when it was replaced by D&C132
- Times and Seasons denial of polygamy published in September 1842
- The sole edition of the Nauvoo Expositor, June 17, 1844, which exposed Joseph's teaching and practice of polygamy
- The Godmakers: A Shocking Expose of What the Mormon Church Really Believes by Ed Decker
Book - Film
- "Kingdom Come," by David Van Biema, Time, June 24, 2001 (in which Gordon B. Hinckley says the church doesn't teach/emphasize that God was once a man and that men will become gods in the afterlife, ruling their own planets which they populate with their own seed)
- Utah Lighthouse Ministry
- Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? by Jerald and Sandra Tanner
- Thrive for Women on April 2
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Join us for our interview with Rod Meldrum, founder of the Book of Mormon Heartland Model. In this episode we explore Rod's Mormon faith.
Show notes:
- Book of Mormon Evidence website
- Exterminate the Brutes
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Join us for our interview with Rod Meldrum, founder of the Book of Mormon Heartland Model.
Show Notes:
- Book of Mormon Evidence website
- Lila Tueller MS interview
- DNA and the Book of Mormon article from our website
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We are super excited to announce our next THRIVE Day for Women, which will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2022 in Orem, Utah. The event will be emceed buy Julienna Viegas, and speakers will include:
- Tiffany Roe
- Natasha Helfer
- Leah Young
- Donna Kelly
- Suzy Benson
The purpose of all THRIVE events is to promote healing, growth, and community for post-Mormons. THRIVE is a non-profit, and is priced only to cover the event costs, which includes lunch.
Click here to Register!
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BYU Join us live as John, Carah and Gerardo discuss the news topics of the week at 7pm mountain time Thursday night! Tonight's topics include but are not limited to: * BYU Black Student Union confronts Brad Wilcox * BYU forces end to “gender-affirming voice care” for transgender students * Utah Kaysville Devotional for Sisters Featuring Mormon Apostle Dale G. Renlund
Show Notes:
- BYU Black Student union
- BYU BSU news article
- Mormonism Live recent ep on women
- Black BYU students tiktok
- Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
- Under the Banner of Heaven trailer
- Steven Hassan, author of Combatting Cult Mind Control
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After an epic retelling of their time trying to protect the children in their Idaho home ward, Cami and Kolby give us a look into how that ordeal changed their faith in the Mormon church in this epic second part of their interview.
Show Notes:
- CES Letter
- Matt Easton MS episode
- Race and priesthood gospel topics essay
- Saints unscripted videos about priesthood ban
- Michael Coe interview
- Brad Wilcox MS episode
- Thrive beyond religion website
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Joining us on the podcast today are Kolby and Cami, a married couple from Idaho whose life and faith were shaken when their bishop was convicted and sent to prison for sexually abusing children. We discuss the moves the local leadership made that shocked them, including praising the former bishop in front of his victims to the entire ward congregation. This is one of the most important stories that highlight the LDS culture of conforming to authority vs following one’s conscience and the fallout of doing the latter. We applaud Kolby and Cami (and other members of their Idaho stake) for trying to protect children and telling this story today. In part two we’ll be discussing how these events affected their faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a whole.
Show Notes:
- Eyring talk about LDS leaders being called by the Savior
- Spotlight movie
- Mormon Stories Boy Scouts episode
- CES Letter
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Join Margi, John, and Carah for our next episode of Thrive Stories this coming Tuesday at noon (MST). We will hear Dave Biesinger talk about meaning and purpose after a faith transition. Join us to hear Dave’s narrative and how he now feels he is enjoying The Good Life.
Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John and Carah) will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month. The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). They will happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism.
If you would like to nominate someone you know who would be a great candidate for a THRIVE interview, please nominate them (or yourself) here.
Show Notes:
- Margi’s Coming Home podcast episode
- 4 Agreements
- The 5th agreement (book)
- Eckhart Tolle: https://eckharttolle.com
- Father and son - Cat Stevens
- Noah Rasheta - Secular Buddhism podcast
- Master and His Emissary
- Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces
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Hello, everyone! We are excited to announce some upcoming events for the Open Stories Foundation and our sister foundation THRIVE. There are several events coming up that we want to make you aware of today. All the events we talk about today can be found on MormonStories.org under the EVENTS tab. Check back frequently for new event announcements! SUPPORT GROUPS: Free and/or low-cost Faith Crisis Support Groups begin the week of February 22, 2022. Support group locations: Bountiful, Holladay, American Fork, Provo, St George, & Online. In-person sessions will be Tuesday nights from 7-9 pm. Online/Zoom sessions time and date will be announced soon. All donations go towards making the OSF Support Groups program sustainable for future attendees. Please choose whatever amount you can afford. Link: https://donorbox.org/faith-crisis-support-group-8-weeks THRIVE MEETUP ALPINE, UT: We also have a THRIVE meetup on Sunday, March 6th in Alpine, UT at KNOT AND PINE. This is an adults potluck and community building event. Follow the link above to sign up! www.knotandpine.com
Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZleUTNA6EjcYDb-nlGA5k_cXI9_UduFa2oeBXSS2RTc/viewform?edit_requested=true
WORKSHOPS & RETREATS: Alpine Faith Crisis Workshop with John and Margi Dehlin on Sunday, March 20th. One day Workshop includes:
- Navigating a Faith Transition
- Rebuilding your Family & Life Values
- Communicating with believers
- Mental and spiritual health
- Healthy sexuality after a faith crisis
- Q&A with John and Margi
- Community
*Lunch and snacks provided
Link: https://donorbox.org/faith-crisis-workshop-alpine-lehi
Mixed-Faith Marriage Retreat with John Dehlin & Julie Hanks in Provo, UT July 15-17th. This retreat is 2.5 days and will include:
- Navigating a faith crisis for yourself or a family member
- Improving your Mental Health
- Communicating with believing/non-believing family and friends
- Restructuring your family values together
- Healthy marriage/committed relationships after a faith crisis
- Spirituality after a faith crisis
- Healthy sexuality
*Lunch and snacks provided on full retreat days
Link: https://donorbox.org/mixed-faith-retreat-provo
We are also planning on putting together a monthly meet-up for post-Mormon women in the Salt Lake City area. Email events@openstoriesfoundation.org if you are interested in participating.
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Recently John Dehlin had lunch with a mid-level Mormon church leader along the Wasatch front who was eager to share insider information regarding the statistical and programmatic health of the Mormon church since the COVID-19 epidemic. Topics that were covered include: - The pervasiveness of "faith crisis" issues within Mormon stakes and wards.
- The rise of conservative/fundamentalist/"Prepper"/"Trumpers"/anti-vaxxers/Q-Anoners as a source of disaffection from the Mormon church.
- Attempts to increase the involvement of women.
- How post-COVID Mormon apathy has led to a decline in church activity.
- The rise of "PIMO" Mormons (Physically in, mentally out).
- The decline of the Mormon youth programs, with a dramatic decline in young men church participation and mission service.
The leader was willing to share activity statistics within his stake to demonstrate the post-COVID decline.
Finally, the source was willing to share information regarding three significant changes at Mormon church headquarters:
- The dramatic rise in temple building since Russel M. Nelson became the Mormon prophet, and the effect this is having on the temple department.
- A new Mormon temple prep course that will soon be released.
- Significant upcoming changes regarding 1 on 1 youth interviews.
Show Notes:
- Brad Wilcox's Alpine Youth Fireside on February 6, in which he made racist and sexist remarks, and said that other faiths are only "playing church"
- The Black Menaces denounce Brad Wilcox on TikTok
- "Saying he has been 'corrected,' LDS leader Brad Wilcox again apologizes for his remarks on race," by Tamarra Kemsley, Salt Lake Tribune, February 14, 2022
- Brad Wilcox's apology
- "Alpine Utah Mormon Youth Rescue With Brad Wilcox," on Mormon Stories
- "Top 10 Problems with Mormonism that Brad Wilcox's Speech Unveiled," on Mormon Stories
- "Listeners Call In: Responses to Brad Wilcox's Talk," on Mormon Stories
- "Brad Wilcox showed up at my religion class at BYUI today to say hi"
- "How the LDS Church made $22B during the pandemic," by Tony Semerad, Salt Lake Tribune, February 15, 2022
- Questions From the Closet, with Charlie Bird and Ben Schilaty
- "The Gay Mormon Reformation," on Mormon Stories
- "The Mormon Influences on Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow," on Mormon Stories
- "Ezra Taft Benson and the Making of the Mormon Right," with Matt Harris on Mormon Stories
Part 1
Part 2 - "The LDS Church's Coverup of Sterling Van Wagenen's Sexual Abuse of Sean Escobar," on Mormon Stories
- Mormon Enlightenment Facebook group
- Protect LDS Children
- Mormonism Live with Radio Free Mormon and Bill Reel
- "Will Mormons Get Their Own Planets?" A panel discussion on Mormon Stories
- "Cognitive Dissidents: Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and the Damage of Dogma" on Mormon Discussions
- "Experiencing Sexual Assault as a Missionary: Camille and Maddy" on Mormon Stories
- "Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Urges BYU to Embrace Its Uniqueness, Stay True to the Savior," an August 2021 speech in which Holland called for "musket fire" in defense of the school's opposition to LGBTQ+ equality
- "BYU cancels care for transgender clients receiving voice therapy at its speech clinic," by Courtney Tanner, Salt Lake Tribune, February 10, 2022
- "Mormon British Rescue? The Britvengers React" on Mormon Stories
- 21st Century Saints Podcast with Jane Christie
- Ruben Hoyos' TikTok
- "Anastasia Bigun: A Ukrainian Mormon Journey" on Mormon Stories
- Trans, Nonbinary, and Genderqueer Network
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Join Margi, John, and Carah for the premiere episode of Thrive Stories this coming Tuesday at noon (MST). Get to know Margi as she shares how her journey has allowed her a process of becoming significant to herself and finding her own voice. We hope that you will join us as we introduce Margi, the main interviewer of Thrive Stories by having her share her own Thrive story.
Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John and Carah) will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month. The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). They will happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism.
If you would like to nominate someone you know who would be a great candidate for a THRIVE interview, please nominate them (or yourself) here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefPM4vCZXpQeOjxXJcNHLCnpYv2Sej1tfNcOeipEt8UdE-rw/viewform
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Show Notes:
THRIVE Stories Application form
Margi’s Broken Open essay
Podcast on Nihilism
Noah Rasheta Secular Buddhism episode on groundlessness
Template for Thrive interviews:
Eckhart Tolle podcasts with Oprah
Margi’s blog “Beauty in the Now”
Contact Us!
MormonStories@gmail.com
PO Box 171085
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Do you see secular and religious views at odds with one another? In what ways can they work together to become a better expression of one’s Mormon faith? On this very special episode of Mormon stories we chat with Carl Youngblood and Lincoln Cannon, who are leaders in the Mormon transhumanist movement. Mormon Stories listeners may remember Carl, who came on the podcast back in October 2020, where he discussed with John his life and philosophy as a Mormon and a transhumanist. In this follow up episode, we keep the discussion going and ask more hard hitting questions about how Lincoln and Carl view God, Christ, the resurrection, and Book of Mormon historicity - and their answers are unlike anything you’ve probably ever heard before!
Buckle up for a fun and different Mormon Stories interview! We hope to have these amazing guys back again soon for another chat, so leave a comment or question that we can save for next time!
Show Notes:
- Carl Youngblood Mormon Stories interview as a Mormon transhumanist
- Mormon Transhumanist Association
- Humanity Plus
- Check out their upcoming conference, using code “MSFRIEND”
- Lincoln Cannon blog
- Youtube channel Transfigurism
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Join us as we hear listener thoughts and feelings about how Brad Wilcox’s talk reflects on Mormonism.
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Join us live Tuesday night for a special new regular weeknight segment with John and Carah called ✨Mormon Scoops✨ at 8pm mst! We just heard that Brad Wilcox apologized for the racist statements that he made in his talk to the Alpine youth of the church. We congratulate Brad. In the hours since the talk, the church has removed it from Youtube and Brad apologized on his Facebook page. Carah and John want to dive into the top 10 things that we think are worse than Brad's actual talk that still need to be addressed! Join us with your questions, comments, and additional information!
Our Understanding Mormonism playlist of Brad Wilcox's full talk
Our Mormon Stories episode covering Brad Wilcox's talk
Brad's same talk in 2020
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You’ve heard of The Swedish Rescue, right? Our Mormon Stories inbox had an influx of incensed Latter-day Saints across all spectrums of belief last night as Brad Wilcox gave a fireside talk that we’re calling “The Alpine Utah Mormon Youth Rescue”. Just like the LDS church’s response to the wave of apostasy in 2012 affecting Swedish members, Brad Wilcox, professor of ancient scripture at BYU and second counselor in the Young Men general presidency spoke to the youth February 6th, 2022 in a talk about how leaving the Mormon church means “you lose everything that matters”. Join John, Gerardo, and Carah as we play clips and react to Brad explaining his reasons to the youth of the church that those who leave the faith are taking the hardest possible route in life. Other quotes include:
"Maybe instead of asking 'why did the blacks have to wait until 1978’, maybe what we should be asking is 'why did the whites and other races have to wait until 1829?’"
“We are the only Christians in the world led by Christ”
"When you walk away from this church you lose everything that matters in your life.”
Show Notes:
View our playlist with the full talk on our Understanding Mormonism channel. Individual sections are included below. To download the raw video file click here.
Grant Palmer’s books
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Dr. Simon Southerton is an Australian geneticist and a former Mormon bishop who was excommunicated by the Mormon church for speaking too openly about his problems reconciling Book of Mormon historicity and emerging DNA research about Native Americans. On 2/4/2022 we are launching a new series on Mormon Stories Podcast. Like with the John Larsen and Margi Dehlin (THRIVE Stories) series, Simon Southerton plans to appear monthly on Mormon Stories Podcast to explore the many ways in which Mormon Doctrine clashes with modern science.
This episode covers the Mormon church teaching of The Creation.
We will be paying Simon for his work, but need your financial support to make this happen. If you want to support this series with Simon, please become a monthly donor to this campaign. You can donate here: https://donorbox.org/science-vs-mormonism
Hosts John Dehlin, Gerardo Sumano, and Carah Burrell interview Dr. Simon Southerton, an Australian geneticist and former Mormon bishop, who was excommunicated for speaking too openly about Book of Mormon historicity and the DNA research about Indigenous Americans.
This interview marks the launch of a new series on Mormon Stories Podcast. Like with the John Larsen and Margi Dehlin (THRIVE Stories), Simon plans to appear monthly to explore the many ways in which Mormon Doctrine clashes with modern science.
This episode covers the Mormon Church teaching of The Creation.
We will be paying Simon for his work, but need your financial support to make this happen.
100% of your donations at this link will go to support Simon!
- Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church by Simon Southerton
- The Sacred Curse: How Native American DNA Exposes Mormonism's Lamanite Myth by Simon Southerton
- Mormon Stories interview with Simon Southerton, “DNA, Lamanites, and the Book of Mormon”
- Mormon Stories interview with Simon Southerton, “New Temples Veil Mormonism’s Decline”
- Mormon Stories interview with Simon Southerton, “Rod Meldrum’s Book of Mormon Heartland Model”
- January 2022 Old Testament Institute Lesson on the Creation
- Old Testament Chronology Graphic
- Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie
- “Information, Reproduction, and the Origin of Life,” by Homer Jacobson, American Scientist, 1955
- Creation: Accident or Design? by Harold G. Coffin
- "In defense of peer-reviewed science," BYU Department of Geological Sciences, The Daily Universe, April 4, 2017
- BYU's Dr. Michael Whiting defends evolution on Twitter
- "Ancient European dog genomes reveal continuity since the Early Neolithic," by L. Botigué, et. al., Nature Communications, July 18, 2017
- "Genetic evidence for an East Asian origin of domestic dogs," by Peter Savolainen, et.al., Science, November 22, 2002
- "Rod Meldrum responds to John Dehlin and Simon Southerton" on Mormon Book Reviews with Steven Pynakker
- "What is DNA and How Does It Work," on Stated Clearly with Jon Perry
- "An Introduction to the Human Genome," HMX Genetics, Harvard Medical School
- Upcoming Thrive events
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Mark Elwood is the author and illustrator of a groundbreaking new graphic novel entitled "The Glass Looker: Collected Tales of Joseph Smith."
The Glass Looker follows an ordinary American farm boy named Joseph Smith who discovers he possesses the magical ability for seeing in stones. Learn the origin story of the American boy-prophet through illustrated accounts collected from Joseph, his family, neighbors and enemies. The Glass Looker illustrates the myths and legends surrounding the rise of Joseph Smith from a teen-aged treasure seer to the man who would become a prophet of God.
Join Mark, along with his partner Erin, for an illustrated historical adventure.
To order the novel, click here: https://theglasslooker.com/product/volume1/
To support Mark and Erin's ongoing work (future volumes in the works!, click here: https://theglasslooker.com/support/
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Show Notes:
- The Glass Looker: Collected Tales of Joseph Smith Vol. 1 by Mark Elwood
- Become of Patron of The Glass Looker
- Brigham Young's Journal of Discourses
- Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet by John G. Turner
- Blood from the Sky: Miracles and Politics in the Early American Republic by Adam Jortner
- “The Locations of Joseph Smith’s Early Treasure Quests," by Dan Vogel, Dialogue, 1994
- "Raiders of the Lost Mormon Cave," Gospel Tangents, July 4, 2021
- "Discovering Joseph Smith's Cave in Miner's Hill, Manchester, New York," by KC Kern
- Zion by Eli Brady
- Maus by Art Spiegelman
- Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet by Dan Vogel
- Mormon Doctrine vs. Science with Dr. Simon Southerton
- The Sacred Curse: How Native American DNA Exposes Mormonism's Lamanite Myth by Simon G. Southerton
- Thrive St. George and other upcoming events
Mormon Stories is excited to welcome ex-Mormon YouTuber couple Jordan and McKay on for a three-part series about their journey!
Picking up where we left off, we invited ex-Mormon Youtuber couple Jordan and McKay back on for part three to take us through their engagement, wedding, son being born, faith deconstruction and birth of their Youtube channel.
Show Notes:
- Jordan & Mckay YouTube
- Jordan & McKay Baptism for the dead video
- Sam and Tanner MS interview Losing Mormon Millennials
- LuLu Rich
- Allan Mount TikTok
- What happens when an Apostle arrives and nobody is standing
- Exmormon reddit
- Faith Journey FB Meetups
- Tom Phillips MS interview
- Hans & Birgitta Mattsson MS interview
- Matt and Stephanie Purcell MS Interview
- Unshaken YouTube channel w/ Jared Halverson
- CES Letter
- Letter to my Wife
- Marc Oslund MS Interview
- “No Man Knows My History” by Fawn M. Brodie
- Book of Abraham Gospel Topics essay
- Kyle and Neesha Mormon Stories interview
- Excommunication of John Dehlin
- Kimberly Anderson TikTok
- Jordan & Mckay Patreon
- Jordan & Mckay Ko-Fi
- Jordan & Mckay TikTok
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Mormon Stories is excited to welcome ex-Mormon Youtuber couple Jordan and McKay on for a three-part series about their journey! In part two, we dive into Jordan’s story and want to lead off with a heavy trigger warning for sexual abuse. Jordan, who grew up in a similar area of Colorado as McKay, had a very different Mormon upbringing. We discuss the effects of having a never Mormon father, her mom’s remarriage, and a devastating story of how her sexual abuse was handled my Mormon family and leaders.
Show Notes:
- Jordan & Mckay YouTube
- Jordan & McKay Baptism for the dead video
- Sam and Tanner MS interview Losing Mormon Millennials
- LuLu Rich
- Allan Mount TikTok
- What happens when an Apostle arrives and nobody is standing
- Exmormon reddit
- Faith Journey FB Meetups
- Tom Phillips MS interview
- Hans & Birgitta Mattsson MS interview
- Matt and Stephanie Purcell MS Interview
- Unshaken YouTube channel w/ Jared Halverson
- CES Letter
- Letter to my Wife
- Marc Oslund MS Interview
- “No Man Knows My History” by Fawn M. Brodie
- Book of Abraham Gospel Topics essay
- Kyle and Neesha Mormon Stories interview
- Excommunication of John Dehlin
- Kimberly Anderson TikTok
- Jordan & Mckay Patreon
- Jordan & Mckay Ko-Fi
- Jordan & Mckay TikTok
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Mormon Stories is excited to welcome ex-Mormon Youtuber couple Jordan and McKay on for a three-part series about their journey! In part one, we talk to McKay about his upbringing in Colorado and his mission to Honduras. We hope you enjoy our interview with McKay as we discuss a few of the hallmarks of a typical Mormon teen’s life that deal with social conditioning, porn and masturbation, and baptisms for the dead.
Show Notes:
- Jordan & Mckay YouTube
- Jordan & McKay Baptism for the dead video
- Sam and Tanner MS interview Losing Mormon Millennials
- LuLu Rich
- Allan Mount TikTok
- What happens when an Apostle arrives and nobody is standing
- Exmormon reddit
- Faith Journey FB Meetups
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Mormon Stories Listeners/Viewers,
We are SUPER excited to announce a new project on Mormon Stories Podcast, based on your feedback. Some background: we asked you (the community) for feedback regarding Margi Dehlin's participation on Mormon Stories, and the feedback we received was that you would value having Margi actually occasionally interview people for Mormon Stories Podcast (with John and Carah supporting of course) - but to still draw on Margi's wisdom/expertise as a coach.
So here's the new project: For the next few months, Margi will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month. The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), still story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name). Some examples of categories include: Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spirituality, Word of Wisdom 2.0, and Women Finding Their Own Voice after Mormonism.
We have set up a form for you to nominate someone who you think would be amazing for Mormon Stories Podcast, or to nominate yourself. If you or someone you know would be a great candidate for a THRIVE interview, please nominate them (or yourself) here. The form gives you the option to upload a video of you or your nominee telling a story.
Margi will be sifting through these interviews and will reach out to you if you are chosen. Please spread the word! And thank you for the support!!!! Also, feel free to email Margi Dehlin with any questions: margidehlin@gmail.com
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Join us for a live discussion about the groundbreaking Federal Investigation against Brigham Young University for its treatment of LGBTQ+ students with attorney Paul Southwick. We will discuss the investigation and its relation to recent changes in LDS and BYU policy. We will also analyze BYU's initial response to the Office of Civil Rights and what you can do to help advance equality at BYU. WHAT YOU CAN DO * The REAP's website * Submit BYU Accreditation Comments on TRANSPARENCY and EQUITY * Accreditation Organization Equity policy * History of the Family Proclamation
News Coverage: * Washington Post: LGBTQ Dating Ban at BYU Probed in Federal Investigation * NBC News: LGBTQ dating ban at BYU probed in federal investigation * Deseret News: BYU Responds to Federal Investigation of its LGBTQ Policies * Salt Lake Tribune: BYU is Under Federal Investigation for how it Disciplines LGBTQ Students
Show Notes:
- "BYU is under federal investigation for how it disciplines LGBTQ students," by Courney Tanner, Salt Lake Tribune, January 20, 2022
- "BYU responds to federal investigation of its LGBTQ policies," by Tad Walch, Deseret News, January 20, 2022
- "LGBTQ dating ban at BYU probed in federal investigation," Associated Press, January 21, 2022
- Religious Exemption Accountability Project
- David Archuleta's Instagram post about struggling as a gay Mormon
- Find out how much your college or university receives in federal funds
- "Permission to Make Mistakes," Mayim Bialik's interview with David Archuleta in which he says church leaders told him he could date men
- Jeffrey Holland's BYU speech in August 2021, in which he called for "musket fire" in defense of their anti-LGBTQ policies
- BYU President Kevin Worthen's letter responding to the investigation
- "Going Forward with Religious Freedom and Nondiscrimination," address by Dallin Oaks at the University of Virginia on November 12, 2021
- Mormon Stories interview with Gerardo Sumano
- Tabernacles of Clay: Sexuality and Gender in Modern Mormonism by Taylor Petrey
- Gay Rights and the Mormon Church: Intended Actions, Unintended Consequences by Gregory Prince
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Please join us now as we interview Neville Rochow QC. Neville has served as an LDS Bishop, and in LDS Church Stake Presidencies and Mission Presidencies. Having served at the highest levels of the Mormon church in Australia, and being a truly delightful human, we believe that you will thoroughly enjoy this interview.
Show Notes:
- Mormon Stories interview with Tom Phillips
- A Marvelous Work and a Wonder by LeGrand Richards
- Doctrines of Salvation Volume 3, by Joseph Fielding Smith, 1954
- Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
- Mormon Stories interview with Randy Bell
- No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie
- Time's Arrow by Martin Amis
- The Lord's Way by Dallin H. Oaks
- An Insider's View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer
- Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? by Michael Sandel
- "The Love and Laws of God," September 2019 address at BYU, in which Russell M. Nelson claims to have pleaded with God to reverse the 2015 LGBT exclusion policy
- "Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution," Dallin Oaks, April 2021 General Conference
- Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church by Simon Southerton
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After two amazing episodes exploring Randy Bell’s journey from Mormonism to Progressive Christianity, we invited the host of Marriage on a Tightrope podcast and outspoken atheist Allan Mount on for a respectful discussion about epistemology, anti-theism, death, and much more!
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Show Notes:
- "What God, Quantum Mechanics, and Consciousness Have in Common," by John Horgan, Scientific American, August 14, 2021
- The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis Collins
- How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide by Peter Boghossian
- "Bridging the Divide: A Scientist's Search for Faith and Truth," Up First by NPR, January 23, 2021
- The Science of Near-Death Experiences by John C. Hagan
- Allan Mount TikTok
- Allan Mount Instagram
- Marriage on a Tightrope with Allan and Kattie Mount
- Marriage on a Tightrope Facebook Community
- Find an LGBTQ+-Affirming Church
- Randy Bell's research papers referenced in the episode:
- "The Scientific Method and the Valuation Process," The Bureau of National Affairs, 2016
- "Real Estate Research Methods," The Appraisal Journal, 2015
- "Where Art Meets Science Statistics," Valuation Strategies, 2016
- "Junk Science Versus the Scientific Method," Bloomberg BNA, 2017
- "Basic Due Diligence," Environmental Claims Journal, 2001
In part 2 of Randy Bell’s Mormon Story, we dive into Randy’s faith post-Mormonism, his experiences with people of other religions around the world including Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Among some of the topics we cover are his reasons for becoming a non-denominational Christian, feelings vs science, and the common ground we share.
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Show Notes:
- The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blind_Watchmaker
- The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins: https://www.amazon.com/God-Delusion-Richard-Dawkins/dp/0618918248
- Axis agnostic/gnostic and theism/atheism https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-easiest-way-to-explain-agnostic-gnostic-and-theism-atheism
- Bart Ehrman - Misquoting Jesus:https://www.amazon.com/Misquoting-Jesus-Story-Behind-Changed/dp/0060859512
- Bart Ehrman Mormon Stories episode: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/bart-ehrman/
- Gospel of Mark Mormon Stories episode - John Larsen: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/the-gospel-of-mark-john-larsen/
- The Language of God - Francis Collins: https://www.amazon.com/Language-God-Scientist-Presents-Evidence/dp/1416542744
- Saddleback Church: https://saddleback.com/
- Rick Warren church: https://pastorrick.com
- www.gaychurch.org
- Red letter bible: https://www.amazon.com/Full-Size-Burgundy-Leather-Ribbon-Version/dp/1432132881/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3UDBGFUT28BHR&keywords=red+letter+bible&qid=1642465477&s=books&sprefix=red+letter+bible%2Cstripbooks%2C94&sr=1-4
- God the most unpleasant character in all fiction By Dan Barker: https://www.amazon.com/God-Most-Unpleasant-Character-Fiction/dp/1454918322
- The case for Christ By Lee Strobel: https://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-Journalists-Personal-Investigation/dp/0310345863/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NSAA65NP7E22&keywords=The+case+for+Christ&qid=1642465603&s=books&sprefix=the+case+for+christ%2Cstripbooks%2C104&sr=1-1
- The End of Science By John Horgan : https://www.amazon.com/End-Science-Knowledge-Twilight-Scientific/dp/0465065929
- The Demon Haunted World By Carl Sagan: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+demon+haunted+world+carl+sagan&i=stripbooks&crid=2FYTBHR74WRI8&sprefix=the+deamon+%2Cstripbooks%2C134&ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_1_10
- Boy Scout Payout: https://youtu.be/bnxaPEdDZys
Today we welcome on Randy Bell, well known expert on real estate damages and friend of the podcast on to hear his Mormon Story. Raised in Fullerton, CA, we discuss Randy’s relationship with the Fender family, the effects of his profession on his Mormon faith including stories about how the Pulse Night Club shooting transformed his LGBTQ beliefs. In part 2 we dig deeper and discuss Randy’s incredible, thoughtful journey from Mormonism to Progressive Christianity.
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Show Notes:
- Randy’s wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randall_Bell
- Link to youtube viewers poll: https://www.youtube.com/c/MormonStoriesPodcast/community
- Shawn McCrany’s church: https://hotm.faith/
- Rick Warren church: https://pastorrick.com
- Carah’s Mormon Stories interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW1uWu_DnPc
- Pulse Night Club: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_nightclub_shooting
- OJ Simpsons Made in America: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5275892/
- OJ Simpson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._J._Simpson
- Todd Compton - In Sacred Loneliness: http://www.toddmcompton.com/
- Gospel Topic Essay on Polygamy: https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/plural-marriage-in-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints?lang=eng
- Year of Polygamy: https://www.yearofpolygamy.com/
- Steven Hassan: https://www.amazon.com/Steven-Hassan/e/B000APQYV4%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
- Sunstone: https://sunstone.org/
- Simon Southerton interview: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/rod-meldrums-heartland-model/
- Joseph Smith Criminal Record: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith_and_the_criminal_justice_system#Chronology_of_charges
- Laura Roper Andreasen interview: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/laura-roper-andreasen-granddaughter-m-russell-ballard/
- Randy’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Post-Traumatic-Thriving-Randall-Bell-PhD/dp/0996793178
- A Thoughtful Faith Podcast by Gina Colvin: https://www.athoughtfulfaith.org
- Bill Reel Mormon Discussions Podcast: https://mdpodcast.org
- Johnathan Streeter - Thoughts on things and stuff: https://thoughtsonthingsandstuff.com/
- Radio Free Mormon: https://radiofreemormon.org
- Sandra Tanner - https://youtu.be/W64Ntsea6uw
- Mormon Sex Info - Natasha Helfer: https://mormonsex.info/about/
- Real Estate Damages: An Analysis of Detrimental Conditions Textbook: https://www.amazon.com/Real-Estate-Damages-Detrimental-Conditions/dp/0922154554
- Me We Do Be: The Four Cornerstones of Success by Randall Bell, PhD: https://www.amazon.com/Me-We-Do-Be-Cornerstones/dp/0996793119
- Leo Fender: The Quiet Giant Heart Around the World by Phyllis Fender & Randall Bell, PhD: https://www.amazon.com/Leo-Fender-Quiet-Giant-Around/dp/0996793143
- Post-Traumatic Thriving by Randall Bell, PhD: https://www.amazon.com/Post-Traumatic-Thriving-Randall-Bell-PhD/dp/0996793178
Mormon Stories listeners are in for a treat today as we’re joined by Mark Phillips and his daughter Zelle as they share their family’s fascinating Mormon journey. Mark is a clinical and counseling psychologist by profession who has spent part of his career working in LDS Family Services and was first inspired on his mission as a trainer to become a psychologist when working with difficult companions. Zelle discusses with us what it was like as a missionary during Covid, coming home early, coming out to her family, and coming into her own authentic self. A few of the themes we cover in this episode are around how growing up in the US Midwest and South shapes Mormon experiences, focusing on what’s inside instead of outside appearances, and coming to terms with Mormon truth claims as a family. We know you’ll love this amazing father-daughter duo and enjoy listening to Carah as host and Gerardo as co-host on this episode!
Show Notes:
- Mark's Facebook post explaining why they left the church
- Thrive Unite
- Mormon Stories interview with Gerardo Sumano
- Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmadge
- "The case of a fallen mission president: When the Mormon Church promptly removed a leader who 'deceived and victimized' young female missionaries," by Peggy Fletcher-Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, April 26, 2018
- Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman
- Saints Vol.1 published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- The Joseph Smith Papers
- March 2021 Africa Area Devotional, in which Jeffrey Holland inadvertently admits that the rest of the world is always ahead of the Church
- "Be One: A Celebration of the Revelation on the Priesthood," the Church's June 2018 celebration on the 40th anniversary of letting black people in the temple
- "Issues and Ideas Leading People Away from the Gospel," a 2015 proprietary Church graphic released by MormonLeaks
- "The Ally Within," John Dehlin's TED Talk
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After 16 years of podcasting, John has seen a few highs and lows. With transparency for our supporters in mind, John is joined by Mormon Stories co-host and producer Carah Burrell to discuss what they love and hate about podcasting in this space.
Show Notes:
- Mormon Stories response to Jacob Hess part 1
- Please support Bill and RFM!
- Mormonism LIVE! 021: Sexual Allegation Against John Dehlin Goes Down In Flames
- Carah’s TikTok
- Please support Lost and Found Club
- Please support Sunstone!
- Please support Johnathan Streeter - Thoughts on things and stuff
- Please support Zelph on the Shelf!
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Join us live for a discussion with Margi and John about alternative approaches to New Year's Resolutions.
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Show Notes:
- Thrive Unite
- Thrive St. George
- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
- "Small Things Often" podcast by John and Julie Gottman
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert by John M. Gottman
- Ana Mardoll's Instagram
- "Secular Buddhism" by Noah Rasheta
- "Christmas After a Mormon Faith Crisis" with Margi Dehlin
- Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples by Harville Hendrix
- Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- The Awakened Family: How to Raise, Empowered, Resilient, and Conscious Children by Shefali Tsabary
- The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children by Shefali Tsabary
- Out of Control: Why Disciplining Your Child Doesn't Work and What Will by Shefali Tsabary
- One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer
- Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
- Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg
- "The Hidden Brain" podcast
- Relationship Intelligence by Esther Perel
- Flourish Therapy (Utah-specific)
- LGBTQ+-Affirmative Therapist Guild (Utah chapter of nationwide guild)
- Symmetry Solutions
- Margi Dehlin blog and life coaching
Answering follow-up questions from the Salt Lake Tribune about the Open Stories Foundation and THRIVE given to us by Peggy Fletcher Stack and Tony Semerad.
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Show Notes:
- Thrive Unite
- Mormon Stories Transparency Q&A in response to the Salt Lake Tribune
- Forms 990 Open Stories Foundation
- Forms 990 Thrive Foundation, Inc.
- "LDS Personal Faith Crisis," a leaked proprietary Church document prepared for Dieter Uchtdorf in 2013 about why members are losing their faith and leaving the Church
- "Come Join With Us," Dieter Uchtdorf, October 2013
- Jeffrey R. Holland's "Musket Fire" talk at BYU, August 2021
- Dallin H. Oaks lies about LGBTQ students at BYU being subjected to electroshock and vomiting aversion
- The "Mormon British Rescue"
- The Next Mormons: How Millennials are Changing the LDS Church by Jana Reiss
- The Gospel Topics Essays
- The LDS Gospel Topics Series: A Scholarly Engagement by Matthew L. Harris
- Mormon Stories interview with Matt Harris
- John Dehlin and Hans Mattson discuss the Gospel Topics Essays on The Line
- Why Mormons Question
- "Letter to an IRS Director," by Lars Nielsen
- Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, published by the Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints
- LDS Discussions Annotation of Saints
- Mormon Stories interview with Roger Hendrix
- Ex-Mormon Reddit
- Mormonism Live with Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon
- Year of Polygamy podcast
- Mormon Mental Health podcast
- The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- Mormons on Mushrooms
- Zelph on the Shelf
- Nemo the Mormon
- Jordan and McKay
- Ex-Mo Lex
- Mormon Mental Health Association
- Utah Valley PostMormons
- Faith Journey Meetups
- Women of a Certain Age
MSP on Spotify
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*PO Box 171085
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Wrapping up Gerald and Makenzie’s Mormon story, we talk in-depth about how their desire to raise healthy children changed their views on Mormon teachings as well as Gerald’s possible regrets around his baptism. Thanks for joining us on this epic three-part interview with the Benzi’s!
Show Notes:
- Talking with the Benzis podcast by Makenzie and Gerald
- Makenzie's Instagram
- Makenzie's lifecoaching and speech therapy
- The CES Letter
- The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- Brene Brown
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In part 2 of Makenzie and Gerald’s Mormon Story, we dive into Makenzie’s life, what it was like with interracial parents, reconciling racist past church teachings, and studying under Mormon Egyptologist Kerry Muhlestein. Among some of the topics we cover are gender disparities in the church, dating and temple marriage, and becoming a nuanced believer. Come back for part 3 as we wrap up Gerald and Makenzie’s Mormon Story and we hope you love this amazing couple as much as we do!
Show Notes:
- Talking with the Benzis podcast by Makenzie and Gerald
- Makenzie's Instagram
- Makenzie's lifecoaching and speech therapy
- The CES Letter
- The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- Brene Brown
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*PO Box 171085
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Mormon Stories is proud to welcome our first Mormon convert from Zimbabwe, Gerald Benzi, and his wife Makenzie Benzi to the podcast for an epic three part series of their story. In part one, we discuss Gerarld’s life being raised in Zimbabwe, what it was like moving to the US, and deciding to take religion seriously and taking the missionary discussions. Among some of the topics we cover are gender roles, racism, and whether or not missionaries target immigrants. Please join us for this three part series to also learn about Makenzie and how their faith as a couple progressed through the years.
Show Notes:
- Talking with the Benzis podcast by Makenzie and Gerald
- Makenzie's Instagram
- Makenzie's lifecoaching and speech therapy
- The CES Letter
- The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- Brene Brown
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*PO Box 171085
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Join John and Carah at 10am mst for a special live interview with Austin Archer as we discuss the Mormon to alcoholic pipeline, sobriety, and his success on TikTok.
Follow Austin @yourpal_austin on TikTok
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Show Notes:
- Mindhunter on Netflix
- AA “the big book”
- AA website
- Alanon
- “The Night Clerk” movie
- Me and Me Comedy Instagram channel
- TikTok Cringe subreddit
- London Laz on TikTok
- Austin video about vaccines and “the test answers”
- “The Righteous Mind” book
Join John and Carah for a special live interview with Austin Archer as we discuss the Mormon to alcoholic pipeline, sobriety, and his success on TikTok.
Follow Austin @yourpal_austin on TikTok
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Show Notes:
- Clark Johnsen MS Interview
- Nan McCulloch MS interview
- Tyler Glenn MS interview
- Wayne Sermon MS interview
- Jebediah Springfield Simpsons episode
- King Richard
- Prophet’s Prey documentary
- “Doubt your doubts” conference talk
- "Anti-mormon Literature: Essays They Warned You About" by Christopher Shenefelt
- Turtleneck and Blazer tiktok from Austin
Chandler Roberson was raised as a devout Mormon, and always wanted to be the best Mormon she could be. In her teenage years Chandler had a few abusive relationships with Mormon boys, where she felt forced to “repent” for “sins” she never committed. Her senior year Chandler felt pressured to break up with a non-LDS boy whom she genuinely loved, and to attend BYU-Idaho to follow the ideal Mormon path.
While at BYU-Idaho Chandler was sexually assaulted by her Family Home Evening “brother,” which led to her leaving BYU-Idaho early, ultimately attempting to serve an LDS mission with untreated PTSD (returning home early).
Chandler eventually became a nationally-known fashion blogger at “Days of Chandler.” Later, Chandler attempted two young LDS temple marriages, both of which ended in divorce. In her view, she was too young to attempt marriage, but felt intense pressure from LDS Church members to marry young.
This is Chandler’s story. Major themes include:
-
Pressure to be a “good Mormon girl” (all on women’s shoulders)
-
BYU-Idaho (dating/sexism, sexual assault problem at BYU schools)
-
Fashion Blogging (similar pressure to be a certain way – inauthentic/beautiful)
-
Personal impacts of being raised in the church ( codependency, sexual shame, etc)
-
Pressure to get married (twice).
We are super grateful to have Samantha Shelley (Zelph on the Shelf) as co-host for this interview.
Show Notes:
- Days of Chandler website
- Chandler’s TikTok
- Chandler’s Instagram
- Zelph on the Shelf youtube
- Going Clear documentary
- CES Letter
- Testimonies and Spiritual Experiences Across Religions - Emotions are Not Reliable to Discern Truth
- No Man Knows My History book
- Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922 MS interview
- Robert Ritner MS interview
- Newell Bringhurst MS interview
- Lena and Sal interview - Mormon Lesbians
- Natasha Helfer’s excommunication
- Tom Phillips MS episode
- Year of Polygamy podcast with Lindsay Hansen Park
- The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
- A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
- Hail Satan documentary
- Hailey Devine YouTube
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MSP on Spotify
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*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Chandler Roberson was raised as a devout Mormon, and always wanted to be the best Mormon she could be. In her teenage years Chandler had a few abusive relationships with Mormon boys, where she felt forced to “repent” for “sins” she never committed. Her senior year Chandler felt pressured to break up with a non-LDS boy whom she genuinely loved, and to attend BYU-Idaho to follow the ideal Mormon path.
While at BYU-Idaho Chandler was sexually assaulted by her Family Home Evening “brother,” which led to her leaving BYU-Idaho early, ultimately attempting to serve an LDS mission with untreated PTSD (returning home early).
Chandler eventually became a nationally-known fashion blogger at “Days of Chandler.” Later, Chandler attempted two young LDS temple marriages, both of which ended in divorce. In her view, she was too young to attempt marriage, but felt intense pressure from LDS Church members to marry young.
This is Chandler’s story. Major themes include:
- Pressure to be a “good Mormon girl” (all on women’s shoulders)
- BYU-Idaho (dating/sexism, sexual assault problem at BYU schools)
- Fashion Blogging (similar pressure to be a certain way – inauthentic/beautiful)
- Personal impacts of being raised in the church ( codependency, sexual shame, etc)
- Pressure to get married (twice).
We are super grateful to have Samantha Shelley (Zelph on the Shelf) as co-host for this interview.
Show Notes:
- Days of Chandler website
- Chandler’s TikTok
- Chandler’s Instagram
- Zelph on the Shelf youtube
- Going Clear documentary
- CES Letter
- Testimonies and Spiritual Experiences Across Religions - Emotions are Not Reliable to Discern Truth
- No Man Knows My History book
- Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922 MS interview
- Robert Ritner MS interview
- Newell Bringhurst MS interview
- Lena and Sal interview - Mormon Lesbians
- Natasha Helfer’s excommunication
- Tom Phillips MS episode
- Year of Polygamy podcast with Lindsay Hansen Park
- The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
- A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
- Hail Satan documentary
- Hailey Devine YouTube
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MSP on Spotify
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*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In part two of our interview, Matt and Stephanie Purcell dive into the effects infertility and postpartum depression took on them, the wheels that started turning in their heads after the 2015 exclusion policy, and much, much more. We are so lucky to get to hear Matt and Stephanie's journey and hope you enjoy Carah Burrell as your host on this epic two-part Mormon Story!
Show Notes:
- Matt and Stephanie’s Instagram
- Letter for my Wife
- Brother Jake’s youtube channel
- Elder Holland on the BBC
- 50 Problems with the Mormon church
- 50 More Problems with the Mormon church
- Books by Spencer Palmer
- Tom Phillips Mormon Stories interview on second anointing
- HANS AND BIRGITTA MATTSSON Mormon Stories
- Patriarchal blessing website:
- “Educated” Tara Westover book
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BYU professor of religion, mission president, temple president, LDS church area authority, personal friend of Mormon prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, and likely recipient of the top secret Mormon church Second Anointing ritual.
In today's episode Matt tells his story of being one of several victims of sexual abuse by his grandfather - who served at some of the highest levels of Mormon church leadership. Matt is joined by Stephanie, his wife. Both share their Mormon stories, which include their faith journeys after discovering problematic Mormon church history.
Trigger warning on this episode*
Show Notes:
- Matt and Stephanie’s Instagram
- Letter for my Wife
- Brother Jake’s youtube channel
- Elder Holland on the BBC
- 50 Problems with the Mormon church
- 50 More Problems with the Mormon church
- Books by Spencer Palmer
- Tom Phillips Mormon Stories interview on second anointing
- HANS AND BIRGITTA MATTSSON Mormon Stories
- Patriarchal blessing website:
- “Educated” Tara Westover book
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Join John Dehlin and Radio Free Mormon as we speak with Dan Vogel about his new book, “ Book of Abraham Apologetics: A Review and Critique” published by Signature Books.
Said to have been dictated by Joseph Smith as a translation of an ancient Egyptian scroll purchased in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1835, the Book of Abraham may be Mormonism’s most controversial scripture. Decades of impassioned discussion began when about a dozen fragments of Smith’s Egyptian papyri, including a facsimile from the Book of Abraham, were found in the New York Metropolitan Museum in 1966. The discovery solved a mystery about the origin of the Egyptian characters that appear in the various manuscript copies of the Book of Abraham from 1835, reproduced from one of the fragments. Some LDS scholars devised arguments to explain what seemed to be clear evidence of Smith’s inability to translate Egyptian. In this book, Dan Vogel not only highlights the problems with these apologetic arguments but explains the underlying source documents in revealing detail and clarity.
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Show Notes:
- Book of Abraham Apologetics: A Review and Critique by Dan Vogel
- Mormon Stories' interviews with Dan Vogel
- Mormon Stories' interviews with Dan Vogel on Book of Mormon origins
- Mormon Stories' interviews with Dan Vogel on Book of Mormon authorship
- "Mormon Origins Explained," Dan Vogel's YouTube channel
- Mormonism Live with Radio Free Mormon and Bill Reel
- Mormon Stories discussion with Radio Free Mormon about Book of Abraham scholarship
- Mormon Stories interview with Dr. Robert Ritner
- A Guide to the Joseph Smith Papyri by John Gee
- An Introduction to the Book of Abraham by John Gee
- Illustrations of Freemasonry by Capt. William Morgan
- A Reason for Faith: The Explanation-Defying Book of Abraham by Kerry Muhlstein
Join John Dehlin and Carah Burrell as they speak with John Larsen about the Gospel of Mark. In this episode we have John pull back the cover on the bible, what we can learn from the oldest gospels, and ask if the Mormon church as it currently stands is any different than the Pharisees of Christ’s day.
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Links and show notes:
- Mormon Expressions links: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/mormonexpression
- Thrive Unite links: https://www.thrivebeyondreligion.com/event/thrive-unite/
- David Bokovoy on Mormon Stories: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/david-bokovoy/
- Bart Ehrman on Mormon Stories: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/bart-ehrman/
- Life of Brian: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/
Mark your calendars! THRIVE is coming to a city near you! On January 22, 2022 up to 22 cities will be holding regional THRIVE events - dedicated to providing healing, support, and community for post-Mormons and post-religious people.
Participating cities currently include: Alberta, Canada, Phoenix, AZ, Provo, UT, Lehi, UT, Bristol, UK, Seattle, WA, Costa Mesa, CA, Houston, TX, Sacramento, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Idaho Falls, ID, Atlanta, GA, Portland, OR, and Albuquerque, NM.
Please join this brief episode to learn about each of the planned events, and how you can organize your own local THRIVE UNITE event in your city.
You can register for THRIVE UNITE here: https://www.thrivebeyondreligion.com/event/thrive-unite/
To organize your own local THRIVE UNITE event, email: thrivebeyondreligion@gmail.com.
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Anthony Magnabosco has been such a good sport all week taking us into the world of Street Epistemology and we are so thankful to our dedicated Mormon Stories listeners going on this journey with us! In this final interview, Carah and John decide to roleplay as believing Mormon parents and let Anthony play the part of the son who has lost their faith as he utilizes SE techniques in a way that helps soften the blow.
Show Notes:
- Street Epistemology links
- Anthony Magnabosco links
- Street Epistemology YouTube channel
- Anthony Magnabosco's YouTube channel
- The Complete Street Epistemology Guide
- Donate to Street Epistemology
- Anthony Magnabosco's interview with Marriage on a Tightrope
- Street Epistemology Facebook Study Group
- Street Epistemology Discord
- Street Epistemology Reddit
- Recovering From Religion
- The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
- A Manual for Creating Atheists by Peter Boghossian
- The "Friendly Atheist" blog by Hemant Mehta
- Richard Dawkins' debate with Brandon Flowers
- Street Epistemology International
- Mormon Stories interview with Shawn McCraney
- Another Mormon Stories interview with Shawn McCraney
- Heart of Matter podcast with Shawn McCraney
- Shawn McCraney's YouTube channel
- Anthony interviewing Mormon missionaries
- RFM vs. Midnight Mormons Debate, moderated by Shawn McCraney
- How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide by Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay
- Street Epistemology Facebook
- Street Epistemology Twitter
- How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion by David McRaney
- "You Are Not So Smart" podcast, with David McRaney
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Street Epistemology week continues with Anthony Magnabosco and special guest exMormon Christian pastor Shawn McCraney. After building the foundation of SE with episodes 1-3, in part 4, Shawn is kind enough to play our interlocutor as Anthony questions him about the roots of his religious beliefs. You’ll likely be very surprised with the way this interview progresses as Anthony does his best to display Street Epistemology in the Mormon Stories studio!
Show Notes:
- Street Epistemology links
- Anthony Magnabosco links
- Street Epistemology YouTube channel
- Anthony Magnabosco's YouTube channel
- The Complete Street Epistemology Guide
- Donate to Street Epistemology
- Anthony Magnabosco's interview with Marriage on a Tightrope
- Street Epistemology Facebook Study Group
- Street Epistemology Discord
- Street Epistemology Reddit
- Recovering From Religion
- The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
- A Manual for Creating Atheists by Peter Boghossian
- The "Friendly Atheist" blog by Hemant Mehta
- Richard Dawkins' debate with Brandon Flowers
- Street Epistemology International
- Mormon Stories interview with Shawn McCraney
- Another Mormon Stories interview with Shawn McCraney
- Heart of Matter podcast with Shawn McCraney
- Shawn McCraney's YouTube channel
- Anthony interviewing Mormon missionaries
- RFM vs. Midnight Mormons Debate, moderated by Shawn McCraney
- How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide by Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay
- Street Epistemology Facebook
- Street Epistemology Twitter
- How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion by David McRaney
- "You Are Not So Smart" podcast, with David McRaney
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
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Show Notes:
- Street Epistemology links
- Anthony Magnabosco links
- C.A.M.P.U.S. church
Anthony Magnabosco is back in the Mormon Stories studio for our third interview, this time discussing the fundamentals of Street Epistemology! We go over what people tend to say to believers that isn’t helpful, the ethical framework of SE such as informed content, and address criticisms of the method. We hope you enjoy this fascinating discussion and give us feedback if you decide to dive into learning Street Epistemology yourself!
Show Notes:
- Street Epistemology links
- Anthony Magnabosco links
- Street Epistemology YouTube channel
- Anthony Magnabosco's YouTube channel
- The Complete Street Epistemology Guide
- Donate to Street Epistemology
- Anthony Magnabosco's interview with Marriage on a Tightrope
- Street Epistemology Facebook Study Group
- Street Epistemology Discord
- Street Epistemology Reddit
- Recovering From Religion
- The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
- A Manual for Creating Atheists by Peter Boghossian
- The "Friendly Atheist" blog by Hemant Mehta
- Richard Dawkins' debate with Brandon Flowers
- Street Epistemology International
- Mormon Stories interview with Shawn McCraney
- Another Mormon Stories interview with Shawn McCraney
- Heart of Matter podcast with Shawn McCraney
- Shawn McCraney's YouTube channel
- Anthony interviewing Mormon missionaries
- RFM vs. Midnight Mormons Debate, moderated by Shawn McCraney
- How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide by Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay
- Street Epistemology Facebook
- Street Epistemology Twitter
- How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion by David McRaney
- "You Are Not So Smart" podcast, with David McRaney
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Today Mormon Stories is honored to talk with Anthony Magnabosco about his Catholic background, development of the Street Epistemology interviewing technique, and a discussion about the atheist community at large. We hope you enjoy this first-of-its-kind interview to get to know Anthony better and continue to join us all week long as we dive into the world of Street Epistemology!
Show Notes:
- Street Epistemology links
- Anthony Magnabosco links
- Street Epistemology YouTube channel
- Anthony Magnabosco's YouTube channel
- The Complete Street Epistemology Guide
- Donate to Street Epistemology
- Anthony Magnabosco's interview with Marriage on a Tightrope
- Street Epistemology Facebook Study Group
- Street Epistemology Discord
- Street Epistemology Reddit
- Recovering From Religion
- The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
- A Manual for Creating Atheists by Peter Boghossian
- The "Friendly Atheist" blog by Hemant Mehta
- Richard Dawkins' debate with Brandon Flowers
- Street Epistemology International
- Mormon Stories interview with Shawn McCraney
- Another Mormon Stories interview with Shawn McCraney
- Heart of Matter podcast with Shawn McCraney
- Shawn McCraney's YouTube channel
- Anthony interviewing Mormon missionaries
- RFM vs. Midnight Mormons Debate, moderated by Shawn McCraney
- How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide by Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay
- Street Epistemology Facebook
- Street Epistemology Twitter
- How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion by David McRaney
- "You Are Not So Smart" podcast, with David McRaney
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
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Show Notes:
- Street Epistemology links
- Anthony Magnabosco links
Mormon Stories is excited to be joined in studio each day this week by Anthony Magnabosco for an exciting introduction into the world of Street Epistemology!
In part 1, airing live, Carah and John play clips from Anthony's well-known YouTube channel where he practices Street Epistemology to give Mormon Stories listeners a feel for the technique Anthony, and others like him with "Street Epistemology International", use in conversations with various random people on the street to find out if they have good reasons to believe their claims.
Join us Monday at 11am mountain time for this introductory episode and don't miss our week of Anthony Magnabosco interviews!
Show Notes:
- Street Epistemology links
- Anthony Magnabosco links
- Street Epistemology YouTube channel
- Anthony Magnabosco's YouTube channel
- The Complete Street Epistemology Guide
- Donate to Street Epistemology
- Anthony Magnabosco's interview with Marriage on a Tightrope
- Street Epistemology Facebook Study Group
- Street Epistemology Discord
- Street Epistemology Reddit
- Recovering From Religion
- The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
- A Manual for Creating Atheists by Peter Boghossian
- The "Friendly Atheist" blog by Hemant Mehta
- Richard Dawkins' debate with Brandon Flowers
- Street Epistemology International
- Mormon Stories interview with Shawn McCraney
- Another Mormon Stories interview with Shawn McCraney
- Heart of Matter podcast with Shawn McCraney
- Shawn McCraney's YouTube channel
- Anthony interviewing Mormon missionaries
- RFM vs. Midnight Mormons Debate, moderated by Shawn McCraney
- How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide by Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay
- Street Epistemology Facebook
- Street Epistemology Twitter
- How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion by David McRaney
- "You Are Not So Smart" podcast, with David McRaney
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
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Show Notes:
- Street Epistemology links
- Anthony Magnabosco links
A strong trigger warning for the following episode for discussions around conversion therapy, descriptions of torture, anorexia, and suicide. Mormon Stories is honored to have conversion therapy survivor, suicide survivor, and LGBT+ advocate Nate Winterton on to tell their harrowing story. If you thought the days of Mormon electroshock torture were relics of the past, Nate recounts what they endured at the hands of an LDS “therapist” as recently as 2016. Growing up with enormous health challenges, Nate recognized feelings of same-sex attraction early on in their childhood.
We discuss Nate’s staunch commitment to the Mormon faith, anorexia while serving a mission, and Nate’s decision to confide in a bishop about their feelings for men, leading Nate to a house and a therapist that would change the course of their life.
Please practice self-care as you listen to this episode as we highlight the unfortunate reality that the practice of conversion therapy and torture to change the sexual orientation of gay Mormons continues still today.
Trigger warning on this episode*
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As part of our longstanding and undying commitment to organizational transparency, please join me for a spontaneous Q&A about Mormon Stories Podcast, the Open Stories Foundation, the THRIVE Foundation, and any other topic you want us to discuss! Please post your questions in the comments below!!!
This video was made primarily as a response to what we believe was an unprofessional and unbalanced inquiry into the THRIVE Foundation by Peggy Fletcher Stack and Tony Semerad of the Salt Lake Tribune.
This is my second attempt at a response. My first response was a little angrier than I wanted it to be (I'm calling that the "caffeinated version"), and so I am rerecording to invoke my wiser self ("decaffeinated version"). The substance will remain the same, although the slides are slightly improved.
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The holidays are among us! But if you're feeling like relationships with family and friends have fractured since your faith crisis and need help navigating sensitive topics, we invite you to join this important Mormon Stories episode with Margi, John and Carah.
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Show Notes:
- Facebook discussion of topic
- Instagram discussion of topic
- Youtube community discussion of topic
- Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
Friends! 🎁 Do you value Mormon Stories Podcast? 🎄 Please help us beat last year’s fundraising goal! Or if you’d prefer, Facebook may even match your donation! https://www.facebook.com/donate/321279426221728/
2021 has been an incredible year for Mormon Stories Podcast. Improvements include:
- We made significant investments in camera and lighting equipment (thanks Gerardo!).
- We brought on Carah Burrell as co-host and producer for the podcast.
- We launched a highly successful TikTok channel, and have increased our Instagram efforts to help reach new audiences.
- We have significantly grown our YouTube audience, and
- We’ve made strides in providing time codes and show notes/links on every episode as well as shorter clips available on our Understanding Mormonism YouTube channel to better disseminate our content and information.
We have major plans for 2022 and beyond! Help us beat last year's campaign, and thank you for all of your support!!!! And again, if you're not on Facebook, you can always donate here.
A strong trigger warning leads off this special Mormon Stories episode with our guest who prefers to be referred to as “Rachel '' for this interview. We discuss Rachel’s father being called as a mission president, the abuse she endured, and the subsequent cover-up from those in positions of power in the LDS church.
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Show notes:
- The LDS church's Gospel Topics Essays
- Mormon Stories episode with Matt Long
Is there space in the Mormon church for non-literal believers? Mormon Stories is joined today by Jon Westover, professor and former church apologist with FAIR Mormon to help us discover if the non-orthodox “middle way” is still a tenable path. We hope you enjoy hearing Jon’s story!
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Show notes:
- Ed Decker Mormon Stories interview
- Jon’s “Human Capital Innovations Podcast”
- Elder Packer General Conference remarks about same-sex attraction
- Why People Leave the Church Mormon Stories video
- Laurie Lee Hall Mormon Story
- John Dehlin vs Scott Gordon debate at UVU
- John Lynch MS interview
- Queer Mormon Theology Blair Osler
Sarah Edmondson and Nippy Ames are our guests for this epic Mormon Stories interview where we discuss their escape from the NXIVM cult. We discuss the similarities between NXIVM leader Keith Raniere and Joseph Smith, the secret societies that existed within the cult, and the tipping point that forced Sarah and Nippy to become a united front to take Keith down. We hope you’ll resonate with Sarah and Nippy’s fascinating and gripping story!
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Show notes and links:
- A Little Bit Culty podcast
- The Vow on HBO
- Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult That Bound My Life
- Don't Call it a Cult: The Shocking Story of Keith Raniere and the Women of NXIVM
- Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
- Holy Hell film
- Wild Wild Country
- Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control
Mormon Stories is honored to sit down with Cody Alan, host and producer of CMT Radio in Nashville, TN. In this fun and heartfelt interview, we discuss Cody's conversion to the LDS church as well as his suppression and acceptance of his gay identity. Cody shares so much wisdom with us and we hear some fun stories about his life in country radio and the musical artists who have supported him through this long and hard journey to come out. We hope you enjoy our interview with Cody and support him by purchasing a copy of his new book, "Hear's the Thing: Lessons on Listening, Life, and Love".
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Recently in a speech given at the University of Virginia, Mormon apostle Elder Dallin H. Oaks denied that Electroshock Therapy as a form of gay conversion therapy was used/studied during his tenure as president of Brigham Young University in the 1970s.
Join us on 11/18/2021 at 3pm (mountain) where we will discuss the history of Electroshock Therapy at BYU - and determine whether or not Dallin H. Oaks was being truthful when he denied that gay Electroshock therapy was used/studied at BYU during his time as BYU President. We will be joined by historian Connell O'Donovan and Kyle Ashworth.
Show Notes:
- Part 1 of Mormon Stories discussion about Oaks' visit to UVA
- "Going Forward with Religious Freedom and Nondiscrimination," address by Elder Dallin H. Oaks at the University of Virginia on November 12, 2021
- Q&A session (and partial transcript) with Dallin Oaks before the UVA address Latter Gay Stories podcast, hosted by Kyle Ashworth
- Mormon historian Connell O'Donovan
- "On The Record: A Chronology of LGBTQ+ Messaging," by Latter Gay Stories Affirmation LGBTQ Mormons, Family, and Friends
- Dallin H. Oaks’ bio
- "A Message to Young Men," Boyd K. Packer's "little factory" talk from 1976 General Conference, in which he compared sperm production to a factory as a way to discourage boys from masturbating
- A side-by-side comparison of the original vs. the Church-edited version of Hartman Rector's 1981 General Conference talk "Turning the Hearts"
- "Effect of Visual Stimuli in Electric Aversion Therapy," by Max Ford McBride, Psychology dissertation, Brigham Young University, 1976
- FAIR's response to electroshock and vomit aversion at BYU
- Legacies, BYU Electroshock Documentary, Gentile Pictures, 1996
Goodbye, I Love You by Carol Lynn Pearson - The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
- "The Abominable and Detestable Crime Against Nature: A Revised History of Homosexuality & Mormonism, 1840-1980," by Connell O'Donovan
- Dr. Allen Bergin apologizes for his role in carrying out electroshock aversion at BYU in the 1970s
- "Dallin Oaks says shock therapy of gays didn't happen at BYU while he was president. Records show otherwise," by Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, November 16, 2021
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
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Recently in a speech given at the University of Virginia, Mormon apostle Elder Dallin H. Oaks denied that Electroshock Therapy as a form of gay conversion therapy was used/studied during his tenure as president of Brigham Young University in the 1970s.
Join us on 11/18/2021 at 3pm (mountain) where we will discuss the history of Electroshock Therapy at BYU - and determine whether or not Dallin H. Oaks was being truthful when he denied that gay Electroshock therapy was used/studied at BYU during his time as BYU President. We will be joined by historian Connell O'Donovan and Kyle Ashworth.
Show Notes:
- "Going Forward with Religious Freedom and Nondiscrimination," address by Dallin Oaks at the University of Virginia on November 12, 2021
- Q&A session with Dallin Oaks prior to the UVA address
- Latter Gay Stories podcast, hosted by Kyle Ashworth
- Mormon Stories interview with Hannah Comeau
- Hunter et. al. v. the United States Department of Education
- The Religious Exemption Accountability Project
- "School of Law event with Dallin Oaks draws protest from Lambda Law Alliance," by Merrill Hart, The Cavalier Daily, November 16, 2021
- "On The Record: A Chronology of LGBTQ+ Messaging," by Latter Gay Stories
- Mormon Stories interviews with Greg Prince
- "Principles to Govern Possible Public Statement on Legislation Affecting Rights of Homosexuals," Statement by Dallin Oaks on August 7, 1984
- "Dallin Oaks says shock therapy of gays didn't happen at BYU while he was president. Records show otherwise," by Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, November 16, 2021
- Church statement denouncing conversion therapy---insofar as it involves "abusive practices" and allowing a "religious exemption" to the ban
- A screenshot of the 2012 Church website "Mormon and Gay"
- Another screenshot of the 2012 Church website "Mormon and Gay"
- In 2016, the name, tone, and content of the “Mormon and Gay” website were changed.
- "The Popular Myth of the Victimless Crime," by Dallin H. Oaks, Brigham Young University Press, 1974
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
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MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
What happens when two closeted lesbian Mormon women marry men, have children, then cross paths and fall in love? In this very special Mormon Stories 2 part episode, we are honored to share one of the most important interviews in the history of the podcast. This is the story of Lena Schwen and Sal Osborne. In part 1, Sal describes dating in high school, feeling as though part of her died as she married a man in the LDS temple, and struggling with her ex-husband and band mate as they toured in the group “Love You Long Time”. Lena, a teenage convert from a divorced Catholtic Italian home, takes us through the heartbreaking events that led to her conversion into the LDS church. Lena has a truly unique story and fascinating perspectives from the eyes of a convert! We end part one with Lena realizing that raising children with the values taught by the LDS church made her feel like her time being a dedicated Mormon wife was running out. We hope you’ll tune in to part 2 to hear how these two amazing women overcame enormous hurdles to become the couple they are today!
Show Notes:
- Wipeout, Season 2 Episode 8, Sal and her former husband were the winners
- Sal and her husband's band, Love You Long Time
- Sal's Instagram for coaching LGBTQ people who are coming out
- Peace Out podcast hosted by Sal Osborne
- Lena's holistic nutrition business
- Mormon Stories interview with Tyler Glenn
- Mormon Stories interview with Wayne and Alex Sermon
- Lesbians Who Look Like Justin Bieber
- The Principles of Healthy Sexuality, with Natasha Helfer, on Mormon Stories
- Mormon Stories interview with Tom Phillips
- Letter for My Wife
- Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's "Art of Desire" workshops
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World
- Testimonies and Spiritual Experiences Across Religions - Emotions are Not Reliable to Discern Truth
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
—————
MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
What happens when two closeted lesbian Mormon women marry men, have children, then cross paths and fall in love? In this very special Mormon Stories 2 part episode, we are honored to share one of the most important interviews in the history of the podcast. This is the story of Lena Schwen and Sal Osborne. In part 1, Sal describes dating in high school, feeling as though part of her died as she married a man in the LDS temple, and struggling with her ex-husband and band mate as they toured in the group “Love You Long Time”. Lena, a teenage convert from a divorced Catholtic Italian home, takes us through the heartbreaking events that led to her conversion into the LDS church. Lena has a truly unique story and fascinating perspectives from the eyes of a convert! We end part one with Lena realizing that raising children with the values taught by the LDS church made her feel like her time being a dedicated Mormon wife was running out. We hope you’ll tune in to part 2 to hear how these two amazing women overcame enormous hurdles to become the couple they are today!
Show Notes:
- Wipeout, Season 2 Episode 8, Sal and her former husband were the winners
- Sal and her husband's band, Love You Long Time
- Sal's Instagram for coaching LGBTQ people who are coming out
- Peace Out podcast hosted by Sal Osborne
- Lena's holistic nutrition business
- Mormon Stories interview with Tyler Glenn
- Mormon Stories interview with Wayne and Alex Sermon
- Lesbians Who Look Like Justin Bieber
- The Principles of Healthy Sexuality, with Natasha Helfer, on Mormon Stories
- Mormon Stories interview with Tom Phillips
- Letter for My Wife
- Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's "Art of Desire" workshops
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World
- Testimonies and Spiritual Experiences Across Religions - Emotions are Not Reliable to Discern Truth
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
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MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Join us this Wednesday at noon as Luna Corbden, Marc Oslund, Gerardo, and John discuss the Mormon Church's efforts to use the psychological theory of inoculation to pre-expose the youth to weakened versions of the troubling history through an updated CES and Sunday School curriculum.
"... Please, before you send them into the world, inoculate your students by providing faithful, thoughtful, and accurate interpretation of gospel doctrine, the scriptures, our history, and those topics that are sometimes misunderstood.
The effort for gospel transparency and spiritual inoculation through a thoughtful study of doctrine and history, coupled with a burning testimony, is the best antidote we have to help students avoid and/or deal with questions, doubt, or faith crises they may face in this information age."
M. Russell Ballard, February 26, 2016
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts/article/evening-with-a-general-authority/2016/02/the-opportunities-and-responsibilities-of-ces-teachers-in-the-21st-century?lang=eng
Show Notes:
- Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Examining Mormon Mind Control" with Luna Lindsey Corbden on Mormon Stories
- Mormon Stories interview with Marc Oslund
- M. Russell Ballard's February 2016 CES Employees Devotional encouraging "inoculation"
- "Sister to Sister," 2019 BYU Women's Conference
- "Youth Need 'Inoculation' Against the World," by Melissa Merrill, Ensign, 2004
- "Will You Engage in the Wrestle?" a 2016 devotional by Sheri Dew at BYU-Idaho
- "Doctrinal Mastery," a 2016 Seminary training by Chad H. Webb
- Mormon Stories' interview with Sandra Tanner
- "Boys Need Heroes Close By," by President Spencer W. Kimball at General Conference 1976
- Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men by Lundy Bancroft "Freedom or Captivity," by Matthew Flitton, Ensign, 2018
- "Dispelling the Illusion of Invulnerability: The Motivations and Mechanisms of Resistance to Persuasion," by BJ Sagarin, et. al., Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2002
- Marc Oslund's Instagram
- Luna Cordben's Twitter
- Luna Corbden's website
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James Jesse Strang (March 21, 1813 – July 9, 1856) was an American religious leader, politician and self-proclaimed monarch. In 1844 he claimed to have been appointed to be the successor of Joseph Smith as leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite),[a] a faction of the Latter Day Saint movement. Strang testified that he had possession of a letter from Smith naming him as his successor, and furthermore reported that he had been ordained to the prophetic office by an angel. His organization is claimed by his followers to be the sole legitimate continuation of the Church of Christ founded by Joseph Smith fourteen years before. (Source: Wikipedia)
Show notes:
- Mormon Expression with John Larsen
- "Worst Regional Conference Ever," with John Larsen on Mormon Stories
- King of Beaver Island: The Life and Assassination of James Jesse Strang by Roger Van Noord
- Joseph Smith's "Letter of Appointment" to James Strang
- Images of the Voree Plates
- The Book of the Law of the Lord, Strang's translation of the Vorhee Plates
- The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power by D. Michael Quinn
- The Manipulated Mind: Brainwashing, Conditioning, and Indoctrination by Denise Winn
- By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion by Terryl L. Givens
- Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- Mormon Stories' interview with Luna Lindsey Corbden
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THRIVEDAY is 11 days away! The speaker lineup and music are epic.
Also, we have added a reception/open bar/karaoke night on 11/13 at 7pm. I'd love to party with you all!
Our only goals are to: 1) Inspire and give Ex-Mormons hope and healing, and 2) Help Ex-Mormons find friends and community.
Please come if you are seeking any of this. Would love to see you there!
Registration is here!
https://www.thrivebeyondreligion.com/event/thrive-day-2021
John Dehlin has never been so lucky!
He’s joined today by the folks who have been dubbed “The Britvengers”, a collection of progressive and post Mormons who all have one thing in common, they’re British!
They will be discussing what is being called “The British Rescue”. On Halloween Weekend 3 Senior Apostles are coming and addressing the UK membership. Is this a rescue?
The Britvengers are:
- Nemo the Mormon https://www.youtube.com/c/NEMOTHEMORMON
- Peter Bleakley https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNYIeulcLs85NLINDyxzHQQ
- 21st Century Saints https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLESyNtVAdYF52HVt5Cu-Ew
- Laura & Julian Heath https://www.facebook.com/groups/143828186747679
- Priesthood Dispatches https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx5yNRufseSR_JxYC8GJ2iA
Show Notes:
- 21st Century Saints Podcast
- 21st Century Saints' interview with John Dehlin
- Mormon Civil War Podcast
- Sunstone UK
- Priesthood Dispatches blog and podcast
- Nemo the Mormon Podcast
- Zelph on the Shelf
- "Remembering the Swedish Rescue" on Mormon Stories
- Mormon Stories' interview with Douglas Stilgoe
- Mormon Stories' interview with Tom Phillips about the Second Anointing
- "Leaders and Managers," Address by Hugh Nibley at BYU in 1983
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Mormon Stories is honored to welcome American historian and author Newell Bringhurt on the podcast to discuss the life of Fawn Brodie, author of “No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith”. We discuss Newell’s biography of Fawn Brodie, her life as niece of LDS prophet David O. McKay, her faith, her influences to write one of the most influential books in Mormon history, and its reception by the church.
Show notes:
- Fawn Brodie: A Biographer's Life by Newell Bringhurst
- No Man Knows My History by Fawn M. Brodie
- "Appraisal of the So-Called Brodie Book," Anonymous, Deseret News, May 11, 1946
- "A Lesson from Dandy," by David O. McKay, 1968 General Conference
- No, Ma'am, That's Not History: A Brief Review of Mrs. Brodie's Reluctant Vindication of a Prophet She Seeks to Expose by Hugh Nibley
- "Can We Manipulate the Past?" Address by Fawn Brodie at the University of Utah in 1967
- "The Manipulation of History," by Marvin S. Hill, Dialogue:A Journal of Mormon Thought, Fall 1970
- Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Lyman Bushman
- Newell Bringhurst's review of Rough Stone Rolling
- "My 'Affair' with Fawn Brodie: Motives, Pain, and Pleasure," by Newell G. Bringhurst, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Fall 2002
- Other books by Newell Bringhurst
- Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History by Fawn M. Brodie
- Mormonism Unveiled: The Life and Confession of John D. Lee and Brigham Young by John D. Lee
- The Mountain Meadows Massacre by Juanita Brooks
- David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism by Gregory A. Prince
- "The Private vs. The Public David O. McKay: Profile of a Complex Personality," by Newell G. Bringhurst, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Fall 1998
- Thaddeus Stevens: Scourge of the South by Fawn M. Brodie
- The Devil Drives: A Life of Sir Richard Burton by Fawn M. Brodie
- Brigham Young and the Expanding American Frontier by Newell G. Bringhurst
- Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet by Dan Vogel
- Brigham Young: American Moses by Leonard J. Arrington
- In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith by Todd M. Compton
- Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith by Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery
- Early Mormonism and the Magic Worldview by D. Michael Quinn
- Mormon Stories' interview with Richard Bushman
- The American Religion by Harold Bloom
- An Insider's View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer
- Saints, Slaves, and Blacks: The Changing Place of Black People within Mormonism by Newell G. Bringhurst
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Join us with Australian geneticist Simon Southerton as we break down with Australian geneticist Simon Southerton the Heartland model of Book of Mormon geography which proposes that the events described in the Book of Mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of North America. The main proponent of this model, Rodney Meldrum, and his followers have been described as a "movement" that could transform the LDS Church.
Simon will explain how one of the main pieces of "evidence" that the FIRM enterprise promotes is built on a single questionable claim which Meldrum has been making for over 15 years even after being corrected by several non-Mormon scientists, Simon himself, FairMormon, and LDS scholars at BYU, including Ugo Perego.
Show Notes:
- "The fight over Book of Mormon Geography," by Michael DeGroote, Deseret News, May 27, 2010
- “An Outsider’s View of Mormon Archaeology with Dr. Michael Coe” on Mormon Stories
- “LIDAR, Response to John Sorenson, and the Book of Mormon with MesoAmerican Archaeologist Dr. Michael Coe” on Mormon Stories
- Dean Sessions' Universal Model
- Rod Meldrum's FIRM Foundation (Foundation for Indigenous Research and Mormonism)
- "How Heartland Began and Continues," by Rod Meldrum with input from Rian Nelson
- "Civilizations Lost and Found: Fabricating History," by Deborah A. Bolnick, et. al., Book of Mormon Archeological Foundation, 2012
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 - Kennewick Man: The Scientific Investigation of an Ancient American Skeleton by Douglas W. Owsley
- Face of a Nephite: DNA Studies and the Book of Mormon by David Read
- Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church by Simon G. Southerton
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Join us today for an important discussion! In this special Mormon Stories live stream, Carah Burrell is honored to talk with excommunicated Mormon sex therapist Natasha Helfer to discuss the criticism of her found in Cwic Media’s video about her disciplinary council. Natasha and Carah plan to go point by point to address various accusations about her intentions and hopefully foster a better understanding of what constitutes healthy sexuality for people in and out of the LDS church.
Show Notes:
- GetMormonHelp.com/Symmetry Solutions
- Mormon Sex Info podcast, hosted by Natasha Helfer
- Six Principles of Sexual Health
- Greg Matsen's YouTube video, "Natasha Helfer Disciplinary Council Explained"
- Natasha Helfer's writings on masturbation:
"My Official Stance on Masturbation," Patheos, August 6, 2012
"Neither a Sin nor a Transgression," Sunstone Magazine, November 28, 2015 - "A Parent's Guide," The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Anti-pornography campaign “Fight the New Drug”
- The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists
- The Mormon Mental Health Association (secular, but LDS culturally competent)
- The Association of Latter-day Saint Counselors and Psychotherapists (practitioners must agree to follow the Church's teachings)
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Join Margi, John, and Carah as Margi discusses the Conscious Parenting model, and how it can help with parenting “when all else fails.”
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Show notes and links:
- The Conscious Parent book
- The Awakened Family: How to Raise Empowered, Resilient, and Conscious Children book
- Out of Control book
- Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis – Conscious Parenting After a Religious Faith Transition
- Staying Grounded Mormon Stories episode with Margi
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr
- Eckhart Tolle podcast series with Oprah
Please join us as John and Gerardo respond to a recent interview on the Mayim Bialik's Breakdown podcast where David Archuleta shared his experience being Mormon and gay.
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Show notes:
- David's interview with Mayim Bialik
- A Little Book of Ace by Clara Dehlin
- Let’s learn about asexuality and aromanticism with Clara Dehlin
- David Talks about Elder Holland’s comments
- Tabernacles of Clay
- Matt Easton MS Interview
- Centennial Commons Petition
- "On The Record" from Latter Gay Stories
- THRIVEDAY
McKay ‘Spartacus’ Johnson is our guest today for this fantastic two-part Mormon Stories interview. Carah Burrell takes the reins again as lead interviewer as we talk to McKay about battling a “Nephi complex” growing up, early exposure to pornography, and his mission to Brasil where he describes being groomed by his mission companion and sexually assaulted. It’s an intense and undercover topic and we thank McKay for coming on the podcast to share his experience being a male sexual assault survivor.
In part two, McKay tells us about what it was like to heal from his mission and deconstruct the homophobic ideas he carried with him after his assault. Eventually getting married and divorced, we discuss with McKay what happened the night he confessed to his wife he had been occasionally viewing pornography and what can be done in Mormon culture to shift the unhelpful and counterproductive labeling of men like McKay. McKay is also a talented TikToker and musician, so we are happy he could find time to take a break from playing rock god to join us on Mormon Stories and we hope you’ll support him wherever his talents take him!
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault.
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Show notes:
- @Spartacus_Unchained on TikTok
- Healthier approaches to porn and masturbation
- @ExMoLex on TikTok
- @ExMormonMindy on TikTok
- @NuanceHoe on TikTok
- SuitUpSoldier.com
McKay ‘Spartacus’ Johnson is our guest today for this fantastic two-part Mormon Stories interview. Carah Burrell takes the reins again as lead interviewer as we talk to McKay about battling a “Nephi complex” growing up, early exposure to pornography, and his mission to Brasil where he describes being groomed by his mission companion and sexually assaulted. It’s an intense and undercover topic and we thank McKay for coming on the podcast to share his experience being a male sexual assault survivor.
In part two, McKay tells us about what it was like to heal from his mission and deconstruct the homophobic ideas he carried with him after his assault. Eventually getting married and divorced, we discuss with McKay what happened the night he confessed to his wife he had been occasionally viewing pornography and what can be done in Mormon culture to shift the unhelpful and counterproductive labeling of men like McKay. McKay is also a talented TikToker and musician, so we are happy he could find time to take a break from playing rock god to join us on Mormon Stories and we hope you’ll support him wherever his talents take him!
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault.
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Show notes:
- @Spartacus_Unchained on TikTok
- Healthier approaches to porn and masturbation
- @ExMoLex on TikTok
- @ExMormonMindy on TikTok
- @NuanceHoe on TikTok
- SuitUpSoldier.com
Today we discuss Mormon Temples, the prosperity gospel, and the Mormon church's use of social media influencers to promote its temple work. Feel free to post your comments, experiences, and questions below!
Show Notes:
- Graph showing temple growth under Russell M. Nelson
- Racially insensitive murals inside the Mesa, Arizona, temple
- Mormon Stories' interview with Laura Schnell
- Jenny Komenda's Instagram
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What questions are on your mind this week? Do you have something you've been wanting to ask? What queries have you, our dear Mormon Stories listeners? Tell us! Join John and Carah for a live stream as we chat, answer your questions, and hit the hot topics of the week in the Mormon/post-Mormon realm.
Show notes:
- Register for upcoming Thrive events
- Mormon Stories' interview with Marc Oslund
- Mormon Stories' interview with Paul Toscano
- Mormon Stories' interview with Margaret Toscano
- Mormon Stories' interview with Steven Hassan
- Mormon Stories' interview with Luna Corbden
- New York Post article about "soaking"
- Allan Mount's TikTok
- Mormonism Live
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*PO Box 171085
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On September 12 Franklin Richards, a member of the 12 and his travel companions caught up with the Willie handcart company. They held a conference in which they insulted and ridiculed the company for their lack of faith. The GAs then said they wanted fresh meat. They made the company slaughter their "fattest calf" which they did and the GAs took the meat with them.
A member of the 12 literally took provisions from the Willie handcart company.
In the podcast we will give the basic background of the handcart trek, how the Lord's anointed were absolutely trash, and then discuss how the worst failure of Mormon History is celebrated widely every year.
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Show notes:
- "Devil's Gate: Brigham Young and the Great Mormon Handcart Tragedy" by David Roberts
- John Larsen's Reddit Thread
As Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow face indictments and/or allegations for multiple murders (e.g., Chad's wife Tammy, Lori's husband Charles, Lori's brother Alex, Lori's children JJ and Tylee) - many believing LDS church members (i.e. "Mormons") have taken issue with the suggestion that Mormon beliefs played any role in these murders.
Today we conclude our 2-part series exploring the Mormon influences on Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow. Our guests for today are Lauren and John Matthias - co-hosts of the Hidden True Crime podcast. I am also super happy to be joined today by my dear, brilliant friend Mindy Caldwell, who has followed the Daybell/Vallow case very closely over the past few years.
Please join us with your questions and comments.
Hidden: A True Crime Podcast explores the hidden motives behind unimaginable crimes, while examining our deepest fears along the way. Join us on a journey into the darkest recesses of the human mind and the unconscious motivations that drive human behaviors, both good and bad, in order to understand the world and ourselves. Pull up a chair at our dinner table as the husband and wife team of Dr. John Matthias, a forensic psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, a journalist, delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes. What are you hiding? What are you hiding from? What remains hidden?
- Hidden True Crime YouTube channel
- Hidden True Crime's Patreon
- Tips, clues, or other contact
Show Notes:
- The Second Comforter: Conversing with the Lord Through the Veil by Denver Snuffer
- A Greater Tomorrow: My Journey Beyond the Veil by Julie Rowe
- Lauren's full interview with "Girl on Fire"
- Visions of Glory: One Man's Astonishing Account of the Last Days by John Pontius
- Mormon Stories' interview with Matt Harris about the rise of the Mormon right-wing
- Early Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn
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*PO Box 171085
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As Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow face indictments and/or allegations for multiple murders (e.g., Chad's wife Tammy, Lori's husband Charles, Lori's brother Alex, Lori's children JJ and Tylee) - many believing LDS church members (i.e. "Mormons") have taken issue with the suggestion that Mormon beliefs played any role in these murders.
Today we begin Part 1 in a series exploring the Mormon influences on Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow. Our guests for today are Lauren and John Matthias - co-hosts of the Hidden True Crime podcast. I am also super happy to be joined today by my dear, brilliant friend Mindy Caldwell, who has followed the Daybell/Vallow case very closely over the past few years.
Please join us with your questions and comments.
Hidden: A True Crime Podcast explores the hidden motives behind unimaginable crimes, while examining our deepest fears along the way. Join us on a journey into the darkest recesses of the human mind and the unconscious motivations that drive human behaviors, both good and bad, in order to understand the world and ourselves. Pull up a chair at our dinner table as the husband and wife team of Dr. John Matthias, a forensic psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, a journalist, delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes. What are you hiding? What are you hiding from? What remains hidden?
- Hidden True Crime YouTube channel
- Hidden True Crime's Patreon
- Tips, clues, or other contact
Show Notes:
- The Second Comforter: Conversing with the Lord Through the Veil by Denver Snuffer
- A Greater Tomorrow: My Journey Beyond the Veil by Julie Rowe
- Lauren's full interview with "Girl on Fire"
- Visions of Glory: One Man's Astonishing Account of the Last Days by John Pontius
- Mormon Stories' interview with Matt Harris about the rise of the Mormon right-wing
- Early Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
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*PO Box 171085
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Join us for this extra special Mormon Stories Podcast interview with Thomas & Cici Stokes (@big.crick.music on TikTok) as we hear the story of their faith journey, and listen to some of Thomas' original music that helped them heal throughout their faith transition.
Show notes:
- Thomas and Sierra's TikTok
- Thomas' songs on his Bandcamp page
- Thomas' Instagram
- Thomas' Spotify:
- Thomas' Apple Music
- Sierra's Instagram
- Cody Merrell, Utah County therapist who works with faith crises
- You Are Not So Smart documentary series
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*PO Box 171085
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Join us for this extra special Mormon Stories Podcast interview with Thomas & Cici Stokes (@big.crick.music on TikTok) as we hear the story of their faith journey, and listen to some of Thomas' original music that helped them heal throughout their faith transition.
Show notes:
- Thomas and Sierra's TikTok
- Thomas' songs on his Bandcamp page
- Thomas' Instagram
- Thomas' Spotify:
- Thomas' Apple Music
- Sierra's Instagram
- Cody Merrell, Utah County therapist who works with faith crises
- You Are Not So Smart documentary series
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
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Parallel to the LDS Church’s shifting position regarding homosexuality, there have been new crops of faithful gay public figures who are held up by the church as role models on how to be a faithful gay member of the church. As the LDS Church has softened its stances and opened the window for “righteous celibacy,” gay public figures in mixed-orientation marriages have lost popularity and a more nuanced breed of celibate role models has emerged E.g. Charlie Bird and Ben Schilatty.
In this episode we discuss how these public figures enable the perpetuation of harmful church rhetoric and spiritual trauma towards the LGBTQ community, and explore some possible solutions that could help ignite positive change in the church.
Show notes:
- Mormon Stories' interview with Gerardo Sumano
- Mormon Stories' interview with Kyle Ashworth
- Tyler's review of “Without the Mask”
- “Without the Mask: Coming Out and into God’s Light” by Charlie Bird
- "Coming Out Mormon: An Examination of Religious Orientation, Spiritual Trauma, and PTSD Among Mormon and Ex-Mormon LGBTQQA Adults" by Brian William Simmons
- "Navigating Sexual and Religious Identity Conflict: A Mormon Perspective" by John Dehlin
- “Believer” - HBO documentary
- "Psychosocial Correlates of Religious Approaches to Same-Sex Attraction: A Mormon Perspective" by John Dehlin
- "Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, Identity Conflict, and Psychosocial Health Amongst Same-Sex Attracted Mormons" By John Dehlin
- “Tabernacles of Clay: Sexuality and Gender in Modern Mormonism” by Taylor G. Petrey
- “Gay Rights and the Mormon Church: Intended Actions, Unintended Consequences” by Gregory Prince
- "The Aftermath of Prop 22" by Alan Hansen and Nadine R. Hansen (Sunstone Magazine; January 2001)
- Netflix documentary “Pray Away”
- Voices of Hope
- Court testimony about nude cuddling and abusive practices during conversion therapy
- “A Walk in My Shoes: Questions I'm Often Asked as a Gay Latter-day Saint” by Ben Schilaty
- Questions From the Closet podcast, hosted by Charlie Bird and Ben Schilaty
- "A Chronology of LGBTQ+ Messaging" Latter Gay Stories podcast, hosted by Kyle Ashworth
- Mormon Stories' interview with Matt Easton
- "Sexual Orientation Change Efforts Among Current or Former LDS Church Members" by John Dehlin
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How many of Joseph Smith’s revelations were a success and how many have the church needed to redefine overtime? Today we are honored to have John Larsen in studio for an epic breakdown of Joseph Smith’s revelation for the “Lamanites”, calling Elders to preach to the Native Americans and the subsequent ramifications of Latter-Day Saint teachings for Native American people.
Show Notes:
- Help John Larsen crowd source info for an upcoming episode: https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/ptibmm/john_larsen_mormon_stories_jaredite_barge_thread/
- Lamanite Truth website
- Thrive website
- Mormon Stories episode Native American Mormon Women and the Lamanite Myth
- Tribe by Sebastian Junger
- The Joseph Smith Revelations Text and Commentary (Michael Marquardt)
- Encyclopedia of Mormonism
- Mormon Stories: Indian Placement Program
- The Book of Mormon's 19th Century Context - John Hamer
- Exterminate all the Brutes on HBO
- O Stop and Tell Me Red Man Hymn
- Latest Issue of Dialogue Journal focusing on Native Americans
- Original Title Page to Book of Mormon
- D&C 3: 19-20
- D&C 28:8
- D&C 30:5-6
- A Mission to the Lamanites
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*PO Box 171085
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Lauren Rogers is our guest today for this epic two-part Mormon Stories interview. After suffering through a restrictive diet, harassment, and medical neglect on her Mormon mission to Chile, Lauren found herself permanently disabled as she made her way back home to the US.
In part two, Lauren also tells us about the same-sex attraction she repressed throughout her life as a devout Mormon and descendant of Brigham Young, eventually leading to an extremely fascinating exit from the church and a wildly eye-opening description of how she continues a healthy relationship with her husband.
It’s a gripping story from start to finish! Even Lauren’s shelf breaker and realizations about God might be a first-ever for Mormon Stories! We hope you’ll resonate with Lauren’s incredible, epic story!
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Show Notes:
- Lauren’s Tiktok
- Ted Lyon MS episode
- Gospel topics essays
- Matt Harris Mormon Stories episode
- Eldon Kartchner
- Josh and Lilly Weed
Lauren Rogers is our guest today for this epic two-part Mormon Stories interview. After suffering through a restrictive diet, harassment, and medical neglect on her Mormon mission to Chile, Lauren found herself permanently disabled as she made her way back home to the US.
In part two, Lauren also tells us about the same-sex attraction she repressed throughout her life as a devout Mormon and descendant of Brigham Young, eventually leading to an extremely fascinating exit from the church and a wildly eye-opening description of how she continues a healthy relationship with her husband.
It’s a gripping story from start to finish! Even Lauren’s shelf breaker and realizations about God might be a first-ever for Mormon Stories! We hope you’ll resonate with Lauren’s incredible, epic story!
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—————
Show Notes:
- Lauren’s Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exmo_mom_?lang=en
- Ted Lyon MS episode: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/missionary-sexual-assault/
- Gospel topics essays: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/essays?lang=eng
- Matt Harris Mormon Stories episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmjj2kbxFnQ
- Eldon Kartchner - https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/eldon-kartchner-mixed-orientation-marriage/
- Josh and Lilly Weed: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/josh-and-lolly-weed-on-their-love-story-mixed-orientation-marriages-and-ldslgbt-issues/
We are starting a new series on Mormon Stories Podcast dedicated to reporting on current events. Today Carah and John will be discussing the recent announcement that the Mormon church has agreed to pay out $250 million dollars to help settle all current and future BSA-related sexual abuse claims.
- Washington Post Coverage
- Associated Press Coverage
- Deseret News Coverage
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In this episode, John and Carah sit down with therapist Natasha Helfer to discuss a few of the negative messages people raised in religious conservative community may have been conditioned to believe about sex.
Show notes:
- Natasha’s website
- Happy Healthy Sexuality FB Group for Mormon Women
- Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters - and How to Get It by Laurie Mintz
- Natasha’s Mormon Stories interview about her own story
- John and Natasha Ms episode on a new approach to masturbation and porn
- Ghost of Eternal Polygamy by Carol Lynn Pearson
- Happy Healthy Sexuality FB Group for Mormon Women
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Join us as we continue with part 2 of our interview with Camille Jones where we discuss her employment with the LDS church, the role of women in the patriarchal church employment system, and what eventually caused her to lose her faith in Mormonism.
A huge ‘thank you’ to Camille for being brave enough to tell us her story! Camille’s journey is a fascinating one to say the least!
Show notes:
- CES Letter
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Are Mormon missionaries who lead tours at historic church sites like those across upstate New York told to teach false information about the church’s founding? Mormon Stories producer and co-host Carah Burrell takes the reins for her second episode as lead interviewer of our guest Camille Jones as we talk with her about serving in Palmyra, New York at the LDS church’s visitor center.
In part one of our two-part interview with Camille, we discuss the narrative the church wants to be forwarded about the church’s founding versus what Camille wishes she would have known while volunteering as a full-time missionary. We cover topics from the golden plates, to the Hill Cumorah, and more. Camille also discusses the confusing and uncomfortable advances older Mormon men have made on her throughout her teen years.
This eye-opening experience highlighted the power imbalance between Mormon men and women, a theme that carries on into part 2 where Camille discusses being employed by the church.
Show notes:
- Ghost of Eternal Polygamy by Carol Lynn Pearson
- What Progressive Mormons Want with Julienna Viegas-Haws
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Join Margi, John, and Carah as we discuss different approaches to telling loved ones about your loss of faith. Please share questions, lessons you've learned, and suggestions in the comments below.
This episode is part of our new "Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis" project on Mormon Stories Podcast, where we will share tips and tricks for navigating, healing, and growth after a Mormon faith crisis.
If you would like to see this sort of content continue, please become a monthly donor to the project.
Show Notes:
- Faith Crisis Resources
- Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- Conscious Parenting
- The Holistic Psychologist
- Beauty in the Now website
- Leah and Cody Young renegotiate their marriage "contract" after a faith crisis
- Books by Esther Perel
- “From Fear Into Joy,” Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young on Mormon Stories
- “A Teen’s Perspective on Faith Transition,” Brinley Young on Mormon Stories
- “The Excommunication of Leah and Cody Young,” on Mormon Stories
- “A Tribute to Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young After Their Excommunication from the Mormon Church,” on Mormon Stories
- John Dehlin's TED Talk "The Ally Within":
- Street Epistemology
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Join Margi, John, and Carah as we discuss different approaches to telling loved ones about your loss of faith. Please share questions, lessons you've learned, and suggestions in the comments below.
This episode is part of our new "Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis" project on Mormon Stories Podcast, where we will share tips and tricks for navigating, healing, and growth after a Mormon faith crisis.
If you would like to see this sort of content continue, please become a monthly donor to the project.
Show Notes:
- Faith Crisis Resources
- Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- Conscious Parenting
- The Holistic Psychologist
- Beauty in the Now website
- Leah and Cody Young renegotiate their marriage "contract" after a faith crisis
- Books by Esther Perel
- “From Fear Into Joy,” Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young on Mormon Stories
- “A Teen’s Perspective on Faith Transition,” Brinley Young on Mormon Stories
- “The Excommunication of Leah and Cody Young,” on Mormon Stories
- “A Tribute to Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young After Their Excommunication from the Mormon Church,” on Mormon Stories
- John Dehlin's TED Talk "The Ally Within":
- Street Epistemology
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MSP on Spotify
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MSP Blog
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*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Join Margi, John, and Carah as we discuss different approaches to telling loved ones about your loss of faith. Please share questions, lessons you've learned, and suggestions in the comments below. This episode is part of our new "Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis" project on Mormon Stories Podcast, where we will share tips and tricks for navigating, healing, and growth after a Mormon faith crisis.
If you would like to see this sort of content continue, please become a monthly donor to the project.
Show Notes:
- Faith Crisis Resources
- Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- Conscious Parenting
- The Holistic Psychologist
- Beauty in the Now website
- Leah and Cody Young renegotiate their marriage "contract" after a faith crisis
- Books by Esther Perel
- “From Fear Into Joy,” Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young on Mormon Stories
- “A Teen’s Perspective on Faith Transition,” Brinley Young on Mormon Stories
- “The Excommunication of Leah and Cody Young,” on Mormon Stories
- “A Tribute to Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young After Their Excommunication from the Mormon Church,” on Mormon Stories
- John Dehlin's TED Talk "The Ally Within":
- Street Epistemology
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We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
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MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
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*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Are you looking for friends and community after leaving Mormonism or organized religion? The THRIVE initiative seeks to do just that - provide events, content, and community for people leaving Mormonism and/or organized religion.
Prior to the COVID outbreak, considerable momentum was made with THRIVE in the organizing of events for post-Mormons, and in the formation of live, face-to-face communities. THRIVE leaders Jeni and Clint Martin are now excited to announce several new exciting THRIVE initiatives which include:
- A revamped website with new functionality.
- A THRIVE events calendar to keep you informed of upcoming events.
- Instructions for how you can organize your own THRIVE events.
- An "in -person community locator" to help you find a local, face-to-face support communities, and
- Instructions for creating your own face-to-face community if one doesn't exist in your area.
We will also discuss future plans for THRIVE.
_________________
THRIVE WEBSITE:
https://www.thrivebeyondreligion.com/
Online groups/resources:
WACA (Women of a Certain Age)
Faith Journey Meetups fb group
Ex Mormon Reddit
Mormon Stories facebook group
Mormon Enlightenment facebook group
Mormon Spectrum
Faith Crisis Resources:
https://www.mormonstories.org/faith-crisis-resources/
Natasha’s events
https://www.symmetrysols.com/events
_________________
In our final segment with Laura Schnell, she describes her faith deconstruction, responds to criticisms, and expresses the immense beauty she’s found rediscovering her own voice as a post-Mormon woman.
Show notes and links:
- Laura’s Instagram
- “Why the Church is as True as the Gospel” Eugene England
- “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion” Gregory Boyle
- “Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype” Clarissa Pinkola Estés
- “Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage To Stand Alone” Brené Brown
When we left off with Laura Shnell at the end of part one, Laura had decided to pursue a career in the LDS Church Education System as a seminary teacher. In this episode, we hear her describe the inappropriate interactions from her mentor, the great lengths Laura went to for her Spanish speaking seminary students, and the sexism she faced as a woman working for CES.
Show notes and links:
- Laura’s Instagram
- LDS church’s Gospel Topics Essays
- The Charted Course of the Church in Education
In part one of this exciting three part interview, Colombian immigrant and former Mormon seminary teacher, Laura Schnell, shares her very unique Mormon story. Laura left South America with her mother and sister in the 90s to Queens, New York, and remembers her time in their small Spanish speaking LDS branch with fondness.
In this episode, she discusses her step-dad joining the family, her time in India with BYU’s International Development Program, and the road she took to choosing a career in the Church Educational System and meeting a friend of the podcast, Marc Oslund.
Show notes and links:
- Laura’s Instagram
- Godly Sorrow video
- Latter-day Labia
- Pioneers in Petticoats
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Show Notes:
- Simon Southerton on evidence of LDS membership decline and the Church covering it up
- John Larsen’s Mormon Expressions
- The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- "The Biggest Lie About the Mormon Church, by Jacob Hess, Meridian Magazine, Sept. 8, 2021
- Mormon Stories' response to Jacob Hess
Part 1
Part 2 - Secular Buddhism podcast
- Cwic Media
- Mormon Stories' panel, Finding Spirituality After Mormonism
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
- Communicating with the Church Leadership, Ward Members, and Neighbors During and After a Mormon Faith Crisis
- Communicating with Children During a Faith Transition
- Recording of 2019 Thrive Retreat
- Mormon Stories' interview with polygamist Anne Wilde
- Mormon Stories interview with Lance Allread, grandson of a polygamous leader
- Mormon Stories interview with Luna Corbden on mind control in the Mormon Church
- Lindsay Hansen Park's podcast Year of Polygamy
- Radio Free Mormon
- Mormonism Live with Radio Free Mormon and Bill Reel
- Marriage on a Tightrope with Allan and Kattie Mount
- Thinker of Thoughts by Jonathan Streeter
- Dan McClellan's TikTok channel
- Chelsea Homer's Faith Journey Meetups (private group; apply to join)
- Kim Sandberg Turner's Women of a Certain Age (send her a private message on Facebook for more info)
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Have you ever found yourself reacting in unhelpful ways to the distress that accompanies a religious faith crisis (or life in general)?
Margi Dehlin has spent two decades supporting and/or coaching Mormons in faith crisis, post-Mormons, and women experiencing significant life transitions.
As part of a new series on Mormon Stories Podcast providing free coaching support to transitioning and post-Mormons, Margi will share her general approach to managing the emotional distress that often accompanies a religious faith crisis. Her framework will be based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which is a cutting-edge form of mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Show Notes:
- Donate to "The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis" Podcast
- Calm App
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In April of 2019 Brigham Young University valedictorian Matt Easton came out as a faithful gay Mormon during his valedictorian address, which was pre-approved by the LDS Church. Matt's speech received very positive national media attention, including an appearance on the Ellen Show. Matt is currently attending U.C. Berkeley as a Political Science Ph.D. student.
Last week, Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland publicly "called out" Matt Easton, accusing him of "commandeering" the 2019 graduation ceremony. His exact words were:
"If a student commandeers a graduation podium intended to represent everyone getting diplomas in order to announce his personal sexual orientation, what might another speaker feel free to announce the next year until eventually anything goes? What might commencement come to mean — or not mean — if we push individual license over institutional dignity for very long? Do we simply end up with more divisiveness in our culture than we already have? And we already have too much everywhere."
Please join us on August 29, 2021 at 1:30pm Utah time as Matt Easton shares with us his Mormon story, and responds to Elder Holland's irresponsible attacks.
Show Notes:
- Matt Easton's Valedictorian address.
- Matt's appearance on Ellen.
- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's BYU Speech attacking Matt
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As most Mormons are just now beginning to learn, Joseph Smith left multiple and varied First Vision accounts that changed dramatically over time. Joseph Smith's 1st handwritten First Vision account was produced in 1832, and was intentionally hidden from LDS Church members for over a century and a half - primarily because of the many problems it presented to orthodox belief. The "official" First Vision account that the LDS Church ended up adopting is the 1838 version, which varies in several significant ways from the previous versions - primarily reflecting Joseph Smith's evolving theological beliefs.
Join us today as John Larsen analyzes Joseph Smith's FIRST (1832) handwritten First Vision account, and explores the many difficulties this version presents to modern Mormon faith.
Show notes:
- Joseph Smith Papers
- MormonThink
- IRR.org
- Mormon Infographics
- Letter for my Wife
- Mormon Stories
- Really good comparison chart
- Wilford Wood museum
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Wrapping up our epic three part interview with the Laing family, Heather and Kelly detail the path of love and acceptance they took while deconstructing their faith in the Mormon god’s plan for families. We hope you’ll resonate with their description of uncovering troubling Mormon history, growing closer as a family, and realizing none of them are broken, least of which their two gay sons.
Show notes:
- Kelly’s TikTok channel
- Mark E Petersen Chastity pamphlet
- Church News Article on Laing family
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What happens when two sons in a Mormon military family come out as gay? In part two of our interview with the Laing family, we talk with Britton and Mason Laing about the unique struggles they faced, what it was like coming out, and their advice for other gay teens.
Show notes:
- Kelly’s TikTok channel
- Mark E Petersen Chastity pamphlet
- Church News Article on Laing family
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Batten down the hatches and prepare for an epic Mormon Stories interview like you’ve never heard before! Part of what is often called “the Silent Service”, former nuclear submarine commander, Kelly Laing and his family, finally speak out. We dive deep in this three part interview and hear from Heather and Kelly Laing, followed by two of their four children, Britton and Mason, in part 2.
In this episode, we discuss Heather and Kelly’s courtship as teens, the road Kelly took into the military, and the ways they kept their family and love life afloat.
Show notes:
- Kelly’s TikTok channel
- Mark E Petersen Chastity pamphlet
- Church News Article on Laing family
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On August 23, 2021 Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland spoke to staff at Brigham Young University during the first day of the institution's 2021 university conference. During his speech Elder Holland condemned: 1) a recent BYU valedictorian for "coming out" as gay during his graduation commencement address, 2) a recent uptick in LGBTQ-affirming demonstrations at BYU, and 3) a recent surge in LGBTQ support by BYU students and faculty. His comments appear to be in response to a corresponding surge in concerns expressed by orthodox ultra conservative/Deznat-affirming LDS church adults who are concerned that BYU is becoming to LGBTQ affirming (descending into "Babylon"). During his speech Elder Holland invoked war metaphors, including the statement, "I am grateful we have scholars today who can handle, as it were, both trowels and muskets.”
Today we will talk with Kyle Ashworth (host of Latter-Gay Stories Podcast) and Gerardo Sumano about the recent events. The main topic will be: is the LDS Church losing control over LGBTQ support at BYU and church-wide?
Show notes:
- Kyle's Mormon Stories interview: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/when-a-gay-mormon-man-marries-a-woman-kyle-ashworth-pt-1/
- Gerardo's Mormon Stories interview: https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/a-mexican-mormon-story-gerardo/
- Latter Gay Stories: https://lattergaystories.org/
- Color the Campus: https://www.instagram.com/colorthecampus/?hl=en
- Encircle: https://encircletogether.org/
- Affirmation: https://affirmation.org/
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Today Mormon Stories is lucky enough to be joined by the wonderful Jessie Funk! For anyone familiar with the music of the youth seminars held by the LDS church known as “EFY”, singer Jessie Funk’s name should ring a bell. After Jessie’s career touring with the broadway musical “Footloose”, releasing several studio albums and books, starting her organization “The Ivy Foundation”, and raising her two children, she recently changed tunes, choosing to leave the Mormon church.
We are excited to speak with Jessie about her Mormon upbringing, career (in and outside of the church), her faith crisis, and her new venture “Especially for Truth”, a week-long summer seminar for post-Mormon teens. Wrapping up her first “EFT” event last week where John and Carah were invited as guest speakers, we hope powerhouse Jessie Funk joining the post-Mormon activist space will be music to your ears!
Show Notes:
- Especially for Truth website:
- Jessie’s Especially for Truth TikTok
- Jessie’s Especially for Truth Instagram
- Top Youth Speakers
- Clark Johnson Mormon Stories interview
- Whitney Houston Documentary
- Poverty Inc
- Tom Phillips Mormon Stories interview
- Leah and Cody Young Mormon Stories interview
- Marriage on a Tightrope Allan and Kattie Mount
- Encircle
- 7 Cups Counseling
- Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis website
- Mormon Enlightenment FB
- Mormon Stories FB group
- Faith Journey Meetups FB
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*PO Box 171085
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In Friday's Mormon Stories Podcast episode, beloved podcaster Radio Free Mormon shares with us his reflections on how he transitioned from a Mormon apologist to a non-believer and critic of the LDS Church.
Please join us with your questions and comments!
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Geneticist Simon Southerton was serving as an Australian Mormon bishop when he discovered through DNA research that Native Americans were not descendants of Israelites (as the Book of Mormon teaches), but instead were descendants of Asians via the Bering Strait. This researched caused Simon to lose his faith in Mormonism. He is the author of a book on the subject called “Losing a Lost Tribe.”
Recently Simon has been studying the declining growth in the worldwide LDS or Mormon church. Simon will join us on Mormon Stories Podcast to discuss his research into Mormon church decline.
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Join us today for a conversation with Dr. Robert P. Mildenhall, MD (an ICU pulmonary physician from Nashville, Tennessee) as he answers questions about his experience with Covid-19 and the vaccine.
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Over the past few days the Intensive Care Units in Utah hospitals and around the U.S. began to overflow with COVID patients. Reports began to emerge that as high as 99% of the ICU patients and deceased were not vaccinated from COVID. In addition, the LDS Church First Presidency released a new announcement a few days ago urging members to be vaccinated. This announcement has caused many vaccine-hesitant LDS church members to question their faith in the LDS church, and/or in LDS Church president Russell M. Nelson. The announcement also has spurned several interesting conspiracy theories. There has also been a variety of responses from local LDS bishops, stake presidents, and members - from supportive to unsupportive.
On August 17th between 9am and 10am mountain time please join us as we assemble a panel of physicians and experts to discuss the status of the COVID vaccine in the U.S., in Utah, and in the LDS Church. The conversation will avoid politics, will be science-based, and we will take questions from the viewing audience.
Please join us, and please spread the word.
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Is there a double standard at BYU when divvying out punishments to athletes vs students who break the honor code? Mormon Stories producer and co-host Carah Burrell takes the reins on this intense episode as lead interviewer of our guest Kelly Trust as we take a deep dive into answering that question! Finally feeling freed from the constraints that kept her quiet for too long, Kelly describes the confusing, unhealthy sexual messages around her body that plagued her youth, the relationship with a star BYU athlete that led to her expulsion from the school while the player stayed, and the faith crisis that ensued after reading the CES Letter.
Content warning on this episode for strong sexual themes and profanity.
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate!
Links and show notes:
Honor Code Stories Instagram:
CES Letter:
“Leaving the Saints” by Marth Beck:
“Braving the Wilderness” by Brene Brown:
Instagram:
One of our most popular Mormon Stories guests is back with wonderfully salient advice for post-Mormon growth! Leah, along with her husband Cody and daughter Brinley, told their story to John during an epic multi-part Mormon Stories series on their faith transition and excommunication in 2019. In this episode, Leah shares seven lessons she’s learned while rebuilding a meaningful life for herself and her family. So many good takeaways in this episode! We hope you’ll find it valuable, share it, come back to it more than once during different life stages, and comment on what lessons you’ve learned along your journey as well.
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate!
Links and show notes:
Mormon Stories #1044: Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young - From Fear Into Joy (Part 1) Pt. 1:
Mormon Stories #1098: The Excommunication of Leah and Cody Young Pt. 1:
Mormon Stories #1048: Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young - A Teen's Perspective on Faith Transition Pt. 1:
Balanced Living with Leah website:
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma:
“She Let It Go” poem:
Email Leah: balancedlivingwithleah@gmail.com
Active Listening the Kids Perspectives:
Leah’s courses:
Leah’s instagram:
Our guest today is Brinley Young, daughter of Leah and Cody young, a family famous for telling their story to John during an epic multi-part Mormon Stories series on their faith transition and excommunication back in 2019 when Brinley was just 15 years old. Now 18, post-faith crisis, and with wisdom beyond her years, Brinley joins John and Margi in studio for 7 lessons she’s learned after leaving the church on topics ranging from communication, owning her sexuality, and following her intuition. This is a special one you won’t want to miss!
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate!
Links and show notes:
Mormon Stories 1044: Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young - From Fear Into Joy (Part 1) Pt. 1
Mormon Stories 1098: The Excommunication of Leah and Cody Young Pt. 1
Mormon Stories 1048: Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young - A Teen's Perspective on Faith Transition Pt. 1
"Untamed" by Glennon Doyle
Please join us as three Native American women, Sarah, Ann, and Monika who were raised in the Mormon church, discuss the following:
- What they were taught about the "Lamanite doctrine" as Native American Mormon women.
- How the Mormon Lamanite doctrine impacted their lives, especially while finding a partner.
- How their perspectives have changed regarding the Mormon Lamanite doctrine.
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate!
Links and show notes:
- Lamanitetruth.com
- Monika's article in The Exponent "My Apology for My Complicity"
- For anyone that wants to be a part of Native American/Indigenous exMormon monthly group chat on Zoom, contact Sarah Newcomb through the Lamantie Truth page on Facebook.
- Sarah's essay is contained in this book entitled "Where Grandmother Walked"
- BYU Devotional Sarah referenced calling Polynesians more blessed (20:36)
- Ann's facebook video
- Monika's TikTok
- Donate to the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
- Donate to Navajo Strong
- Donate to Eve's Place
- Donate to Collective Medicine
- Donate to The Manuelito Navajo Children’s Home
Join our panel as we discuss the question: Will Mormons Get Their Own Planets? Featuring Jaxon Washburn, Nemo the Mormon, John Dehlin, and Carah Burrell.
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate!
Links and show notes:
Nemo the Mormon YouTube channel
Jaxon's TikTok
Trigger warning for our viewers as we bring you a special short episode on this under-covered topic. In a follow-up to our Mormon Stories interview with Kelceymarie, we go further in-depth on the issue of self-harm. How to view it, understand it, and find help. Kelceymarie Warner is a mental health advocate and graduate student getting her second masters in clinical mental health counseling. Kelceymarie has connected with hundreds of thousands through her books, journals, and TikTok by opening up about her struggles with depression, anxiety, self harm, suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders.
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate!
Links and show notes:
Kelceymarie’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kelceymariewarner?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelceymariewarnertiktok/
Kelceymarie’s Linktree to resources, book, etsy, etc: https://linktr.ee/kelcemariewarner
"The Sparrow’s Box” Site: https://www.thesparrowsbox.com/shop
A strong trigger warning leads off this important interview, but we hope you’ll be able to join us as we hear from mental health advocate Kelceymarie Warner. As a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling, Kelceymarie has connected with hundreds of thousands through her books, journals, and TikTok by opening up about her struggles with depression, anxiety, self harm, suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders.
Converting to the church as a teen, Kelceymarie found peace from her dysfunctional home life by attending church. We discuss the pros and cons of Mormonism in her life, the control and abuse that lead to the end of her temple marriage, and advice for those struggling hard to overcome life’s challenges who’ve turned to self-harm as a coping mechanism. This is a special one!
Show notes:
- Kelceymarie’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kelceymariewarner?lang=en
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelceymariewarnertiktok/
- Kelceymarie’s Linktree to resources, book, etsy, etc: https://linktr.ee/kelcemariewarner
- Website “The Sparrow’s Box”: https://www.thesparrowsbox.com/shop
Warren Driggs is a part-time attorney and author of several books including “Mormon Boy: A Memoir” and “Swimming in Deep Water, A Novel of Joseph Smith”. In this delightful interview, we sit down with Warren and his wife Cindy as they take us through the different fascinating ways their families raised them in Salt Lake City ranging from orthodox Mormons to casual, but intellectual, members of the church.
Listen along as they share their hilarious stories, impart beautiful insights, and the lessons they learned raising moral children after leaving the religion they loved in the heart of Mormon Mecca.
Show notes:
“Mormon Boy: A Memoir” by Warren Driggs https://www.amazon.com/Mormon-Boy-Memoir-Warren-Driggs/dp/0998779547
“Swimming in Deep Water, A Novel of Joseph Smith” by Warren Driggs https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0779G53GP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i2
“A Tortoise in the Road” by Warren Driggs https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XPV5MDC/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1
“Old Scratch” by Warren Driggs https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y5YMLF5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i3
“No Man Knows My History” by Fawn Brodie https://www.amazon.com/No-Man-Knows-My-History/dp/0679730540/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=no+man+knows+my+history&qid=1626237620&sr=8-1
Today we are excited to sit down with legend, John Larsen. After ending his wildly popular Mormon Expression podcast, having John in studio is an honor as we steep in his humor and knowledge. We hit on some of our favorite important topics like the “curse of Cain'' while also bouncing around in the absurdity of Big Foot.
You will laugh, you might cry, but you will absolutely not be disappointed in this episode!
Content warning: PG-13 rating for profanity
Show notes:
Mormon Expression: How to Build a Transoceanic Vessel
-MP3: http://johnlarsen.org/podcast/Archive/MormonExpression276.mp3
-Text: https://gdoc.pub/doc/e/2PACX-1vRh7CxIlETHNYtH5jk0MXsWc5FVChckAUODY2QDGjLCjDGYWFgzOlGq1JORs4EZsbDzh63DvdShYNU1
"An Enemy Hath Done This" by Ezra Taft Benson: https://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Hath-Done-This/dp/0884941841
"The Church & The Negro - A Discussion of Mormons, Negros and the Priesthood" by John Bezos: https://www.amazon.com/CHURCH-NEGRO-Discussion-Mormons-Priesthood/dp/B000W1N72K
Join us today as we continue with part two of our interview with an awesome mother and daughter duo, Linda and Savannah Clyde. Growing up in a mixed-faith Mormon home, Linda worked through the resentment she felt towards her father’s lack of belief in the church with beautiful results. Linda’s talents as a writer eventually landed her a job at LDS church headquarters in the marketing department where she was instrumental in assisting the church soften it’s tone and messaging. Hearing her talk about the inner workings of the church is fascinating stuff to say the least! Once an extremely faithful teenager, Linda’s daughter Savannah’s curious spirit led her to dig deeper into the narrative of the church and become a new kind of pioneer for her Mormon family.
Listen along as they describe their journey to understanding one another, their non-Mormon loved ones, and the beauty that can come from embracing non-conformity as a family in Utah county.
Today we’re premiering part one of our epic interview with an awesome mother and daughter duo, Linda and Savannah Clyde. Growing up in a mixed-faith Mormon home, Linda worked through the resentment she felt towards her father’s lack of belief in the church with beautiful results. Linda’s talents as a writer eventually landed her a job at LDS church headquarters in the marketing department where she was instrumental in assisting the church soften it’s tone and messaging. Hearing her talk about the inner workings of the church is fascinating stuff to say the least! Once an extremely faithful teenager, Linda’s daughter Savannah’s curious spirit led her to dig deeper into the narrative of the church and become a new kind of pioneer for her Mormon family.
Listen along as they describe their journey to understanding one another, their non-Mormon loved ones, and the beauty that can come from embracing non-conformity as a family in Utah county.
In September of 2020, professional Mormon apologists Terryl and Fiona Givens were invited to speak at a Mormon church fireside for the Sunderland England Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During this fireside Terryl Givens was asked to recount an experience he once had with a Mormon missionary woman who was doubting her testimony because of troubling things she learned about Mormon church founder Joseph Smith, Terryl's recounting of the story was as follows:
"I was fortunate that there was a mission president in our area who knew us and our work. And there was a sister missionary who decided that she was going to leave the church. She was finishing her mission the next week and she'd made the decision to go home and leave. And her companion of course deeply distraught over this and asked the mission president "Could we go talk to brother Givens?" And he gave them permission to come and stay as long as they needed so they stayed long into the night. And I listened to one after another question and then finally it occurred to me to ask this one question. And I said to her in regard to one question in particular about Joseph Smith, and I said "Sister" I said, "Why does the answer to that question matter?" And it changed everything. It just caught her up short. And she thought for a minute and she said, "I don't know" (Terryl chuckles). "I don't know."
Many (including myself) were disturbed by Terryl Givens' story/response - particularly since it was directed at currently doubting Mormon church members. We were primarily puzzled, shocked, and somewhat disturbed that the Mormon church's leading professional apologist - who has spent many years writing books for, and speaking/ministering to doubting Mormons - would provide such a glib and seemingly uninformed response. That said, we understand that belief issues are complex, and take Terryl at his word that he sincerely does not understand why troubling aspects of Mormon history, including newly-discovered details about Joseph Smith's life, would matter to a questioning or doubting Mormon.
Consequently, I am launching a new social media campaign with which I could use your help. The goal of the campaign is to help educate Terryl, Fiona, other Mormon Church apologists, and the Mormon church leadership about as to why "Informed Consent" is crucial to both active Mormons and Mormon investigators.
Luna Corbden is the author of "Recovering Agency - Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control." In this multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast series, Lindsey employs the tools of social psychology to identify ways in which the Mormon church uses various coercive techniques often associated with high demand religions (also referred to as cults).
Throughout the series we will be asking, "In what ways does the Mormon church behave in ways similar to other high demand religions (or cults), and what can it do to become less cult-like?" The primary goal of this series is to help people raised within the Mormon Church unpack and separate their own identity from church doctrine and policies. In their book. Luna explores 31 different mind control techniques used by high demand religions generally, and by the Mormon church specifically.. In Part 5, we will cover the final set of methods (of the 31 in total): Indirect Directives, Identification & Example, Induced Phobias, Trace Induction & Dissociative States, Euphoria Induction, and Proselytizing.
Luna Corbden (who also writes as Luna Lindsey) was born into the LDS Church and left the faith in 2001, at age 26. They now live in Washington state and write about topics of interest to them, including psychology, mind control, culture, and autism. They also write science fiction and fantasy novels, and write short stories for speculative fiction publications like the Journal of Unlikely Entomology, Crossed Genres, and the Recognize Fascism anthology. When they're not busy traveling to improbable worlds, they're thinking hard about this improbable world.
Luna's book can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Recovering-Agency-Lifting-Mormon-Control/dp/1489595937
Show Notes:
- Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Ideas on Singularity and Post-Human Intelligence," by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "The Psychology of Religion with Dr. James Nagel," Mormon Stories
- "What the Mormon Church Can Learn from Cults to Do/Be Better," Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
- "How to Help a Loved One Who Believes in QAnon," Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
- Combating Cult Mind Control: The Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults by Steven Hassan
- Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A study of "brainwashing" in China by Robert Jay Lifton
- A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance by Leon Festinger
- Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out, and Starting Over by Janja Lalich
- Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias
- Captive Hearts, Captive Minds: Freedom and Recovery from Cults and Other Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias
- Cults in Our Midst: The Continuing Fight Against Their Hidden Menace by Margaret Thaler Singer
- Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse by Michael Langone
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini
- International Cultic Studies Association
- When Prophecy Fails by Leon Festinger
- "Obedience Brings Blessings," Thomas S. Monson, General Conference April 2013
- "An Open Letter to Students: On Having Faith and Thinking for Yourself," by C. Terry Warner, New Era, November 1971
- "Using Our Free Agency," by Delbert L. Stapley, Ensign, May 1975
- Losing My Mind Bit by Bit: A Story of Mormon Motherhood by Pam Kazmaier
- "Be Not Deceived," Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference October 2004
- The Jonestown "Death Tape" (CW: Disturbing content)
- Mormon Stories interview with Mike Rinder
- John Dehlin on Scientology: Fair Game with Leah Remini and Mike Rinder
- The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
- "The negative impact of perfectionism among Mormons," by Kristine Doty-Yells, Utah State University 2013
- "If Thou Art Faithful," Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference October 1984
- "Listening to Shame," Brené Brene Brown TEDTalk, March 2012
- "The Power of Vulnerability," Brené Brown, TEDTalk, June 2010
- "Social rejection shares somatosensory representations with physical pain," Ethan Kross, et. al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2011
- "The pain of social rejection," by Kirsten Weir, Monitor on Psychology, 2012
- Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves by Steven Hassan
- Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs by Steven Hassan
- Thinker of Thoughts with Jonathan Streeter
- "Undue Influence in General Conference," with Jonathan Streeter and Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Fellowshipping: A Priesthood Responsibility," Lesson 10, Duties and Blessing of the Priesthood Manual
- The Pattern of Double-Bind in Mormonism by Marion Stricker
- Coercive Persuasion: A Socio-psychological Analysis of the "Brainwashing" of American Civilian Prisoners by the Chinese Communists by E.H. Schein
- "Put Off the Natural Man and Come Off Conqueror," Neal A. Maxwell, General Conference October 1990
- "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect," Boyd K. Packer address at BYU in 1981
- "The Rise and Fall of BH Roberts with Shannon Caldwell Montez," Mormon Stories
- "The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1912 with Shannon Caldwell Montez," Mormon Stories
- No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie
- Influence: Science and Practice by Robert Cialdini
- "Full Conversion Brings Happiness," Richard G. Scott, General Conference April 2002
- "Trial of Your Faith," Neil L. Andersen, General Conference October 2012
- "Striving for Perfection," Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, Ch. 21
- "As Good As Our Bond," Sheldon F. Child, General Conference April 1997
- "LDS Church leaders cut mic when young girl talks about being gay"
- "Pure Testimony," M. Russell Ballard, General Conference October 2004
- "How Do I Help People Make and Keep Commitments?" Preach My Gospel, Ch. 11
- "The Atonement," Gospel Principles, Ch. 12
- The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
- "Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise," Boyd K. Packer, General Conference October 1994
- "The Lifespan of a Lie: The most famous psychology study of all time was a sham. Why can't we escape the Stanford Prison Experiment?" by Ben Blum
- Street Epistemology
- The Godmakers: A Shocking Expose of What the Mormon Church Really Believes by Ed Decker
Film
Book - "Make Peer Pressure a Positive Experience," The Presidents of Church Teachers Manual Ch. 19
- Under the Influence by John Goldhammer
- Spiritual Perversion by Steve Sanchez
- "The How and Why of Faith-Promoting Stories," by Bruce R. McConkie, New Era, 1978
- "Obedience to Law is Liberty," L. Tom Perry, General Conference April 2013
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Suddenly Strangers by Brad and Chris Morin
- "Gaining a Testimony Through the Holy Ghost," Family Home Evening Resource Book, Ch. 16
- The Mormon Cult: A Former Missionary Reveals the Secrets of Mormon Mind Control by Jack B. Worthy
- Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- Saintspeak: The Mormon Dictionary by Orson Scott Card
- "Let Mercy Temper Justice," Theodore M. Burton, General Conference October 1985
- "The Fable of the Camel," by Spencer W. Kimball
- Origin of the "Camel's Nose" story
- "Temptation," by Rulon G. Craven, Ensign, May 1996
- Camilla: A Biography of Camilla Eyring Kimball by Caroline Miner
- "Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments," Asch, S. E., Groups, leadership and men; research in human relations, 1951
- "Attacks on peripheral versus central elements of self and the impact of thought reforming techniques," Ofshe, R., et. al., Cultic Studies Journal, 1986
- "Mormon Women, Prozac, and Therapy," by Kent Ponder
- "For the Strength of Youth"
- Motivational Interviewing Values Cards
- Mixed Emotions Oracle Cards by Petra Martin and Kris Wiltse
- Cults 101: Checklist of Cult Characteristics by Janja Lalich and Michael Langone
- “The Noble Calling of Parents,” Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay Ch. 16
- "The Governing Ones," William R. Bradford, General Conference October 1979
- "A New Aristocracy," by James E. Faust, Ensign, November 1974
- "The Essential Role of Grief in a Mormon Faith Crisis," The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
- Russell M. Nelson on Facebook saying members will be persecuted for their beliefs
- "Balancing Church History," by Steven E. Snow, New Era, June 2013
- "The Mormon Moment," by Walter Kirn, Newsweek, June 5, 2011
- Gordon B. Hinckley 1967 quote on virtue (original source has been removed from the Church's online archives)
- Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith by Martha Beck
- "Q&A: There is something in my past that I know I should confess to the bishop," New Era, October 1989
- Luna's Twitter
- Luna's Facebook
- Luna's website
—————
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
—————
MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Luna Corbden is the author of "Recovering Agency - Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control." In this multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast series, Lindsey employs the tools of social psychology to identify ways in which the Mormon church uses various coercive techniques often associated with high demand religions (also referred to as cults).
Throughout the series we will be asking, "In what ways does the Mormon church behave in ways similar to other high demand religions (or cults), and what can it do to become less cult-like?" The primary goal of this series is to help people raised within the Mormon Church unpack and separate their own identity from church doctrine and policies. In their book. Luna explores 31 different mind control techniques used by high demand religions generally, and by the Mormon church specifically.
In Part 4, we will cover the 4rd set of methods (of the 31 in total): Dispensing of Existence, Social Pressure, Elitism, Us-vs-Them Thinking, Double-Bind, and Confession.
Luna Corbden (who also writes as Luna Lindsey) was born into the LDS Church and left the faith in 2001, at age 26. They now live in Washington state and write about topics of interest to them, including psychology, mind control, culture, and autism. They also write science fiction and fantasy novels, and write short stories for speculative fiction publications like the Journal of Unlikely Entomology, Crossed Genres, and the Recognize Fascism anthology. When they're not busy traveling to improbable worlds, they're thinking hard about this improbable world.
Luna's book can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Recovering-Agency.../dp/1489595937
Show Notes:
- Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Ideas on Singularity and Post-Human Intelligence," by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "The Psychology of Religion with Dr. James Nagel," Mormon Stories
- "What the Mormon Church Can Learn from Cults to Do/Be Better," Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
- "How to Help a Loved One Who Believes in QAnon," Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
- Combating Cult Mind Control: The Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults by Steven Hassan
- Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A study of "brainwashing" in China by Robert Jay Lifton
- A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance by Leon Festinger
- Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out, and Starting Over by Janja Lalich
- Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias
- Captive Hearts, Captive Minds: Freedom and Recovery from Cults and Other Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias
- Cults in Our Midst: The Continuing Fight Against Their Hidden Menace by Margaret Thaler Singer
- Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse by Michael Langone
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini
- International Cultic Studies Association
- When Prophecy Fails by Leon Festinger
- "Obedience Brings Blessings," Thomas S. Monson, General Conference April 2013
- "An Open Letter to Students: On Having Faith and Thinking for Yourself," by C. Terry Warner, New Era, November 1971
- "Using Our Free Agency," by Delbert L. Stapley, Ensign, May 1975
- Losing My Mind Bit by Bit: A Story of Mormon Motherhood by Pam Kazmaier
- "Be Not Deceived," Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference October 2004
- The Jonestown "Death Tape" (CW: Disturbing content)
- Mormon Stories interview with Mike Rinder
- John Dehlin on Scientology: Fair Game with Leah Remini and Mike Rinder
- The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
- "The negative impact of perfectionism among Mormons," by Kristine Doty-Yells, Utah State University 2013
- "If Thou Art Faithful," Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference October 1984
- "Listening to Shame," Brené Brene Brown TEDTalk, March 2012
- "The Power of Vulnerability," Brené Brown, TEDTalk, June 2010
- "Social rejection shares somatosensory representations with physical pain," Ethan Kross, et. al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2011
- "The pain of social rejection," by Kirsten Weir, Monitor on Psychology, 2012
- Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves by Steven Hassan
- Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs by Steven Hassan
- Thinker of Thoughts with Jonathan Streeter
- "Undue Influence in General Conference," with Jonathan Streeter and Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Fellowshipping: A Priesthood Responsibility," Lesson 10, Duties and Blessing of the Priesthood Manual
- The Pattern of Double-Bind in Mormonism by Marion Stricker
- Coercive Persuasion: A Socio-psychological Analysis of the "Brainwashing" of American Civilian Prisoners by the Chinese Communists by E.H. Schein
- "Put Off the Natural Man and Come Off Conqueror," Neal A. Maxwell, General Conference October 1990
- "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect," Boyd K. Packer address at BYU in 1981
- "The Rise and Fall of BH Roberts with Shannon Caldwell Montez," Mormon Stories
- "The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1912 with Shannon Caldwell Montez," Mormon Stories
- No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie
- Influence: Science and Practice by Robert Cialdini
- "Full Conversion Brings Happiness," Richard G. Scott, General Conference April 2002
- "Trial of Your Faith," Neil L. Andersen, General Conference October 2012
- "Striving for Perfection," Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, Ch. 21
- "As Good As Our Bond," Sheldon F. Child, General Conference April 1997
- "LDS Church leaders cut mic when young girl talks about being gay"
- "Pure Testimony," M. Russell Ballard, General Conference October 2004
- "How Do I Help People Make and Keep Commitments?" Preach My Gospel, Ch. 11
- "The Atonement," Gospel Principles, Ch. 12
- The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
- "Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise," Boyd K. Packer, General Conference October 1994
- "The Lifespan of a Lie: The most famous psychology study of all time was a sham. Why can't we escape the Stanford Prison Experiment?" by Ben Blum
- Street Epistemology
- The Godmakers: A Shocking Expose of What the Mormon Church Really Believes by Ed Decker
Film
Book - "Make Peer Pressure a Positive Experience," The Presidents of Church Teachers Manual Ch. 19
- Under the Influence by John Goldhammer
- Spiritual Perversion by Steve Sanchez
- "The How and Why of Faith-Promoting Stories," by Bruce R. McConkie, New Era, 1978
- "Obedience to Law is Liberty," L. Tom Perry, General Conference April 2013
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Suddenly Strangers by Brad and Chris Morin
- "Gaining a Testimony Through the Holy Ghost," Family Home Evening Resource Book, Ch. 16
- The Mormon Cult: A Former Missionary Reveals the Secrets of Mormon Mind Control by Jack B. Worthy
- Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- Saintspeak: The Mormon Dictionary by Orson Scott Card
- "Let Mercy Temper Justice," Theodore M. Burton, General Conference October 1985
- "The Fable of the Camel," by Spencer W. Kimball
- Origin of the "Camel's Nose" story
- "Temptation," by Rulon G. Craven, Ensign, May 1996
- Camilla: A Biography of Camilla Eyring Kimball by Caroline Miner
- "Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments," Asch, S. E., Groups, leadership and men; research in human relations, 1951
- "Attacks on peripheral versus central elements of self and the impact of thought reforming techniques," Ofshe, R., et. al., Cultic Studies Journal, 1986
- "Mormon Women, Prozac, and Therapy," by Kent Ponder
- "For the Strength of Youth"
- Motivational Interviewing Values Cards
- Mixed Emotions Oracle Cards by Petra Martin and Kris Wiltse
- Cults 101: Checklist of Cult Characteristics by Janja Lalich and Michael Langone
- “The Noble Calling of Parents,” Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay Ch. 16
- "The Governing Ones," William R. Bradford, General Conference October 1979
- "A New Aristocracy," by James E. Faust, Ensign, November 1974
- "The Essential Role of Grief in a Mormon Faith Crisis," The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
- Russell M. Nelson on Facebook saying members will be persecuted for their beliefs
- "Balancing Church History," by Steven E. Snow, New Era, June 2013
- "The Mormon Moment," by Walter Kirn, Newsweek, June 5, 2011
- Gordon B. Hinckley 1967 quote on virtue (original source has been removed from the Church's online archives)
- Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith by Martha Beck
- "Q&A: There is something in my past that I know I should confess to the bishop," New Era, October 1989
- Luna's Twitter
- Luna's Facebook
- Luna's website
—————
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
—————
MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Luna Corbden is the author of "Recovering Agency - Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control." In this multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast series, Lindsey employs the tools of social psychology to identify ways in which the Mormon church uses various coercive techniques often associated with high demand religions (also referred to as cults). Throughout the series we will be asking, "In what ways does the Mormon church behave in ways similar to other high demand religions (or cults), and what can it do to become less cult-like?"
The primary goal of this series is to help people raised within the Mormon Church unpack and separate their own identity from church doctrine and policies. In their book. Luna explores 31 different mind control techniques used by high demand religions generally, and by the Mormon church specifically.
In Part 3, we will cover the 3rd set of methods (of the 31 in total): Mystical Manipulation, Milieu Control, Loading the Language, Totalist Reframing, Thought-Terminating Cliches, and Time Control.
Luna Corbden (who also writes as Luna Lindsey) was born into the LDS Church and left the faith in 2001, at age 26. They now live in Washington state and write about topics of interest to them, including psychology, mind control, culture, and autism. They also write science fiction and fantasy novels, and write short stories for speculative fiction publications like the Journal of Unlikely Entomology, Crossed Genres, and the Recognize Fascism anthology. When they're not busy traveling to improbable worlds, they're thinking hard about this improbable world.
Luna's book can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Recovering-Agency-Lifting-Mormon-Control/dp/1489595937
Show Notes:
- Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Ideas on Singularity and Post-Human Intelligence," by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "The Psychology of Religion with Dr. James Nagel," Mormon Stories
- "What the Mormon Church Can Learn from Cults to Do/Be Better," Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
- "How to Help a Loved One Who Believes in QAnon," Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
- Combating Cult Mind Control: The Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults by Steven Hassan
- Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A study of "brainwashing" in China by Robert Jay Lifton
- A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance by Leon Festinger
- Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out, and Starting Over by Janja Lalich
- Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias
- Captive Hearts, Captive Minds: Freedom and Recovery from Cults and Other Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias
- Cults in Our Midst: The Continuing Fight Against Their Hidden Menace by Margaret Thaler Singer
- Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse by Michael Langone
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini
- International Cultic Studies Association
- When Prophecy Fails by Leon Festinger
- "Obedience Brings Blessings," Thomas S. Monson, General Conference April 2013
- "An Open Letter to Students: On Having Faith and Thinking for Yourself," by C. Terry Warner, New Era, November 1971
- "Using Our Free Agency," by Delbert L. Stapley, Ensign, May 1975
- Losing My Mind Bit by Bit: A Story of Mormon Motherhood by Pam Kazmaier
- "Be Not Deceived," Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference October 2004
- The Jonestown "Death Tape" (CW: Disturbing content)
- Mormon Stories interview with Mike Rinder
- John Dehlin on Scientology: Fair Game with Leah Remini and Mike Rinder
- The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
- "The negative impact of perfectionism among Mormons," by Kristine Doty-Yells, Utah State University 2013
- "If Thou Art Faithful," Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference October 1984
- "Listening to Shame," Brené Brene Brown TEDTalk, March 2012
- "The Power of Vulnerability," Brené Brown, TEDTalk, June 2010
- "Social rejection shares somatosensory representations with physical pain," Ethan Kross, et. al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2011
- "The pain of social rejection," by Kirsten Weir, Monitor on Psychology, 2012
- Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves by Steven Hassan
- Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs by Steven Hassan
- Thinker of Thoughts with Jonathan Streeter
- "Undue Influence in General Conference," with Jonathan Streeter and Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Fellowshipping: A Priesthood Responsibility," Lesson 10, Duties and Blessing of the Priesthood Manual
- The Pattern of Double-Bind in Mormonism by Marion Stricker
- Coercive Persuasion: A Socio-psychological Analysis of the "Brainwashing" of American Civilian Prisoners by the Chinese Communists by E.H. Schein
- "Put Off the Natural Man and Come Off Conqueror," Neal A. Maxwell, General Conference October 1990
- "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect," Boyd K. Packer address at BYU in 1981
- "The Rise and Fall of BH Roberts with Shannon Caldwell Montez," Mormon Stories
- "The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1912 with Shannon Caldwell Montez," Mormon Stories
- No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie
- Influence: Science and Practice by Robert Cialdini
- "Full Conversion Brings Happiness," Richard G. Scott, General Conference April 2002
- "Trial of Your Faith," Neil L. Andersen, General Conference October 2012
- "Striving for Perfection," Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, Ch. 21
- "As Good As Our Bond," Sheldon F. Child, General Conference April 1997
- "LDS Church leaders cut mic when young girl talks about being gay"
- "Pure Testimony," M. Russell Ballard, General Conference October 2004
- "How Do I Help People Make and Keep Commitments?" Preach My Gospel, Ch. 11
- "The Atonement," Gospel Principles, Ch. 12
- The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
- "Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise," Boyd K. Packer, General Conference October 1994
- "The Lifespan of a Lie: The most famous psychology study of all time was a sham. Why can't we escape the Stanford Prison Experiment?" by Ben Blum
- Street Epistemology
- The Godmakers: A Shocking Expose of What the Mormon Church Really Believes by Ed Decker
Film
Book - "Make Peer Pressure a Positive Experience," The Presidents of Church Teachers Manual Ch. 19
- Under the Influence by John Goldhammer
- Spiritual Perversion by Steve Sanchez
- "The How and Why of Faith-Promoting Stories," by Bruce R. McConkie, New Era, 1978
- "Obedience to Law is Liberty," L. Tom Perry, General Conference April 2013
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Suddenly Strangers by Brad and Chris Morin
- "Gaining a Testimony Through the Holy Ghost," Family Home Evening Resource Book, Ch. 16
- The Mormon Cult: A Former Missionary Reveals the Secrets of Mormon Mind Control by Jack B. Worthy
- Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- Saintspeak: The Mormon Dictionary by Orson Scott Card
- "Let Mercy Temper Justice," Theodore M. Burton, General Conference October 1985
- "The Fable of the Camel," by Spencer W. Kimball
- Origin of the "Camel's Nose" story
- "Temptation," by Rulon G. Craven, Ensign, May 1996
- Camilla: A Biography of Camilla Eyring Kimball by Caroline Miner
- "Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments," Asch, S. E., Groups, leadership and men; research in human relations, 1951
- "Attacks on peripheral versus central elements of self and the impact of thought reforming techniques," Ofshe, R., et. al., Cultic Studies Journal, 1986
- "Mormon Women, Prozac, and Therapy," by Kent Ponder
- "For the Strength of Youth"
- Motivational Interviewing Values Cards
- Mixed Emotions Oracle Cards by Petra Martin and Kris Wiltse
- Cults 101: Checklist of Cult Characteristics by Janja Lalich and Michael Langone
- “The Noble Calling of Parents,” Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay Ch. 16
- "The Governing Ones," William R. Bradford, General Conference October 1979
- "A New Aristocracy," by James E. Faust, Ensign, November 1974
- "The Essential Role of Grief in a Mormon Faith Crisis," The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
- Russell M. Nelson on Facebook saying members will be persecuted for their beliefs
- "Balancing Church History," by Steven E. Snow, New Era, June 2013
- "The Mormon Moment," by Walter Kirn, Newsweek, June 5, 2011
- Gordon B. Hinckley 1967 quote on virtue (original source has been removed from the Church's online archives)
- Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith by Martha Beck
- "Q&A: There is something in my past that I know I should confess to the bishop," New Era, October 1989
- Luna's Twitter
- Luna's Facebook
- Luna's website
—————
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
—————
MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Luna Lindsey Corbden is the author of "Recovering Agency - Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control." In this multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast series, Lindsey employs the tools of social psychology to identify ways in which the Mormon church uses various coercive techniques often associated with high demand religions (also referred to as cults). Throughout the series we will be asking, "In what ways does the Mormon church behave in ways similar to other high demand religions (or cults), and what can it do to become less cult-like?"
The primary goal of this series is to help people raised within the Mormon Church unpack and separate their own identity from church doctrine and policies. In their book. Luna explores 31 different mind control techniques used by high demand religions generally, and by the Mormon church specifically.
In Part 2, we will cover the 2nd set of methods (of the 31 in total): Love Bombing, Destabilization, Deception, Belief Follows Behavior, Public Commitment, Creating Dependency, and Emotion Over Intellect.
Luna Corbden (who also writes as Luna Lindsey) was born into the LDS Church and left the faith in 2001, at age 26. They now live in Washington state and write about topics of interest to them, including psychology, mind control, culture, and autism. They also write science fiction and fantasy novels, and write short stories for speculative fiction publications like the Journal of Unlikely Entomology, Crossed Genres, and the Recognize Fascism anthology. When they're not busy traveling to improbable worlds, they're thinking hard about this improbable world.
Luna's book can be found here.
Show Notes:
- Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Ideas on Singularity and Post-Human Intelligence," by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "The Psychology of Religion with Dr. James Nagel," Mormon Stories
- "What the Mormon Church Can Learn from Cults to Do/Be Better," Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
- "How to Help a Loved One Who Believes in QAnon," Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
- Combating Cult Mind Control: The Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults by Steven Hassan
- Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A study of "brainwashing" in China by Robert Jay Lifton
- A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance by Leon Festinger
- Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out, and Starting Over by Janja Lalich
- Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias
- Captive Hearts, Captive Minds: Freedom and Recovery from Cults and Other Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias
- Cults in Our Midst: The Continuing Fight Against Their Hidden Menace by Margaret Thaler Singer
- Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse by Michael Langone
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini
- International Cultic Studies Association
- When Prophecy Fails by Leon Festinger
- "Obedience Brings Blessings," Thomas S. Monson, General Conference April 2013
- "An Open Letter to Students: On Having Faith and Thinking for Yourself," by C. Terry Warner, New Era, November 1971
- "Using Our Free Agency," by Delbert L. Stapley, Ensign, May 1975
- Losing My Mind Bit by Bit: A Story of Mormon Motherhood by Pam Kazmaier
- "Be Not Deceived," Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference October 2004
- The Jonestown "Death Tape" (CW: Disturbing content)
- Mormon Stories interview with Mike Rinder
- John Dehlin on Scientology: Fair Game with Leah Remini and Mike Rinder
- The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
- "The negative impact of perfectionism among Mormons," by Kristine Doty-Yells, Utah State University 2013
- "If Thou Art Faithful," Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference October 1984
- "Listening to Shame," Brené Brene Brown TEDTalk, March 2012
- "The Power of Vulnerability," Brené Brown, TEDTalk, June 2010
- "Social rejection shares somatosensory representations with physical pain," Ethan Kross, et. al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2011
- "The pain of social rejection," by Kirsten Weir, Monitor on Psychology, 2012
- Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves by Steven Hassan
- Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs by Steven Hassan
- Thinker of Thoughts with Jonathan Streeter
- "Undue Influence in General Conference," with Jonathan Streeter and Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Fellowshipping: A Priesthood Responsibility," Lesson 10, Duties and Blessing of the Priesthood Manual
- The Pattern of Double-Bind in Mormonism by Marion Stricker
- Coercive Persuasion: A Socio-psychological Analysis of the "Brainwashing" of American Civilian Prisoners by the Chinese Communists by E.H. Schein
- "Put Off the Natural Man and Come Off Conqueror," Neal A. Maxwell, General Conference October 1990
- "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect," Boyd K. Packer address at BYU in 1981
- "The Rise and Fall of BH Roberts with Shannon Caldwell Montez," Mormon Stories
- "The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1912 with Shannon Caldwell Montez," Mormon Stories
- No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie
- Influence: Science and Practice by Robert Cialdini
- "Full Conversion Brings Happiness," Richard G. Scott, General Conference April 2002
- "Trial of Your Faith," Neil L. Andersen, General Conference October 2012
- "Striving for Perfection," Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, Ch. 21
- "As Good As Our Bond," Sheldon F. Child, General Conference April 1997
- "LDS Church leaders cut mic when young girl talks about being gay"
- "Pure Testimony," M. Russell Ballard, General Conference October 2004
- "How Do I Help People Make and Keep Commitments?" Preach My Gospel, Ch. 11
- "The Atonement," Gospel Principles, Ch. 12
- The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
- "Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise," Boyd K. Packer, General Conference October 1994
- "The Lifespan of a Lie: The most famous psychology study of all time was a sham. Why can't we escape the Stanford Prison Experiment?" by Ben Blum
- Street Epistemology
- The Godmakers: A Shocking Expose of What the Mormon Church Really Believes by Ed Decker
Film
Book - "Make Peer Pressure a Positive Experience," The Presidents of Church Teachers Manual Ch. 19
- Under the Influence by John Goldhammer
- Spiritual Perversion by Steve Sanchez
- "The How and Why of Faith-Promoting Stories," by Bruce R. McConkie, New Era, 1978
- "Obedience to Law is Liberty," L. Tom Perry, General Conference April 2013
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Suddenly Strangers by Brad and Chris Morin
- "Gaining a Testimony Through the Holy Ghost," Family Home Evening Resource Book, Ch. 16
- The Mormon Cult: A Former Missionary Reveals the Secrets of Mormon Mind Control by Jack B. Worthy
- Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- Saintspeak: The Mormon Dictionary by Orson Scott Card
- "Let Mercy Temper Justice," Theodore M. Burton, General Conference October 1985
- "The Fable of the Camel," by Spencer W. Kimball
- Origin of the "Camel's Nose" story
- "Temptation," by Rulon G. Craven, Ensign, May 1996
- Camilla: A Biography of Camilla Eyring Kimball by Caroline Miner
- "Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments," Asch, S. E., Groups, leadership and men; research in human relations, 1951
- "Attacks on peripheral versus central elements of self and the impact of thought reforming techniques," Ofshe, R., et. al., Cultic Studies Journal, 1986
- "Mormon Women, Prozac, and Therapy," by Kent Ponder
- "For the Strength of Youth"
- Motivational Interviewing Values Cards
- Mixed Emotions Oracle Cards by Petra Martin and Kris Wiltse
- Cults 101: Checklist of Cult Characteristics by Janja Lalich and Michael Langone
- “The Noble Calling of Parents,” Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay Ch. 16
- "The Governing Ones," William R. Bradford, General Conference October 1979
- "A New Aristocracy," by James E. Faust, Ensign, November 1974
- "The Essential Role of Grief in a Mormon Faith Crisis," The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
- Russell M. Nelson on Facebook saying members will be persecuted for their beliefs
- "Balancing Church History," by Steven E. Snow, New Era, June 2013
- "The Mormon Moment," by Walter Kirn, Newsweek, June 5, 2011
- Gordon B. Hinckley 1967 quote on virtue (original source has been removed from the Church's online archives)
- Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith by Martha Beck
- "Q&A: There is something in my past that I know I should confess to the bishop," New Era, October 1989
- Luna's Twitter
- Luna's Facebook
- Luna's website
—————
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
—————
MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Recovering Agency - Examining Mormon Mind Control Pt. 1 (with Luna Lindsey Corbden) Luna Lindsey Corbden is the author of "Recovering Agency - Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control." In this multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast series, Lindsey employs the tools of social psychology to identify ways in which the Mormon church uses various coercive techniques often associated with high demand religions (also referred to as cults). Throughout the series we will be asking, "In what ways does the Mormon church behave in ways similar to other high demand religions (or cults), and what can it do to become less cult-like?"
The primary goal of this series is to help people raised within the Mormon Church unpack and separate their own identity from church doctrine and policies. In their book. Luna explores 31 different mind control techniques used by high demand religions generally, and by the Mormon church specifically.
In Part 1, we explore the basics of how cognitive dissonance works, and we will cover the first six methods (of the 31 in total): Sacred Sciene, Demand for Purity, Doctrine Over Self, Black & White Thinking, Blame Reversal, and Guilt & Shame.
And, if you have not already, tune in to my most recent livestream (episode number 1442) for an introduction to this fascinating series!
Luna Corbden (who also writes as Luna Lindsey) was born into the LDS Church and left the faith in 2001, at age 26. They now live in Washington state and write about topics of interest to them, including psychology, mind control, culture, and autism. They also write science fiction and fantasy novels, and write short stories for speculative fiction publications like the Journal of Unlikely Entomology, Crossed Genres, and the Recognize Fascism anthology. When they're not busy traveling to improbable worlds, they're thinking hard about this improbable world.
Luna's book can be found here: https://recoveringagency.com
Show Notes:
- Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Ideas on Singularity and Post-Human Intelligence," by Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "The Psychology of Religion with Dr. James Nagel," Mormon Stories
- "What the Mormon Church Can Learn from Cults to Do/Be Better," Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
- "How to Help a Loved One Who Believes in QAnon," Steven Hassan on Mormon Stories
- Combating Cult Mind Control: The Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults by Steven Hassan
- Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A study of "brainwashing" in China by Robert Jay Lifton
- A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance by Leon Festinger
- Escaping Utopia: Growing Up in a Cult, Getting Out, and Starting Over by Janja Lalich
- Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias
- Captive Hearts, Captive Minds: Freedom and Recovery from Cults and Other Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias
- Cults in Our Midst: The Continuing Fight Against Their Hidden Menace by Margaret Thaler Singer
- Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse by Michael Langone
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini
- International Cultic Studies Association
- When Prophecy Fails by Leon Festinger
- "Obedience Brings Blessings," Thomas S. Monson, General Conference April 2013
- "An Open Letter to Students: On Having Faith and Thinking for Yourself," by C. Terry Warner, New Era, November 1971
- "Using Our Free Agency," by Delbert L. Stapley, Ensign, May 1975
- Losing My Mind Bit by Bit: A Story of Mormon Motherhood by Pam Kazmaier
- "Be Not Deceived," Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference October 2004
- The Jonestown "Death Tape" (CW: Disturbing content)
- Mormon Stories interview with Mike Rinder
- John Dehlin on Scientology: Fair Game with Leah Remini and Mike Rinder
- The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball
- "The negative impact of perfectionism among Mormons," by Kristine Doty-Yells, Utah State University 2013
- "If Thou Art Faithful," Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference October 1984
- "Listening to Shame," Brené Brene Brown TEDTalk, March 2012
- "The Power of Vulnerability," Brené Brown, TEDTalk, June 2010
- "Social rejection shares somatosensory representations with physical pain," Ethan Kross, et. al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2011
- "The pain of social rejection," by Kirsten Weir, Monitor on Psychology, 2012
- Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves by Steven Hassan
- Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs by Steven Hassan
- Thinker of Thoughts with Jonathan Streeter
- "Undue Influence in General Conference," with Jonathan Streeter and Luna Lindsey Corbden
- "Fellowshipping: A Priesthood Responsibility," Lesson 10, Duties and Blessing of the Priesthood Manual
- The Pattern of Double-Bind in Mormonism by Marion Stricker
- Coercive Persuasion: A Socio-psychological Analysis of the "Brainwashing" of American Civilian Prisoners by the Chinese Communists by E.H. Schein
- "Put Off the Natural Man and Come Off Conqueror," Neal A. Maxwell, General Conference October 1990
- "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect," Boyd K. Packer address at BYU in 1981
- "The Rise and Fall of BH Roberts with Shannon Caldwell Montez," Mormon Stories
- "The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1912 with Shannon Caldwell Montez," Mormon Stories
- No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie
- Influence: Science and Practice by Robert Cialdini
- "Full Conversion Brings Happiness," Richard G. Scott, General Conference April 2002
- "Trial of Your Faith," Neil L. Andersen, General Conference October 2012
- "Striving for Perfection," Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, Ch. 21
- "As Good As Our Bond," Sheldon F. Child, General Conference April 1997
- "LDS Church leaders cut mic when young girl talks about being gay"
- "Pure Testimony," M. Russell Ballard, General Conference October 2004
- "How Do I Help People Make and Keep Commitments?" Preach My Gospel, Ch. 11
- "The Atonement," Gospel Principles, Ch. 12
- The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
- "Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise," Boyd K. Packer, General Conference October 1994
- "The Lifespan of a Lie: The most famous psychology study of all time was a sham. Why can't we escape the Stanford Prison Experiment?" by Ben Blum
- Street Epistemology
- The Godmakers: A Shocking Expose of What the Mormon Church Really Believes by Ed Decker
Film
Book - "Make Peer Pressure a Positive Experience," The Presidents of Church Teachers Manual Ch. 19
- Under the Influence by John Goldhammer
- Spiritual Perversion by Steve Sanchez
- "The How and Why of Faith-Promoting Stories," by Bruce R. McConkie, New Era, 1978
- "Obedience to Law is Liberty," L. Tom Perry, General Conference April 2013
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Suddenly Strangers by Brad and Chris Morin
- "Gaining a Testimony Through the Holy Ghost," Family Home Evening Resource Book, Ch. 16
- The Mormon Cult: A Former Missionary Reveals the Secrets of Mormon Mind Control by Jack B. Worthy
- Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- Saintspeak: The Mormon Dictionary by Orson Scott Card
- "Let Mercy Temper Justice," Theodore M. Burton, General Conference October 1985
- "The Fable of the Camel," by Spencer W. Kimball
- Origin of the "Camel's Nose" story
- "Temptation," by Rulon G. Craven, Ensign, May 1996
- Camilla: A Biography of Camilla Eyring Kimball by Caroline Miner
- "Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments," Asch, S. E., Groups, leadership and men; research in human relations, 1951
- "Attacks on peripheral versus central elements of self and the impact of thought reforming techniques," Ofshe, R., et. al., Cultic Studies Journal, 1986
- "Mormon Women, Prozac, and Therapy," by Kent Ponder
- "For the Strength of Youth"
- Motivational Interviewing Values Cards
- Mixed Emotions Oracle Cards by Petra Martin and Kris Wiltse
- Cults 101: Checklist of Cult Characteristics by Janja Lalich and Michael Langone
- “The Noble Calling of Parents,” Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay Ch. 16
- "The Governing Ones," William R. Bradford, General Conference October 1979
- "A New Aristocracy," by James E. Faust, Ensign, November 1974
- "The Essential Role of Grief in a Mormon Faith Crisis," The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
- Russell M. Nelson on Facebook saying members will be persecuted for their beliefs
- "Balancing Church History," by Steven E. Snow, New Era, June 2013
- "The Mormon Moment," by Walter Kirn, Newsweek, June 5, 2011
- Gordon B. Hinckley 1967 quote on virtue (original source has been removed from the Church's online archives)
- Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith by Martha Beck
- "Q&A: There is something in my past that I know I should confess to the bishop," New Era, October 1989
- Luna's Twitter
- Luna's Facebook
- Luna's website
—————
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
—————
MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
In cooperation with author Luna Lindsey Corbden (Recovering Agency) and Youtuber Jonathan Streeter (Thoughts on Things and Stuff), I have developed a short self assessment to help people: 1. Determine if they were raised in a cult or high-demand religion, and/or 2. Learn to more quickly identify the techniques used by unhealthy people and organizations to wield undue influence over family, friends, employees, or members.
This self assessment should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete. A PDF of the assessment can be found here. We also highly encourage you to learn and study these principles to avoid being taken advantage of by unhealthy individuals and organization (including family members, businesses, corporations, governments, etc) . Finally, if you enjoyed this episode, please check out our in-depth, 17+ hour exploration of the book "Recovering Agency: Lifting the Veil of Mormon Mind Control" with author Luna Lindsey Corbden on Mormon Stories Podcast. These episodes will be released starting Monday, June 28th.
This week we celebrate the birthday of faithful Mormon historian and scholar Richard Bushman – author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, and former Mormon church stake president and patriarch.
Some of you will remember that I had the privilege of interviewing Richard back in 2007. Most of you probably don’t know that Richard agreed to discuss 10 topics on the series, but quit the interview after only addressing 3 of the 10 topics, which was very disappointing to me at the time. But of course that was his prerogative.
Since our original interview, Richard has declined to appear on Mormon Stories Podcast again – especially after my excommunication from the Mormon Church in 2015. Still, there are many questions that I would like to ask Richard (or any believing Mormon scholar), if he (they) would allow it. Unfortunately most faithful Mormon scholars avoid any forums where they are asked candid, difficult questions. This is not their fault, of course. It’s the price of doing business with a church that silences and punishes its truth-tellers.
Consequently, I am recording a personal episode where I go ahead and ask the questions I’ve been wanting to ask Richard, along with expressing a few concerns with some of Richard’s public statements over the years.
I hope you enjoy! If you enjoy this episode, I may do something similar a few other faithful scholars/historians/apologists.
Join us for Part 2 of our interview with Gerardo who is a dear friend of the podcast! Growing up in an orthodox Mormon home, his story gives a unique perspective on the church in Mexico and the “Laminate ancestry” that plays into the testimony of many of the members in Latin America. After realizing his attraction to men in his youth, Gerardo worked to keep up with expectations as the son of a prominent LDS family hoping God would “turn his weakness into strengths.”
Through stories about Evergreen, conversion therapy, Mexican EFY, and serving a faithful mission, we hear how strongly Gerardo tried to pursue the covenant path and deny his gay identity. Gerardo went to BYU-I where he met his husband, a wild story filled with intense highs and lows. Eventually questioning his faith, losing his connection to being a descendant of the Laminates and working through disagreements with LDS family, Gerardo put his whole heart out there in this interview. Listen along for some life-changing insights from Gerardo on this epic episode of a Mexican Mormon Story!
Join us for Part 1 of our interview with Gerardo who is a dear friend of the podcast! Growing up in an orthodox Mormon home, his story gives a unique perspective on the church in Mexico and the “Lamanite ancestry” that plays into the testimony of many of the members in Latin America. After realizing his attraction to men in his youth, Gerardo worked to keep up with expectations as the son of a prominent LDS family hoping God would “turn his weakness into strengths.”
Through stories about Evergreen, conversion therapy, Mexican EFY, and serving a faithful mission, we hear how strongly Gerardo tried to pursue the covenant path and deny his gay identity. Gerardo went to BYU-I where he met his husband, a wild story filled with intense highs and lows. Eventually questioning his faith, losing his connection to being a descendant of the Lamanites and working through disagreements with LDS family, Gerardo put his whole heart out there in this interview. Listen along for some life-changing insights from Gerardo on this epic episode of a Mexican Mormon Story!
Kelly and Kayla Mikesell are a dynamic step-mother/daughter pair. Only recently did Kelly start to investigate the troubling issues with Mormon history that had been eating away at her children. In an effort to learn, love, and empathize with her children, she investigated the church and grew in ways that surprised her and her family.
As Kelly chose love and understanding over dogma and compliance, she was able to open her heart to the members of her family in the LGBTQ community, including her step-daughter Kayla. Teenage years filled with the unimaginable amounts of shame and guilt, Kayla was able to grow into her own independent, confident adult, even winning Miss Salt Lake City and making her platform one of advocacy for the Utah Pride Center.
We are honored to interview two thoughtful, articulate women putting a lot on the line to speak out while Kelly’s husband still currently serves as her bishop!
Warning: This episode contains discussions of self-harm.
Show Notes:
- Last Podcast on the Left Mormonism episode
- "Ghost of Eternal Polygamy" by Carolyn Pearson
- Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis podcast
- Jennifer Fife
- Donna Showalter Mormon Stories Podcast Episode
- Leah and Cody Young Mormon Stories Podcast Episode
- "Listen, Learn and Love" by Richard Ostler
- Follow Kayla on Instagram
Happy Utah Pride Week everyone! To celebrate Utah Pride week, I am sharing one of the most important interviews in the history of Mormon Stories Podcast. It is the story of Kyle Ashworth - a dear, brilliant, talented friend, and the host of Latter Gay Stories podcast.
This interview is important for at least 3 reasons:
- Kyle is a truly brilliant, caring human. That should be enough.
- It conveys super powerfully the myriad of ways in which the Mormon Church harms its LGBTQ members AND its straight members - including a deep dive into the serious problems of mixed-orientation marriages within Mormonism, along with the deep ineffectiveness and deceptiveness of organizations like North Star International.
- Finally, It is ultimately a story of "love winning out" as Kyle, his ex-wife, and her family fulfill their mantra, "One Family, Two homes."
Join us today to hear the conclusion of Kyle's truly inspiring story.
Please watch and enjoy, and please spread the word!!!
Happy Utah Pride Week everyone! To celebrate Utah Pride week, I am sharing one of the most important interviews in the history of Mormon Stories Podcast. It is the story of Kyle Ashworth – a dear, brilliant, talented friend, and the host of Latter Gay Stories podcast.
This interview is important for at least 3 reasons:
- Kyle is a truly brilliant, caring human. That should be enough.
- It conveys super powerfully the myriad of ways in which the Mormon Church harms its LGBTQ members AND its straight members – including a deep dive into the serious problems of mixed-orientation marriages within Mormonism, along with the deep ineffectiveness and deceptiveness of organizations like North Star International.
- Finally, It is ultimately a story of “love winning out” as Kyle, his ex-wife, and her family fulfill their mantra, “One Family, Two homes.”
Today we will show Part 1 of the interview, and tomorrow we will share Part 2.
Please watch and enjoy, and please spread the word!!!
Every year I try to provide donors and listeners with a "State of the Union" address for the Open Stories Foundation (the 501c3 non-profit that I lead which houses Mormon Stories Podcast), along with the overall success of Mormon Stories Podcast and the other OSF podcasts (Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis Podcast, A Thoughtful Faith Podcast, and Mormon Mental Health Podcast).
The topics for today will be:
- OSF / Mormon Stories Podcast Mission & What we are about
- Fiduciary stuff, governance
- Board status
- Effectiveness/reach of Mormon Stories Podcast
- OSF Finances
- OSF Strategy for 2021 and beyond
- OSF staff changes, including the addition of Carah Burrell to the staff for a trial period
- Plan for events and community
- OSF challenges/needs
After converting to Mormonism as a teen and attending BYU, Haleigh Evert’s relationship with the Mormon church grew unfulfilling and complicated. After leaving the church for a time, Haleigh came back to the Mormon church, married in the temple, and started making videos and writing about her Mormon journey.
Haleigh eventually published the book “Why I Left the Mormon Church and Came Back,” which is still sold at Deseret Book today. Then, after years of promoting and defending the Mormon church, Haleigh read the CES Letter for the first time (just a month and a half ago).
In this episode we discuss Haleigh's conversion, her reach on social media as a Mormon influencer, and her life now after reading the CES letter.
Show Notes:
- Haleigh’s YouTube Channel
- Haleigh's Instagram
- The CES Letter by Jeremy Runnells
- Unveiling Grace by Lynn Wilder
Today I am so excited to share my interview with the incredible Lexi McDonald - YouTube's ExMo Lex! Tune in as we discuss Lexi's personal Mormon story, her faith transition away from the LDS church, and the birth of her highly successful Social Media platform, ExMo Lex.
Find Lexi on Social Media:
- YouTube
- TikTok
Today I am honored to share the story of Drew Manning - author, TV star, and founder of the viral brand, "Fit2Fat2Fit." Join us as we continue with Part 2 of Drew's Mormon story, which will cover:
- Healing after a divorce
- Discovering meditation
- Finding new wisdom outside of the church
- Spirituality through psychedelics
- Fit2Fat2Fit and the identity crisis that followed
- Drew’s beliefs around God and an afterlife as a post Mormon
Show Notes:
- Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal
- How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
- The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz
Today I am honored to share the story of Drew Manning - author, TV star, and founder of the viral brand, "Fit2Fat2Fit." In part 1 of Drew's story, we will discuss, among other things:
- His upbringing in Mormonism
- LDS mission in Brazil
- Marriage & pornography use in a Mormon marriage, followed by the LDS church addiction recovery program
- Their eventual divorce
- Learning about problematic church history & the 2015 LGBT+ exclusion policy
- The Fit2Fat2Fit story & Drew’s mission to bring empathy to fitness
Show notes:
- Fit2Fat2Fit: The Unexpected Lessons from Gaining and Losing 75lbs on Purpose by Drew Manning
- Complete Keto: A Guide to Transforming Your Body and Your Mind for Life by Drew Manning
- Loving What Is by Byron Katie
- Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
- Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
- The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity by Esther Perel
Join me today for this truly inspiring interview with Lance Allred, the grandson of Rulon C. Allred - the prophet of a fundamentalist polygamous sect called the “Apostolic United Brethren." In addition to this, Lance is the first legally-deaf player in NBA history, an inspirational speaker (including a highly successful TedX presentation, "What is Your Polygamy?"), and celebrated author of six books, including his most recent publication, “The New Alpha Male: How to Win the Game When the Rules are Changing.”
Join along as we discuss the concepts of misogyny, toxic masculinity, how they function within religions, and how we can begin to combat and "unlearn" these unhealthy habits.
More books by Lance Allred:
- Lanceallred41 Daily Perseverance Tracker
- Basketball Gods
- How to Give the Million View TEDx Talk: What is Your Polygamy?
- The Pesaro Poems
- Longshot: The Adventures of a Deaf Fundamentalist Mormon Kid and His Journey to the NBA
- The New Alpha Male: How to Win the Game When the Rules Are Changing
JT & Lady Cee were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses from the age of five years old. Lady Cee was a regular pioneer and went to serve where the need is great with her pioneer partners. JT served at Brooklyn Bethel and was an elder in the local congregation.
After spending a combined 60 years of Watchtower indoctrination, they discovered that something was seriously wrong with the 1914 teaching. This led them to doing more research and after reading Crisis of Conscience by former Governing Body Member Raymond Franz, they faded from the organization. JT & Lady Cee realize the importance of giving back to help those they left behind. Therefore, in 2013, they began hosting the Critical Thought podcast on the EXJW Critical Thinker YouTube channel. Their decision to join their voice with the community of other Ex-JW activists is resulting in many happy endings as individuals begin waking up and learning the real truth about “The Truth.”
Learn more about them on their website and other social media outlets.
JT & Lady Cee were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses from the age of five years old. Lady Cee was a regular pioneer and went to serve where the need is great with her pioneer partners. JT served at Brooklyn Bethel and was an elder in the local congregation.
After spending a combined 60 years of Watchtower indoctrination, they discovered that something was seriously wrong with the 1914 teaching. This led them to doing more research and after reading Crisis of Conscience by former Governing Body Member Raymond Franz, they faded from the organization. JT & Lady Cee realize the importance of giving back to help those they left behind. Therefore, in 2013, they began hosting the Critical Thought podcast on the EXJW Critical Thinker YouTube channel. Their decision to join their voice with the community of other Ex-JW activists is resulting in many happy endings as individuals begin waking up and learning the real truth about “The Truth.” Learn more about them on their website and other social media outlets.
Join me today as I sit down with a living legend, Rod Decker, who has gained great prominence in Utah over the past 50 years as a journalist, columnist, and reporter for KUTV Channel 2 news. An observer of Utah politics from an early age, Decker has a truly unique perspective on Utah culture, faith, and politics, and I could not be more honored to have him as a guest on Mormon Stories Podcast.
Rod Decker's most recent publication, "Utah Politics: The Elephant in the Room" can be purchased here.
Marriage, Family, & Sex therapist, Natasha Helfer, hosts this special edition of Mormon Stories Podcast with John & Margi Dehlin, as they discuss the aftermath of Natasha's trial for apostasy and excommunication from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Join us now for Part 3 of what many are calling a truly groundbreaking Mormon Stories Podcast series - my interview with teen convert, former All-American athlete, and former Mormon seminary teacher and CES employee Marc Oslund.
In today's episode Marc shares with us:
- An insider's view of how the Mormon church began realizing that it was hemorrhaging its youth and young adults, and how the church has experimented in seminary/institute/CES with both "inoculation" and "avoidance" when confronting its long-denied problematic history.
- How the Mormon church relied on Terryl Givens and other progressive Mormons to help re-train Mormon CES employees, the backlash that ensued from orthodox instructors and managers, and how the Mormon church worked hard to simultaneously distance itself from Terryl Givens' teachings.
- An observation that Mormon apostles no longer act as guardians of doctrine and theology, and how they have now "outsourced" that work to progressive theologians like Terryl Givens and others, in part so that they can maintain plausible deniability.
- Marc's transition from an orthodox Mormon to a progressive/liberal (Terryl Givens)-type Mormon as a Mormon seminary teacher, in response to the training the church provided him, and how that ultimately undermined his own career in CES.
- How Marc was ultimately and literally pushed out of CES for explicitly following the advice of Mormon apostles like Elder Ballard to openly discuss the problematic issues.
- How the CES System continues to promote orthodox leaders in spite of its lip service to promoting openness and tolerance for diversity.
You will not regret the length and depth of this interview.
Join us today as we continue with part two of our three-part interview with former baseball player and LDS seminary teacher, Marc Oslund. Fascinating for so many reasons, I believe this is one of the most important Mormon Stories Podcast episodes I've ever released.
- Marc was a heavily recruited high school baseball and football player in the L.A., California area.
- He converted to the Mormon church as a teen.
- He was drafted to the baseball Major Leagues three different times, and turned down those offers to go on an LDS mission and to BYU.
- He was an all-American baseball player at BYU.
- He served an LDS mission where he was often racked with guilt and shame - almost sent home for it.
- When his baseball career ended (due to post-mission injuries), he became a Mormon CES seminary teacher, and served from around 2013 to 2019 - while the Mormon church was trying to become more open/honest about its history, and deal with public activists like Kate Kelly, myself, Sam Young, Jeremy Runnells, etc.
- Even though he constantly had doubts/questions/concerns, his position as a seminary teacher caused major rifts in his marriage when his wife expressed occasional doubts, specifically about the Mormon temple ceremony.
- Marc became a liberal/progressive/Givens Mormon while a seminary teacher - but was punished by CES for his progressive stances.
- Marc ultimately lost his orthodox Mormon faith as a seminary teacher, and was pressured to quit his job.
In part 2 of his story, we will hear about Marc's experience working for the Church Educational System as a seminary teacher, his attempts to be open with students about church doctrines, and why he eventually began to question the leadership of the LDS church - all while working within the CES program.
Join us today as we kick off our three-part interview with former baseball player and LDS seminary teacher, Marc Oslund. Fascinating for so many reasons, I believe this is one of the most important Mormon Stories Podcast episodes I've ever released.
- Marc was a heavily recruited high school baseball and football player in the L.A., California area.
- He converted to the Mormon church as a teen.
- He was drafted to the baseball Major Leagues three different times, and turned down those offers to go on an LDS mission and to BYU.
- He was an all-American baseball player at BYU.
- He served an LDS mission where he was often racked with guilt and shame - almost sent home for it.
- When his baseball career ended (due to post-mission injuries), he became a Mormon CES seminary teacher, and served from around 2013 to 2019 - while the Mormon church was trying to become more open/honest about its history, and deal with public activists like Kate Kelly, myself, Sam Young, Jeremy Runnells, etc.
- Even though he constantly had doubts/questions/concerns, his position as a seminary teacher caused major rifts in his marriage when his wife expressed occasional doubts, specifically about the Mormon temple ceremony.
- Marc became a liberal/progressive/Givens Mormon while a seminary teacher - but was punished by CES for his progressive stances.
- Marc ultimately lost his orthodox Mormon faith as a seminary teacher, and was pressured to quit his job.
In part 1 of this incredible story, Marc talks about his upbringing in LA, his conversion to Mormonism, and why he gave up multiple opportunities to play major-league baseball in order to pursue a career in the Church Education System.
This is a long one...probably deserves its own podcast...but it's really, really important. I hope you enjoy.
As the COVID pandemic begins to slow in Spring of 2021, we are seeing a surge in vocal Mormon church members being summoned to disciplinary councils for excommunication on the charges of apostasy. Last week Natasha Helfer was excommunicated from the Mormon church for nothing less than advocating for ethical mental health and sexuality. Today we interview Neesha and Kyle Brost, who were recently threatened with excommunication by their Mormon leaders for posting videos to their very popular TikTok channel.
This is Neesha and Kyle's Mormon Story
Join us as we talk to Shannon Flynn, who was an associate of bomber and forger Mark Hofmann, as well as a major figure in the new Netflix documentary "Murder Among the Mormons."
Please join us now as we interview Marriage and Sex therapist Natasha Helfer as she discusses her pending Mormon disciplinary council for apostasy.
Natasha Helfer's membership council is taking place on April 18th at 7:30 pm central time zone. How you can support Natasha: * Write letters of support to President Stephen Daley, * Attend the council itself as an "approved" participant or in a more general way (details below), * Sign a mental health professional letter that is currently being drafted (if this is your profession) - please contact Lisa Butterworth to sign this, and * Spread the word on social media.
Contact information: * Derby, Kansas Stake President: Stephen Daley: stevemdaley@gmail.com * Natasha Helfer, LCMFT, CST, CST-S: natashahelfermft@gmail.com * Lisa Butterworth, LCPC, NCC: lisabutterworth@gmail.com
Event taking place at the Derby, Kansas Stake.
Today we have Shannon Flynn and Tonya and Scott Reiter in studio to remember the life of their friend, Lyn Jacob’s, associate of Mormon forger and bomber Mark Hofmann.
Returning Mormon Stories Podcast guest, Roger Hendrix, is a former LDS Bishop, Mission President, and CES director, and was also called by Gorden B. Hinkley as a Trustee for the Deseret Trust Company for 18 years. And as if that weren't enough, Roger also worked as a business Management Consultant for 35 years, and did a syndicated daily radio commentary on social, political, and economic trends for nine years.
Join Roger and myself today as we provide an analysis of the LDS church as a multi-billion-dollar corporation, and discuss "the future of Mormonism" - as Roger sees it.
Books by Roger Hendrix:
- Bend, Create, and Plan Your Future, author Roger Hendrix
- Choosing the Dream, The future of Religion in American Public Life. Co- authored with Fred Gedicks
- Leverage Point, a novel written with Gerald Lund.
- The Idea Economy, Why your ideas will have to create personal wealth and hope in an age of uncertainty. Co- authored with Rob Brazell.
For as long as the Mormon Internet has existed, Ex-Mormon women have been expressing concerns about abusive behavior by Ex-Mormon men.
Today a panel of Ex-Mormon women come together on Mormon Stories Podcast to introduce athe following six concepts: 1) Consent, 2) Deference to Patriarchy, 3) Gender Roles, 4) Modesty, 5) Sex Shaming, and 6) Victim Blaming.
The intent of this episode is to help educate Ex-Mormon men about how to treat Ex-Mormon women, particularly online and in Ex-Mormon communities.
Participants in the panel are: Hannah Dunnigan, Sarah Hess, Margaret Frances Phillips, and Elisha Lee.
Since Title IX passed in 1972 to prevent sex discrimination under any education program receiving Federal financial assistance, the religious exemption clause has gone virtually unchaellenched. For decades, the Department of Educations has granted Title IX exemptions allowing dozens of religious colleges like BYU and Liberty University to discriminate based on sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, even when they receive millions of taxpayer dollars every single year.
Join us today at 4:00 pm MT as we interview attorney Paul Southwick, Chandler Horning (BYU) and Luke Wilson (Liberty University), about their groundbreaking class action lawsuit filed against the Department of Education. Chandler and Luke are among 33 former and current students from different federally-funded religious colleges who have been harmed by their discriminatory policies. The lawsuit argues that the Title IX religious exemptions “as applied to sexual and gender minority students, is unconstitutional and that the Department must enforce the protections of Title IX at all taxpayer-funded educational institutions, including at those institutions that discriminate and cause harm on the basis of sincerely held religious beliefs.”
Join me today as I interview Carah Burrell (TikTok's "Nuancehoe") who has quickly became one of the most notable (and hilarious) ex-Mormons on social media right now!
In addition to her great success on TikTok, Carah also has a very interesting Mormon story - from her unique upbringing in the church, to her experiences navigating the LA comedy scene with her husband, as a young mormon couple. Carah also had the opportunity to work for the LDS church's public relations department, which has further added to her interesting perspective on the Mormon church.
You can check out some of Carah's work here:
- https://www.tiktok.com/@nuancehoe?
- https://linktr.ee/nuancehoe
Join me today as I interview Salt Lake City lawyer, Mark Naugle, who developed the website QuitMormon.com - which aims to give former Mormons a more streamlined way to resign their membership from the LDS church, without the need to meet with a church authority figure. Since 2015, Mark has filed over 80,000 legal resignation letters with the LDS church. However, in response to his website, the church recently changed the terms to now require a notarized letter in order to apply for resignation.
Listen along to hear Mark's personal story, how QuitMormon.com came to be, and what he is doing now to continually challenge the LDS church on this issue.
- What happens when a Mormon bishop falls in love with a member of his congregation? How could this happen?
- What situation would make a divorced single mother returning to Mormon church activity fall in love with her married bishop?
- In what ways does the calling of Mormon bishop, including both excessive time demands on the Bishop and the practice of one-on-one "worthiness" interviews with single women, put excessive strain on bishops, their marriages, and their families - making infidelity more likely?
- Should divorced single women (or anyone for that matter) seek life counseling from a Mormon bishop? Are bishops trained and qualified to do life counseling?
- How could a bishop and a divorced single mother come to believe that they were both engaged in a God-approved polygamous relationship? Does a story like this help us better understand the Chad Daybell / Lori Vallow story, or the Joseph Smith story?
- What happens when a Mormon bishop loses his faith, while he is serving as bishop? What type of pressure does that put on the bishop, his wife, and their family?
- What is it like to be viewed as "the mistress" in a public relationship that is viewed as scandalous (i.e., a Mormon bishops falls in love with a ward member, loses his faith, asks to be released, and the entire ward/stake knows)?
- What happens when a Mormon stake president is forced to release a Mormon bishop early? What types of pressure does this situation put on the stake president, the ward, the bishop, and the bishop's family? How does the Mormon church handle such situations?
- If you happen to fall in love with someone who isn't your spouse mid-life, how do you decide whether to stay in the struggling or failed marriage to improve it vs. leave the marriage to seek greater joy/fulfillment? Is there ever a time to "cut your losses" in a marriage and move on, or should most/all marriages be preserved at virtually all cost?
- Can 2nd marriages work, with all the complexities of divorce, ex-spouses, step-children, etc.? Or are they generally doomed to fail?
- How in the world do you ever heal from a lifetime of trauma as a Mormon? Is healing and growth possible? If so, what are some resources that can be helpful?
Today's epic two-part Mormon stories interview with Matthew and Elizabeth explores all of these questions, and much, much more. Buckle in for a 7+ hour in-depth interview.
I promise you that you will not be disappointed with these two strong, vulnerable, inspiring humans.
- What happens when a Mormon bishop falls in love with a member of his congregation? How could this happen?
- What situation would make a divorced single mother returning to Mormon church activity fall in love with her married bishop?
- In what ways does the calling of Mormon bishop, including both excessive time demands on the Bishop and the practice of one-on-one "worthiness" interviews with single women, put excessive strain on bishops, their marriages, and their families - making infidelity more likely?
- Should divorced single women (or anyone for that matter) seek life counseling from a Mormon bishop? Are bishops trained and qualified to do life counseling?
- How could a bishop and a divorced single mother come to believe that they were both engaged in a God-approved polygamous relationship? Does a story like this help us better understand the Chad Daybell / Lori Vallow story, or the Joseph Smith story?
- What happens when a Mormon bishop loses his faith, while he is serving as bishop? What type of pressure does that put on the bishop, his wife, and their family?
- What is it like to be viewed as "the mistress" in a public relationship that is viewed as scandalous (i.e., a Mormon bishops falls in love with a ward member, loses his faith, asks to be released, and the entire ward/stake knows)?
- What happens when a Mormon stake president is forced to release a Mormon bishop early? What types of pressure does this situation put on the stake president, the ward, the bishop, and the bishop's family? How does the Mormon church handle such situations?
- If you happen to fall in love with someone who isn't your spouse mid-life, how do you decide whether to stay in the struggling or failed marriage to improve it vs. leave the marriage to seek greater joy/fulfillment? Is there ever a time to "cut your losses" in a marriage and move on, or should most/all marriages be preserved at virtually all cost?
- Can 2nd marriages work, with all the complexities of divorce, ex-spouses, step-children, etc.? Or are they generally doomed to fail?
- How in the world do you ever heal from a lifetime of trauma as a Mormon? Is healing and growth possible? If so, what are some resources that can be helpful?
Today's epic two-part Mormon stories interview with Matthew and Elizabeth explores all of these questions, and much, much more. Buckle in for a 7+ hour in-depth interview.
I promise you that you will not be disappointed with these two strong, vulnerable, inspiring humans.
This week in the April 2021 Liahona (Mormon church monthly magazine) the LDS church released 6 online articles attempting to coach faithful Mormons on how to better treat family members who have lost their faith in the Mormon church. I my opinion, they really are groundbreaking articles (even though they were confusingly withheld from the printed publication).
Join us on 3/26/2021 as we discuss, praise, and critique the 6 articles. I would love your feedback on the articles as well. The 6 articles are:
- Are You the Only Member of the Church in Your Family? You’re Not Alone
- An Unexpected Lesson from Ammon for Today’s Challenges
- How My Heart Changed When My Brother Left the Church
- Maintaining Hope and Keeping Your Marriage Strong If Your Spouse Leaves the Church
- Questions to Ask Yourself before You Talk about Less-Active Members
- What You Can Do When Others Don’t Believe
Join us now as Anthony Miller and Douglas Stilgoe join me to break down the recent rebranding and partial repenting of FAIRMormon, which includes:
- Taking down the controversial "Kwaku" / Cardon Ellis / Bradley Witbeck videos that attacked Jeremy Runnells and John Dehlin,
- Promising to cease ad hominem attacks, and
- A name change.
Show Notes:
- To review Jeremy Runnells' "Debunking FAIRMormons' This is the Show (TITS)", click here.
- "Nemo's" YouTube Channel can be found here.
- Anthony Miller's "Unpacking Ambiguity" blog can be found here.
- FAIRMormon's new announcement about their name change, and about forsaking their long history of ad hominem apologetics can be found here.
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Join me today for this amazing Mormon Stories interview as I talk to Jared Hess and Tyler Measom about the making of their new Netflix documentary, "Murder Among the Mormons."
Join us today as the brilliant John Hamer returns to help us dig deeper into:
- The main Mark Hofmann Forgeries, and
- The main attempts to "cover-up" unfavorable history by the Mormon church.
Today I share (and provide reactions to) a recent fireside given on February 28, 2021 by faithful Mormon scholar and Utah State University professor Patrick Mason given at the Logan Utah Cache West Stake.
This is a re-recording. I decided to re-record because I felt as though my reactions were too angry. Honestly, I felt a bit unhinged. I know that many of you valued the passion. I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint you. My overall goal has always been for the podcast to feel "safe" for questioning Mormons, and I don't want to lose that for this important episode.
I have included screen shots of the questions that were submitted by questioning stake members during the Q&A, which can be found here. I have also included the stake president statement that they decided NOT share Patrick’s presentation on the stake Facebook page as they had said they would during the presentation.
Finally, a HUGE thanks to Angelina at GroveTrove Getaways for supplying us with this video. If you want to thank Angelina, you can find her on Instagram @agrovetrove.
Today I share a recent fireside given on February 28, 2021 by faithful Mormon scholar and Utah State University professor Patrick Mason given at the Logan Utah Cache West Stake.
This is a version that has no commentary. I have released adjacent to this episode a version with commenatry.
Finally, a HUGE thanks to Angelina at GroveTrove Getaways for supplying us with this video. If you want to thank Angelina, you can find her on Instagram @agrovetrove.
This week Mormonism and the world (basically) have been captivated by the new Netflix Documentary "Murder Among the Mormons" - which covers the Salt Lake City bombings of 1985, and is currently #2 in the USA on Netflix. (SPOILER ALERT!!!!)
While reactions to the documentary (produced & directed by friends Jared Hess and Tyler Measom) have been universally SUPER positive, many progressive and post-Mormons have expressed a wish that the documentary would have spent more time discussing the role of the Mormon church in: a) creating the environment that gave rise to the bombings, b) attempting to cover up/hide its problematic history, and c) obstruct or hinder the investigation of the bombings.
I this epic, 2-part, 6 hour interview with Mormon/Ex-Mormon legend Sandra Tanner, we cover many of the questions/topics/issues that progressive and post-Mormons have been wanting to know about the Mormon church, Mark Hofmann, the bombings, and the investigations, such as:
- What do we know about Mark Hofmann's childhood and adolescent years?
- When and how did Mark Hofmann lose his Mormon faith?
- What are some of the direct and undeniable similarities between Joseph Smith and Mark Hofmann?
- What can we ascertain about Mark Hofmann's possible motives for forgery?
- What issues regarding Mormon Church truth claims were being discussed publicly during Mark Hofmann's childhood and adolescence years, and what written materials may have influenced him?
- What behavior on the part of the Mormon church in the 1960s and 1970s may have served as motivating factors for Hofmann? Particularly, to what extent did the LDS Church participate in overt deception of its members that could have influenced him to turn on the church?
- What are Sandra's memories of Hofmann and his close associates like Shannon Flynn, Brent Metcalfe, Curt Bench, Lyn Jacobs, Brent Ashworth, etc.? Were any of them suspected as accomplices?
- What do we know about the main Mormon-related Hofmann forgeries, and why were each relevant from a Mormon.history perspective? How did Hofmann's forgeries intersect with and challenge Mormon church truth claims? How did they stand to harm the church?
- What role did the Mormon church play in hiding and/or covering up Hofmann's forgeries?
- Perhaps most importantly, Sandra recounts the inspiring story of her husband, Jerald Tanner, discovering that Hofmann's Salamander Letter was a forgery a FULL YEAR before the bombings, how she and Jerald fought about his discovery, what Hofmann's reaction was to Jerald's discovery, and how it was received in the larger Mormon studies and news community (spoiler alert: it was largely ignored).
- Sandra also movingly discusses how she and Jerald were largely ignored and marginalized by the broader Mormon history community, including being denied a display table at Sunstone, and how many Mormon history scholars would take advantage of the Tanner's research without giving them any credit or citations. She cites as the main reason of this mistreatment her and Jerald's willingness to question Joseph Smith's sincerity - which remains a taboo in the Mormon studies community to this day.
- Sandra recounts her memories of the bombings and of the investigations.
- Perhaps most importantly, what responsibility does the Mormon church play in contributing to the environment and led to the bombings?
All this, and so much more. This is a 6 hour interview.
- Part 1 (4 hours) talks mostly about Sandra's memories during and after the bombings.
- Part 2 (2 hours) focuses more on Sandra's direct reactions to the documentary Murder Among the Mormons.
For your convenience we have created time codes that will let you know which parts of the videos you can jump to (if you want to jump around or refer certain parts to friends).
We hope you enjoy!!!!!!! And a HUGE thanks to Sandra (and Jerald) Tanner for sharing with us her/their historic insight. For me, this was a true honor. MORE TO COME!!!!
- John Dehlin (March 10, 2021)
P.S. If you value Sandra and her contributions to Mormon history, please support Sandra Tanner and Utah Lighthouse Ministry with your donations!!!
====================
00:01:32 - Sandra’s impressions of “Murder Among the Mormons”
00:14:39 - How the LDS church was portrayed in the documentary - positive vs. negative
00:21:06 - Could this documentary pose a challenge to some member’s faith?
00:23:16 - Truly’s role in the documentary & lawyers as church “historians”
00:30:20 - Was it smart for it not to be a “hit piece” in the LDS church?
00:42:11 - How the story is being revived
00:51:15 - Could Hofmann had any accomplices’?
00:54:44 - Heroes & villiain of the story
01:00:35 - Culpability of the LDS church & their obstructing of justice
01:04:13 - Sandra’s recommendations for books on this subject
01:10:47 - Legacy of the Hofmann scandal & its impact on Mormonism
01:22:56 - “Lying for the Lord” & how Joseph Smith set a president of dishonesty within the church
01:28:04 - Why people stay in the church after they have lost their faith
01:32:21 - Could there be another event like this that threatens the church?
01:34:35 - Sandra’s predictions for the future of Mormonism
01:39:48 - Upcoming biography on Jerald & Sandra Tanner
01:43:41 - Sandra’s experiences from Mormon Stories Podcast
01:50:07 - Reflections on Jerald Tanner
01:54:21 - Closing remarks
This week Mormonism and the world (basically) have been captivated by the new Netflix Documentary "Murder Among the Mormons" - which covers the Salt Lake City bombings of 1985, and is currently #2 in the USA on Netflix. (SPOILER ALERT!!!!)
While reactions to the documentary (produced & directed by friends Jared Hess and Tyler Measom) have been universally SUPER positive, many progressive and post-Mormons have expressed a wish that the documentary would have spent more time discussing the role of the Mormon church in: a) creating the environment that gave rise to the bombings, b) attempting to cover up/hide its problematic history, and c) obstruct or hinder the investigation of the bombings.
I this epic, 2-part, 6 hour interview with Mormon/Ex-Mormon legend Sandra Tanner, we cover many of the questions/topics/issues that progressive and post-Mormons have been wanting to know about the Mormon church, Mark Hofmann, the bombings, and the investigations, such as:
- What do we know about Mark Hofmann's childhood and adolescent years?
- When and how did Mark Hofmann lose his Mormon faith?
- What are some of the direct and undeniable similarities between Joseph Smith and Mark Hofmann?
- What can we ascertain about Mark Hofmann's possible motives for forgery?
- What issues regarding Mormon Church truth claims were being discussed publicly during Mark Hofmann's childhood and adolescence years, and what written materials may have influenced him?
- What behavior on the part of the Mormon church in the 1960s and 1970s may have served as motivating factors for Hofmann? Particularly, to what extent did the LDS Church participate in overt deception of its members that could have influenced him to turn on the church?
- What are Sandra's memories of Hofmann and his close associates like Shannon Flynn, Brent Metcalfe, Curt Bench, Lyn Jacobs, Brent Ashworth, etc.? Were any of them suspected as accomplices?
- What do we know about the main Mormon-related Hofmann forgeries, and why were each relevant from a Mormon.history perspective? How did Hofmann's forgeries intersect with and challenge Mormon church truth claims? How did they stand to harm the church?
- What role did the Mormon church play in hiding and/or covering up Hofmann's forgeries?
- Perhaps most importantly, Sandra recounts the inspiring story of her husband, Jerald Tanner, discovering that Hofmann's Salamander Letter was a forgery a FULL YEAR before the bombings, how she and Jerald fought about his discovery, what Hofmann's reaction was to Jerald's discovery, and how it was received in the larger Mormon studies and news community (spoiler alert: it was largely ignored).
- Sandra also movingly discusses how she and Jerald were largely ignored and marginalized by the broader Mormon history community, including being denied a display table at Sunstone, and how many Mormon history scholars would take advantage of the Tanner's research without giving them any credit or citations. She cites as the main reason of this mistreatment her and Jerald's willingness to question Joseph Smith's sincerity - which remains a taboo in the Mormon studies community to this day.
- Sandra recounts her memories of the bombings and of the investigations.
- Perhaps most importantly, what responsibility does the Mormon church play in contributing to the environment and led to the bombings?
All this, and so much more. This is a 6 hour interview.
- Part 1 (4 hours) talks mostly about Sandra's memories during and after the bombings.
- Part 2 (2 hours) focuses more on Sandra's direct reactions to the documentary Murder Among the Mormons.
For your convenience we have created YouTube time codes that will let you know which parts of the videos you can jump to (if you want to jump around or refer certain parts to friends).
We hope you enjoy!!!!!!! And a HUGE thanks to Sandra (and Jerald) Tanner for sharing with us her/their historic insight. For me, this was a true honor. MORE TO COME!!!!
- John Dehlin (March 10, 2021)
P.S. If you value Sandra and her contributions to Mormon history, please support Sandra Tanner and Utah Lighthouse Ministry with your donations!!!
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Part 1 Timecodes:
00:07:13 - Summary of Sandra’s background
00:14:51 - Sandra’s understanding of Mark Hofmann’s early life & beliefs
00:19:39 - Hofmann’s exposure to treasure digging and LDS truth claims
00:32:02 - Parallels between Mark Hofmann and Joseph Smith
00:36:12 - Theories surrounding the Golden Plates & Book of Mormon
00:45:30 - Speculations on Mark Hofmann’s faith crisis
00:48:17 - Sandra discusses Shannon Flynn
00:55:53 - More on Hofmann’s mission, & his research into Mormon history
00:57:03 - Salamander Letter
00:58:50 – Sandra on intentional deception by LDS Church leaders
01:00:58 – Hofmann first comes to Utah Lighthouse Ministry in 1978 to share first known forgery – on the 2nd Anointing
01:06:19 – Mark’s handwriting – juvenile “chicken scratch”
01:07:10 – The beginning of a discussion of Mark Hofmann’s possible motives
01:09:07 – Mark Hofmann’s lack of empathy - callousness with the bombings.
01:12:44 – Mark Hofmann’s ego & his desire to pull off the “ultimate deception”
01:14:23 – Hofmann’s desire to embarrass the church & expose the faults their “power of discernment”
01:18:50 – More comparisons between Joseph Smith and Mark Hofmann – Around their “Ponzi schemes” unraveling into chaos and violence
01:20:56 – Discussion of Anthon transcript - Hofmann’s first major (known) Mormon forgery
01:28:34 – Jerald Tanner first uncovers forgery in 1960s – Oliver Cowdery pamphlet
01:31:21 – Jerald Tanner received pushback on forgery claims - Fawn Brodie and Juanita Brooks state they will continue to use the document
01:35:19 – Discussion of original Anthon transcript
01:39:08 – Hofmann’s Joseph Smith III Succession Forgery
01:45:58 - Hofmann trying to paint Brigham Young in a bad light.
01:52:11 – Brent Ashworth describing Hofmann “fishing” for documents that collectors might want
01:53:01 - Hofmann begins a bidding war over his Joseph Smith III Succession document
01:54:11 - LDS church “front buyers”
01:57:09 – Hofmann’s claim to have the McLellin collection
02:05:19 – Lyn Jacobs & Sandra’s thoughts on his omission from the “Murder Among the Mormons” documentary
02:08:18 – A discussion of frequent questions regarding Hofmann’s sexuality
02:14:09 - Hofmann’s 1825 Letter from Joseph Smith to Josiah Stowell
02:17:42 – What LDS Church leaders knew about Joseph Smith’s use of folk magic and treasure digging
02:21:15 – The Smith family merging of folk magic with Christianity - Hyrum Smith’s use of “magic documents” & Joseph Smith’s use of the “Jupiter Talisman”
02:28:52 – LDS General Authorities consciously sanitizing Mormon church history (Hinckley, Oaks, Turley)
02:31:40 – Church Patriarch Smith showing magical papers at LDS church firesides in the 20th century
02:32:50 – Wilford C. Wood “buying up” valuable LDS Church artifacts
02:36:29 – Smearing critics - tragic story of LDS Church translator, Stan Larson, losing his testimony of Book of Mormon Historicity, and being forced out of LDS Church employment.
02:42:57 – Other LDS Scholars forced out or fired
02:44:40 – Discussion of top LDS Church leaders knowing the problems with the church’s core truth claims, but continuing to mislead members intentionally
02:46:55 – The “rule” that Joseph Smith can’t be known as an intentional deceiver
02:49:56 – Did Mormon General Authority Hugh B. Brown admit that he did not believe in Book of Abraham historicity to Thomas Ferguson?
02:51:46 – Did Mormon General Authority B.H. Roberts loose his faith in Book of Mormon historicity?
02:59:51 – The integrity of Jerald Tanner.
03:05:53 - Martin Harris as one of the three witnesses
03:07:26 - Potential motives and means for deception
03:12:39 - Do LDS General Authorities have the gift of discernment? The Anthon Manuscript and photo of Hofmann with LDS General Authorities
03:16:25 - Questioning authenticity of salamander letter
03:32:13 - “Salamander or Moroni?” pamphlet for Sunstone Symposium
03:46:07 - The unwritten rule of the Mormon history community – “Don’t question Joseph Smith’s sincerity, or face marginalization”
03:52:51 - How Jerald and Sandra Tanner were disrespected by the Mormon history community & treatment of the Tanners by Dialogue and Sunstone (Tanners not allowed to have display table at Sunstone)
03:56:13 – Begrudging acceptance of Tanners after Jerald is vindicated.
04:01:01 – How Sandra’s work affected the relationship with her sister, who was embarrassed by her work
04:03:05 – God was Sandra’s motivation to keep going.
04:07:41 – The McLellin papers & other Hofmann forgeries
04:09:11 – Sandra’s discussion of Richard Turley’s book on Hofmann, Victims, & Mormon church’s obstruction of the murder investigation
04:13:47 – Hofmann’s motives for murder & conviction
04:19:27 - Discussion of first murder
04:23:13 - Brent Ashworth as potential target of Hofmann’s 3rd bomb
04:33:04 - Mark Hofmann’s plan to forge the lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon
"View of the Hebrews" is a book first published in 1823 by Ethan Smith of Vermont. In "View of the Hebrews," Ethan Smith argues (among other things) that the Native Americans were descended from the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. This book was so popular that it had a second printing in 1825.
Mormon General Authorities and apologists have feared "View of the Hebrews" for over a century, starting with B.H. Roberts in the early 1900s.
Why is "View of the Hebrews" potentially problematic for the Mormon church and the Book of Mormon? A few reasons:
- Joseph Smith claimed to have come up with the idea for the Book of Mormon the VERY SAME YEAR (1823) that "View of the Hebrews" was first published. Coincidence?
- Ethan Smith (the author of "View of the Hebrews") was Oliver Cowdery's pastor in Vermont PRIOR to his working with Joseph Smith as Book of Mormon "scribe," and it is certain that Cowdery was familiar with the book. Coincidence?
- Mormon General Authority and historian B.H. Roberts wrote hundreds of pages doing research on the disturbing similarities between View of the Hebrews and the Book of Mormon. Later, B.H. Roberts went on to lose his testimony in the historicity of the Book of Mormon. Coincidence?
Recently, the brilliant Radio Free Mormon decided to read "View of the Hebrews" from cover to cover to see what the "hubub" is all about.
Join us as we explore the following questions:
- What is View of the Hebrews fundamentally about?
- What are the important similarities and differences between View of the Hebrews and the Book of Mormon?
- Was Ethan Smith's "View of the Hebrews" a source of inspiration for the Book of Mormon?
- What cultural dynamics were at play in upstate New York in the early 1820s that could have influenced BOTH books?
- Are there any direct connections between "View of the Hebrews" and Joseph Smith?
- Why has "View of the Hebrews" caused so much concern for Mormon apologists, from B.H. Roberts to today ? How have Mormon apologists responded to View of the Hebrews?
- Does "View of the Hebrews" present significant, compelling problems for LDS Church and Book of Mormon truth claims?
Chelsea and Nick Homer were both raised as devout Utah Mormons - with all the good and bad this entailed, and both were equally determined to have the perfect Mormon marriage and family. After meeting at BYU and an extended, careful courtship, Chelsea and Nick were married in the Bountiful temple. Then their Mormon dream immediately began to fray.
Beginning with the wedding night/honeymoon, Chelsea and Nick experienced problems with sexual intimacy, due (in large part) to unhealthy messages they received around sexual "purity" and "modesty" as Mormon teens. Then, a year into their marriage, Nick began to lose his testimony in the Mormon church - causing Nick and Chelsea to seriously contemplate divorce.
When it became clear that Nick was not going to perform the priesthood blessing for their their firstborn child, Chelsea and Nick decided to courageously post about their situation on her Instagram account, in part to defy the shaming and unhealthy rumors that so often accompany this situation within Mormonism (e.g., "Nick must be into PORN!"). This post was dated September 24, 2017.
Surprisingly to both Chelsea and Nick, a Public Relations employee for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asked if Chelsea would write a post about this experience for the Church’s Instagram. This post (dated February 7, 2018) can be found here, and to date has 58,947 "likes." Later, the LDS Church PR department asked Chelsea to author an article about navigating her Mormon mixed-faith marriage as a believing wife. This heavily correlated article is entitled "Who Do I Choose - God or My Husband? - and was published by lds.org on July 25, 2018.
After these social media posts, Chelsea and Nick immediately began receiving messages, emails, and phone calls from other young Mormon couples also experiencing faith crises and/or mixed-faith marriages. To help provide support and community for all the young Mormon women who were struggling with faith crises, Chelsea formed on July 31, 2019 a Facebook group entitled "Faith Journey Meetups," which at present has over 2,000 members. The description of this group is as follows:
Welcome! This is a meetup hub for women who are actively navigating their personal faith journeys anywhere along the LDS belief spectrum. Come, make friends, schedule get-togethers. This is a safe place to find support and turn internet acquaintances into real life friends.
Eventually, Chelsea also lost her faith in the Mormon church, and today Nick and Chelsea are navigating a life of healing, growth, and joy after Mormonism.
This is their story.
Hey Mormon Stories Listeners!
I am planning some super-cool interviews for the newly released "Murder Among the Mormons" documentary (released today on Netflix). A few SUPER important requests for you all:
- Please watch it ASAP! It's fantastic!
- Please share it with all your believing Mormon family members and friends. If they are concerned about the content, consider letting them know that:
- Richard Turley (former assistant LDS Church historian and head of LDS Church Public Affairs) participates in the documentary, and
- The documentary was carefully designed by both Jared and Tyler to be fair/balanced. In my opinion, the doc is TOTALLY TBM worthy, so please watch it AND tell everyone about it!
I am planning several super cool interviews, including an interview with Directors - Jared Hess and Tyler Measom. So stay tuned for that!
Here's where I need your help. I would REALLY love it if you would share with me: a) your reactions to the doc, and b) any questions you have for Jared and Tyler. This will help me make the most of time with them (which I see as precious). It will also stand as a cool record of progressive and post-Mormon reactions to the film.
Please post your reactions here!
If you want to watch additional coverage of the Mark Hofmann bombings on Mormon Stories Podcast, you can check out the following episodes:
- An interview with Allen D. Roberts and Curt Bench about Mark Hofmann.
- An interview with Brent Metcalfe - personal friend of Mark Hofmann.
- An interview with Sandra Tanner - whose husband Jerald determined that Mark Hofmann was a fraud before any of the LDS Church leaders.
Thank you in advance for your support! And a HUGE thanks to Jared and Tyler for making a documentary that we ALL can be proud of as Mormons/Ex-Mormons. More soon!
- Do you miss the "spirituality" that you once felt as an active Mormon?
- Have you struggled to find joy/meaning/mental health after losing your Mormon faith?
- Are you still active in the LDS Church, but feeling spiritually empty as of late?
Join me as I assemble am amazing panel of wise humans to discuss "Spirituality After Mormonism." Panelists include Margi Weber Dehlin, Anthony D. Miller, Samantha Shelley (Zelph On The Shelf), and Holly Ashton Wallin.
You will not be disappointed with this amazing lineup of wise humans.
Feel free to bring your own questions, comments, and suggestions!!!!!
Show Notes:
Anthony's lists:
* **Books**:
+ A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle
+ The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell / Bill Moyers
+ Braving the Wilderness, Brene Brown
+ Lost Connections, Johann Hari
+ Untamed, Glennon Doyle
+ Everything is Spiritual, Rob Bell
+ Love Wins, Rob Bell
+ The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer
+ Searching for Sunday, Rachel Held Evans
+ Secular Buddhism, Noah Rasheta
+ Finding God in the Waves, Mike McHargue
+ This: Becoming Free, Michael Gungor
+ The Heart of Christianity, Marcus Borg
+ Falling Upward, Richard Rohr
+ Universal Christ, Richard Rohr
+ Spiritual Athiest, Nick Senaca Jankel
+ Bathing With God, Glenn Ostlund
+ Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion, Sam Harris
- Podcasts:
- A Thoughtful Faith, Gina Colvin
- Almost Awakened, Bill Reel
- Another Name for Everything, Richard Rohr
- Bathing with God, Glenn Ostlund
- Exmormonology, Amy Logan
- Making Sense, Sam Harris
- Mormon Sabbatical, Mette Ivie Harrison
- On Being with Krista Tippett
- Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations
- Secular Buddhism, Noah Rasheta
- The Liturgists Podcast
- The RobCast, Rob Bell
- Unlocking Us, Brene Brown
- Other:
- Sara Hughes-Zabawa's Spiritual Values Exercise
Samantha's Lists
- Books:
- A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle https://amzn.to/2OidTMZ
- The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer https://amzn.to/3sE6dDm
- Inner Bonding by Margaret Paul https://amzn.to/3bUcowp
- Conscious Loving by Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks https://amzn.to/2NOIX7e
- True Refuge by Tara Brach https://amzn.to/3sG151N
- Podcast:
- 10% Happier
- Meditation App:
- Headspace
Holly's Lists:
- Books:
- A New Earth
- Mans Search for Meaning
- The Four Agreements
- Universal Christ
- Seat of the Soul
- The 8 Human Talents
- Breath
- UnTamed
- Tiny Beautiful Things
- The Awakened Family
- Big Magic
- Real Love
- Poetry:
- Drew Lanham
- Mary Oliver
- Rumi
- Podcasts:
- On BEING
- Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday
- Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- Mormon Stories Podcast
- Secular Buddhism
- Another Name for Everything
- The Resilience Breakthrough
- UnLocking Us
- Tara Brach
- The Meditative Story
Margi's Lists:
- Books
- A New Earth
- Untamed
- Tiny Beautiful Things
- The Course of Love
- The Awakened Family
- Getting the Love You Want
- Broken Open
- Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
- Magical Journey
- Poetry
- Mary Oliver
- David Whyte
- Andrea Gibson
- Podcasts
- The Meditative Story
- A New Earth with Oprah
- The Living Experiment
- 10% Happier Podcast
—————
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Contact Us!
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Join us today on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Mike Rinder - former top-level Scientology Executive. Mike was raised a Scientologist, knew L. Ron Hubbard personally, and became David Miscavige's "right hand man" as he lead Scientology's "Office of Special Affairs" (OSA). The OSA handled media and public relations, legal and government relations, and dealing with the "enemies of Scientology."
Mike appeared in the Scientology documentary "Going Clear," as well as in the documentary TV Series "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath." He currently co-hosts a podcast with Leah Remini called "Scientology: Fair Game."
Hey Mormon Stories Listeners - I need your help!!!! This Friday (9am mountain time) I will be interviewing Mike Rinder - a former high-level leader of the Church of Scientology. I only have an hour with Mike, so I want to spend at least a few minutes of the hour comparing the Mormon church with the Church of Scientology.
To be clear - I have studied Scientology enough to know that it is deeply problematic....from literally kidnapping/imprisoning members, to having members physically beaten, to militantly suing members, etc. In short, I know that Scientology is a brutal, inhumane, super-harmful cult. Consequently, I am also fully aware that any comparison between the Mormon church and the Church of Scientology is deeply fraught. But hear me out.
I once read in Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs, and Steel" that sometimes the less immediately lethal viruses are often the most harmful viruses overall, primarily BECAUSE they are less deadly than their counterparts. In other words, if a virus is so deadly that it immediately kills its hosts, it has a tougher time spreading, and ultimately harms fewer organisms. Conversely, if a virus doesn't kill its host, but makes its hosts sick enough for a long enough time, the virus can spread much more successfully to a much larger population, and do more harm overall to many more people . Get it?
And so this is where I would like your feedback...and it's only an intellectual exercise. Here is the question:
If the variables we are measuring include:
1) Total human hours extracted from members without fully informed consent (total hours wasted under false pretenses, in a sense),
2) Total abuse/pain/suffering inflicted on humans under false pretenses, and
3) Total $$$ amount fraudulently extracted from its members over the lifetime of the church....again, under false pretenses and without informed consent....
...could an argument be made that the Mormon church, in aggregate, causes more overall harm than the Church of Scientology...in part BECAUSE it is somewhat less severe overall?
Also, what arguments/points am I missing?
Please make your best case below (one way or the other), and I will do my best to incorporate your input into my discussion with Mike Rinder on Friday.
Also, if you have any questions for Mike, please share them below and I will try my best to incorporate them.
THANKS IN ADVANCE!
John Dehlin
P.S. Please know that I KNOW that the Mormon Church does a TON of good in the world (particularly for its members). Believe me....I see that, and I believe that. I am talking about the harm that the Mormon Church causes IN SPITE of all the good it does as well.
Join us as we talk with cult expert Steven Hassan about how to help a loved one who believes in and follows the QAnon conspiracy cult. Questions we will address include:
- What is QAnon?
- Does QAnon qualify as a harmful cult?
- How is QAnon harming people, families, and our nation?
- How can you help a loved one who believes in and follows AQnon, or any other destructive cult?
Dr. Steven Hassan's Reddit AMA (Q&A) at QAnonCasualties entitled "How to Help People Involved in QAnon" can be found here.
Steven's main web site is: Freedom of Mind.
Books Mentioned in Today's Episode:
- Combating Cult Mind Control
- Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs
- The Cult of Trump
Cult Documentaries Mentioned in Today's Episode:
-
- The Vow NXIVM Documentary Series
- Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult
- The Great Hack
- The Social Dilemma
- People You May Know
- Going Clear
- Wild, Wild Country
- 4th Generation Warfare
Is it possible to stay active in the LDS Church in 2021 after....
....learning all of the problematic history... ....becoming an ally for LGBTQ Mormons... ...becoming a feminist... ...becoming an "intellectual Mormon"... and after losing one's orthodox faith?
More importantly, why would anyone WANT to?
In Part 1 of my two-part interview with dear friend and faith transitions coach Jana Spangler, Jana told us the story of her Mormon faith journey, which includes:
- Battling with perfectionism as an LDS teen and young adult.
- Feeling broken and inadequate as a single Mormon woman attending the University Utah, struggling to meet the church's standards of "worthiness."
- Being threatened with an LDS Disciplinary Council be a well-meaning Mormon bishop, and how that actually HELPED turn Jana's life around at the time.
- Finding and marrying Rob - who "checked all the Mormon boxes" at the time.
- Batting with infertility.
- Experiencing self-doubt and depression as a Mormon Mom.
- How Jana's passion for self-improvement and retreats/workshops led to a Mormon faith crisis.
- Jana's shifting views of Christ's atonement, which include absolute, unconditional love.
- Jana's courage to share her testimony struggles with her Holladay, Utah ward and stake.
- How untraditional Mormon podcast hosts, authors, and organizations (such as Bill Reel, Gina Colvin, Dan Wotherspoon, John Dehlin, Thomas Wirthlin McConkie, Sunstone, etc.), along with a supportive husband and understanding church leaders, helped Jana find a way to stay ACTIVE in the LDS Church.
- What factors led Jana to decide to stay active in the LDS Church...for now.
In Part 2, Jana provides a more detailed framework for how others can find a way to remain active in the LDS Church if they so desire, inspired by the works of Richard Rohr and James Fowler (among others).
Is it possible to stay active in the LDS Church in 2021 after....
....learning all of the problematic history... ....becoming an ally for LGBTQ Mormons... ...becoming a feminist... ...becoming an "intellectual Mormon"... and after losing one's orthodox faith?
More importantly, why would anyone WANT to?
In Part 1 of my two-part interview with dear friend and faith transitions coach Jana Spangler, Jana tells us the story of her Mormon faith journey, which includes:
- Battling with perfectionism as an LDS teen and young adult.
- Feeling broken and inadequate as a single Mormon woman attending the University Utah, struggling to meet the church's standards of "worthiness."
- Being threatened with an LDS Disciplinary Council be a well-meaning Mormon bishop, and how that actually HELPED turn Jana's life around at the time.
- Finding and marrying Rob - who "checked all the Mormon boxes" at the time.
- Batting with infertility.
- Experiencing self-doubt and depression as a Mormon Mom.
- How Jana's passion for self-improvement and retreats/workshops led to a Mormon faith crisis.
- Jana's shifting views of Christ's atonement, which include absolute, unconditional love.
- Jana's courage to share her testimony struggles with her Holladay, Utah ward and stake.
- How untraditional Mormon podcast hosts, authors, and organizations (such as Bill Reel, Gina Colvin, Dan Wotherspoon, John Dehlin, Thomas Wirthlin McConkie, Sunstone, etc.), along with a supportive husband and understanding church leaders, helped Jana find a way to stay ACTIVE in the LDS Church.
- What factors led Jana to decide to stay active in the LDS Church...for now.
In Part 2, Jana provides a more detailed framework for how others can find a way to remain active in the LDS Church if they so desire, inspired by the works of Richard Rohr and James Fowler (among others).
Recently, BYU Egyptologist John Gee published an article via the online Mormon apologetic website "The Interpreter" - attacking the scholarship of the Joseph Smith Papers Project, specifically Volume 4 of "The Joseph Smith Papers Revelations and Translations." The article is entitled: "Fantasy and Reality in the Translation of the Book of Abraham."
Gee's main attack targets are recently retired BYU professor Brian Hauglid and current LDS church employee Robin Jensen.
-
Why would a BYU professor be attacking the work of the Joseph Smith Papers project - both of which are owned and controlled by the LDS Church?
-
What issues are at stake in this battle between old style and new style Mormon apologists?
Join me and Radio Free Mormon on Friday at 11:15am Utah time as we discuss the history and details of this "civil war" within the world of Mormon apologetics.
Please join me as I interview Dr. William L. Davis about his book "Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon."
In this interdisciplinary work, William L. Davis examines Joseph Smith's 1829 creation of the Book of Mormon, the foundational text of the Latter Day Saint movement. Positioning the text within the history of early American oratorical techniques, sermon culture, educational practices, and the passion for self-improvement, Davis elucidates both the fascinating cultural contexts for the creation of the Book of Mormon and the central role of oral culture in early nineteenth-century America.
Drawing on performance studies, religious studies, literary culture, and the history of early American education, Davis analyzes Smith’s process of oral composition. How did he produce a history spanning a period of 1,000 years, filled with hundreds of distinct characters and episodes, all cohesively tied together in an overarching narrative? Eyewitnesses claimed that Smith never looked at notes, manuscripts, or books—he simply spoke the words of this American religious epic into existence. Judging the truth of this process is not Davis's interest. Rather, he reveals a kaleidoscope of practices and styles that converged around Smith's creation, with an emphasis on the evangelical preaching styles popularized by the renowned George Whitefield and John Wesley.
William L. Davis, an independent scholar, holds a Ph.D. in theater and performance and has published in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought; John Bunyan Studies: A Journal of Reformation and Nonconformist Culture; Leviathan: A Journal of Melville Studies; Style; Text and Performance Quarterly; and Textual Cultures.
Dr. William L. Davis’ book, “Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon” can be purchased in the following ways:
University of North Carolina Press
Amazon
For those who really care about Mormon Stories Podcast, and particularly for those who donate, please provide feedback when you can.
Thanks!
John
Please join me as Neon Trees front man Tyler Glenn and award-winning pianist and composer Paul Cardall return to Mormon Stories Podcast to premiere a new music video: "I Know It Hurts", from Paul Cardall's memoir-style album "The Broken Miracle." We would welcome your questions for Tyler and Paul during this live Q&A. “I Know It Hurts” was co-written by Cardall and Glenn after they met several years ago at the famed LOVELOUD Festival, where they were both performing. Glenn is co-founder of the festival, alongside Imagine Dragon’s Dan Reynolds. “Before writing this song, Tyler and I discussed at length the challenges we all feel that result from trauma,” Cardall explains. “In my case, though my heart transplant was a beautifully orchestrated miracle, it was still the grand finale to a lot of years of medical trauma. It triggered anxiety and depression. For everyone who is suffering, not necessarily physically, but because they are different or feel like an outsider, I want to say to them, ‘I know it hurts.’ This song acknowledges that you are not alone. This song validates our feelings in a way that says, ‘keep going, keep fighting, we understand.’” Glenn adds, “I wanted the lyric and performance of this song to convey a sense of understanding how it feels to get through a trauma or heartache. So much of life for many is the search for a sense of belonging, a sense of self-worth. This song feels more like an acknowledgement of that, and I hope it brings a feeling of being seen and comforted. I hope those in pain from whatever it may be, feel a sense of validation.” The video, directed by Rob Norbutt, is in stark black and white, the simplicity of which amplifies the power of the message: You’ve been floating out in space You just wanted to believe There were tears upon your face And your body felt no ease Dear God is there not more Cuz it’s cold on the church floor Cardall’s new album is more than a colorful collection of 19 emotionally-charged songs. The Broken Miracle is a musical memoir, a personal manifesto that celebrates a life filled with nearly unfathomable tragedy and heady triumph. An enthusiastic collaborator, Cardall welcomes an all-star cast of creative partners on The Broken Miracle. The title track was penned with Christian music veteran Matt Hammitt and Carter Forge, and is sung by Hammitt. “Broken Machine” features singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata’s vocals on the tune Cardall co-wrote with Yamagata and Trevor Price. In addition to Glenn, the project also includes appearances by Ty Herndon, J. Daniel, and Akelee; while pop star David Archuleta sings the power-ballad “My Heart Beats for You.” His collaboration with Thompson Square on “All I See is Snow” was declared “ the Christmas song of the pandemic.” Cardall’s evolution as an artist continues with the release of The Broken Miracle, a title inspired by his true-to-life story of being born with a congenital heart defect, which nearly took his life numerous times. Cardall received a heart transplant 10 years ago and continues to thrive as a father, husband, and artist. The Broken Miracle will also be released as a biographical fiction novel written by J.D. Netto. The book will be released February 2.
Join us for a review of Fiona and Terryl Givens' new book: "All Things New: Rethinking Sin, Salvation, and Everything in Between."
According to Amazon: "In this book, Fiona and Terryl Givens trace the roots of our religious vocabulary, explore how a flawed inheritance compounds the wounds and challenges of a life devoted to discipleship, and suggest ways of reformulating our language in more healthy ways all in the hope that, as B. H. Roberts urged, we may all cooperate in the works of the Spirit to find a truer expression of a gospel restored." Panelists include Jana Spangler, Anthony D. Miller, and Brittney Hartley.
After being raised by an orthodox Mormon mother and a "redneck, somewhat Jack Mormon Pioneer stock dad," Gretchen Day decided that she was going to be an "all in" Mormon mother. After getting engaged at age 19 (as a BYU Freshman), Gretchen went on to get married in the LDS temple, and to fulfill many of the stereotypes of a Utah County Ultra-Orthodox Mormon mother, including:
- Having 8 children.
- Homeschooling her children using Book of Mormon-based curriculum.
- Raising her children with little to no media.
- Imposing strict "modesty" guidelines on her children (mostly her daughters).
- Doing at least one underwater home birth.
- Pursuing strict dietary practices ("perfect eating) such as restricting sugar, eating only raw, vegan foods, etc.
Over time, Gretchen's ultra-orthodox Mormon dream began to crumble in several different ways:
- She began to experience serious depression.
- She started making serious life decisions based on "spiritual experiences" based on feelings -- that may not have been very healthy for her (in hindsight).
- Some of her children started to lose their testimonies of the church.
- She had a son who became seriously depressed and ultimately suicidal, based in part on inhumane "worthiness" interviews conducted by well-intentioned bishops, mission, and stake presidents - who were/are operating within an abusive system. This included feeling pressure to lie about his faith crisis to his home ward and BYU bishop, in order to keep his place at BYU and to stay in good standing with the church.
- She began learning about factual Mormon church history (e.g., polygamy, Book of Mormon problems), which became deeply triggering for her.
As Gretchen's faith began to crumble, she started to feel trapped within the Utah County Mormon bubble.
- Should she lie to her son about her faith journey, as he was preparing to leave on his mission, or should she be honest with him and risk spoiling his experience?
- Was she trapped in a "Mormon mafia" of sorts, with no escape?
- Should she "come out" to fellow ward members and leadership, and risk social ostracization?
- Or should she quietly "fade away" from church activity to avoid any conflict?
In Gretchen's case, she decided to leave the church in a very vocal fashion. This has included:
- Writing a letter/email ward members to explain why she was leaving the church.
- Inviting her bishopric to attend a "Resignation Speech" that she offered to them, primarily with the intent of recovering her lost voice as a Mormon woman, and speaking her truth.
- Diving deeply into the "cult" and "unethical persuasion" literature,
- Creating a web site to share her story and perspectives with the world.
- Authoring a series of children's books to help parents educate their children about how to avoid falling prey to undue influence of any sort.
If you are seeking a powerful, inspiring story of one ultra-orthodox Utah county Mother's journey out of Mormonism, this is it. If you enjoyed the interviews of folks like Donna Showalter, Leah Young, you will deeply treasure this interview (but only after it breaks your heart).
Gregory Barnes is a Mormon filmmaker and artist raised in Oak Park, Illinois. He studied film at BYU and served a Mormon mission in Argentina. Raised a faithful Mormon, Gregory was influenced by the comedic absurdity of exiting that Jell-O-obsessed desert religion.
Gregory currently is a Master’s Student at TISCH at NYU where he made his most recent short film The Touch of the Master’s Hand -- a dark comedy about a Mormon missionary who confesses an unusual pornography addiction to his mission president. The film premieres at the Sundance Film Festival this week.
Gregory's work has been featured by NPR, Playboy, and Pitchfork.
Clip from movie: https://letterboxd.com/festiville/story/exclusive-clip-greg-barnes-mormon-masturbation/?fbclid=IwAR1wLkfTSrP06TpCoMac0ccOdq_uKWvikcPE_ODomZ8gACJCBfwz-h939rI
https://fpg.festival.sundance.org/film-info/5fd1639604818b0ec7648fa7?fbclid=IwAR0_XlPZxkvM_JkWJbl3NrZV7EHJIdr5b-cZLmDzUAqWQlbBB0krBYjOTKo
https://www.gregorybarnes.com
After losing your orthodox Mormon faith, have you given up on the possibility of any sort of belief in and/or association with "God" or "Jesus"? More importantly, are you seeking to fill some of the existential and/or spiritual holes left over after your faith crisis?
Today I sit down with John Hamer, Community of Christ Seventy and pastor of the Community of Christ Toronto Congregation to talk about why he thinks theists especially, but also some atheists have adopted a counterproductive position about the idea of "God." We'll also discuss why he thinks this is even a relevant conversation to have in the 21st century. Didn't rational people hash this all out in the Enlightenment? John Hamer believes that the majority of Christians including many intellectual leaders of the movement took a wrong turn centuries ago and with negative consequences for the whole path of Western civilization today. He proposes going back and exploring an alternative path, including opening up the term "God" as a variable in need of undefinition and reexamination. What, if anything, might this accomplish?
Tune in and pose your own questions and objections.
John Larsen is one of the most influential and well-respected figures within Modern progressive and post-Mormon communities. John (along with his ex-wife Zilpha) was the co-host of Mormon Expression podcast for several years, and he is an occasional host of Sunstone Podcast. He has appeared on Mormon Stories Podcast several times over the past decade.
In today's episode I bring John Larson back, and we discuss several topics, including:
-Divorce after a faith crisis.
-Raising children with mental illness after a faith crisis.
-Alcohol and drug use after a faith crisis.
-Non-monogamy/swinging after a faith crisis.
-The LDS Church's response to the COVID pandemic.
-The impact of the QAnon phenomenon within the United States, and within the LDS Church.
-How conservative politics within the U.S. are tearing apart some Utah wards and families.
-What it would take to bring John Larsen back as a podcaster.
-The need for kindness within both political and religious discourse, and how challenging this can be.
John Larsen is one of my favorite thinkers in modern Mormonism, and is a fantastic guest. you will not be disappointed with this episode.
=============
Some of the Mormon Expression episodes mention in this episode include:
-Episode 27: The Word of Wisdom for Dummies
-Episode 95a: Doctrine and Covenants 132 for Dummies Part 1
-Episode 95b: Doctrine and Covenants 132 for Dummies part 2
-Episode 275: How to Become an Ex-ex-Mormon
-Episode 276: How to build a transoceanic vessel
John's past Mormon Stories Podcast episode include:
-Episodes 186-187: "Mormon Stories Broadcasts Live with John Larsen and You!"
-Episode 312: Mormon Expression Interviews John Dehlin
-Episode 531: "John Larsen's Mormon Expression"
-Episode 1097: "Building Community after Mormonism: A Conversation with John Larsen"
In this short Mormon Stories Episode I sat down with Trent Told, who created a prototype of Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon Plates. Based on Dan Vogel’s theories surrounding the “Tin Plates” and the Book of Mormon, Trent created a proof of concept model of the Book of Mormon made out of tin, in order to help demonstrate the physical size and weight of the plates. This model is also intended to help illustrate complexity and improbability that Joesph Smith could have possessed and handled actual Gold Plates (let alone run with them).
Join me today for one of my favorite Mormon Stories Podcast interviews/interviewees of all time. In today's episode, Stanford University graduate student Amy McPhie Allebest returns to discuss the development of patriarchy within human civilization, with a specific focus on the religious context. She also announces her new podcast entitled "Breaking Down Patriarchy - An Essential Texts Book Club."
Patriarchy has incredibly deep roots in the human condition, and harms everyone - especially women, but also men, youth, and children. This episode is for ALL of us, and you will not be disappointed with Amy's incredible knowledge, insight, and compassion.
The Oxford Dictionary defines patriarchy as "a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it." All cultures all over the world practice patriarchy, sometimes violently, sometimes seemingly benevolently, sometimes in ways we are so accustomed to that we don't even notice. But when was patriarchy instituted? How? Why? Who has challenged this system, and how have their critiques changed the world?
Breaking Down Patriarchy: An Essential Texts Book Club answers these questions, as well as addressing the very personal ways that patriarchy impacts our lives and relationships. Every week, an intelligent, insightful, relatable guest joins host Amy McPhie Allebest to read and discuss a historical text. Listeners are invited to read the book ahead of time, but even if they are not able to read, Amy and her reading partners provide a thorough "breakdown" of the issues and powerful, practical takeaways that benefit the real lives of women - and men! - everywhere.
Check out the introductory episode to hear about the reading list, and the egalitarian vision that aims to foster the flourishing of all human beings, including boys and men.
Amy's Bio: I grew up in Colorado as the oldest of 5 children, reading, writing, drawing, singing, and practicing the piano and violin. I attended Brigham Young University, where I met Erik Allebest during my first week of freshman year, studied abroad in Israel, lived in Chile for a year and a half as a missionary, and married Erik all before graduating with a degree in English. Erik and I moved around - to Colorado, Southern California, Utah, Spain, and Northern California - while Erik started and ran chess businesses for a living (primarily chess.com) and I stayed home to raise our four children. Those four kids have become brilliant, hilarious people and are our very best friends. I am a long-time trail runner, a recent CrossFitter, a lifelong reader and writer, and an almost-graduate of Stanford University's Master's of Liberal Arts program.
Web Site Link: www.breakingdownpatriarchy.com
Facebook Page: facebook.com/breakingdownpatriarchy
Instagram: @bdownpatriarchy
Twitter: @bdownpatriarchy #patriarchy #feminism #mormon
In my opinion, one of the most damaging books ever published by the Mormon Church is Spencer W. Kimball’s “The Miracle of Forgiveness.” Among other things, this book teaches that:
- No young Mormon man or woman is worthy to go on a mission if they masturbate.
- Masturbation alone leads to masturbation with others, which leads to “homosexuality.”
- Being gay or lesbian is “ugly,” “repugnant,” and comparable to a disease.
- “Homosexuality” leads to bestiality.
- “Homosexuality” can be easily “cured.”
- People who have pre-marital sex, and even rape victims, are “blighted” and “scarred.”
- It is far better to die than to lose one’s “virtue.”
- Death by suicide is a sign of foolishness, faithlessness and/or weakness and/or sin.
To be clear, this book is currently sold at Deseret Book, and remains on the book shelves of hundreds of thousands of Mormons across the world.
In this short presentation, I offer my brief argument for why I believe that “The Miracle of Forgiveness” should be removed from Deseret Book, and I let listeners and viewers know what they can do to help. I also share my thoughts on what the Mormon Church can do to help “atone” for selling this damaging book for several decades.
How You Can Help:
- Share this Presentation.
- Email Deseret Book:
- service@deseretbook.com
- mediainquiry@deseretbook.com
- hrdept@deseretbook.com
- Call Deseret Book
- 1-800-453-4532 (Toll-Free US and Canada)
- 1-801-517-3369 (International)
- Speak to any influencers you know.
- Do what you can to remove this book from the access of people who might be vulnerable (book shelves, etc.).
- Please share with me/us what you did, and the reactions.
- Remember the date: 1/18/2021.
- Monitor deseretbook.com for when they take the book down.
- I will throw a party when it’s gone (likely this summer post-COVID)
P.S. This is a re-recording to make the video less “ranty,” and to remove the discussion of book bans and book burnings, which is not useful. HUGE thanks to everyone who gave feedback on this. I always want to be a constructive voice.
Please join me and Radio Free Mormon for a discussion of “Laura A. Gaddy vs. the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” – a class action lawsuit currently before the United States District Court for the District of Utah, with Robert J. Shelby as the Presiding Judge.
The main purpose of the case is as follows: “The case seeks certification as a class action based upon the large number of former Mormons who have been deceived by Defendant COP’s fraud, as a result of the Mormon Corporate Empire’s longstanding coordinated lies and material omissions about its history as well as lies about its use of tithing donations and how it would use that tithing in the future.”
Two of the main documents central to the case can be found here (for your review):
- Gaddy v. LDS MDO Granting Defendants Motion to Dismiss
- Gaddy v. LDS Amended Complaint
- Gaddy vs. LDS Opposition to Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint
Click here to contact Kay Burningham (the attorney on this case), or to follow this case.
Financial donations to support the past and ongoing expenses for the case can be made here.
P.S. One primary motivator for this episode is to fundraise for Radio Free Mormon so that he can be supported in his podcasting efforts, and so that we can keep him around for a very long time. Please click here to become a monthly donor to Radio Free Mormon.
In a recent video released by paid actors supported by FAIRMormon and the More Good Foundation, Kwaku El, Brad Witbeck, and Cardon Ellis make the claim that I and Mormon Stories (and Jeremy Runnells) are intentionally "homewrecking for profit" with the work we do.
In an attempt to combat this hurtful claim, I reached out to our amazing Mormon Stories Listeners, requesting your help by sharing if/how Mormon Stories Podcast has helped your family. I have been deeply honored and humbled by the overwhelming support we have received, and would like to personally thank each one of you that were brave enough to share your own “Mormon Story” with me.
Mormon Stories podcast seeks to understand, explore, challenge, and improve the Mormon experience through stories, and has never had the intention of harming families in any way. In fact, we strive to support and mend family relationships by promoting healthy communication skills and unconditional love.
The primary objectives of Mormon Stories podcast include:
- Providing support to Mormons who are transitioning away from either orthodox Mormonism, or from Mormonism altogether, with a particular emphasis on:
-
- Minimizing the anxiety, depression, and occasional suicidality that can accompany a transition away from religious orthodoxy.
- Reducing the number of unnecessary divorces attributable to Mormon faith crises.
- Creating a community of support for liberal/progressive and post-Mormons.
- Building greater awareness regarding accurate LDS/Mormon church history, doctrine, and theology – so that both active, believing Mormons and investigators of the church can make informed decisions regarding their investment in, and engagement with the church.
- Identifying opportunities for growth/improvement within the LDS church, and within broader Mormon culture.
Mormon Stories Podcast by no means benefits from the destruction of families, and we are saddened to see our community mis-represented in this way. It is my hope that the personal accounts represented in this video will be evidence of how Mormon Stories has actually benefited the lives of our listeners, and lay to rest the claim that Jeremy Runnells and myself have ever participated in “homewrecking for profit.”
Thank you.
Recently two friends of mine (Liz Cannon and Ray Purcell) asked to interview me about my role and experiences over the past 20 years trying to support people experiencing a Mormon faith crisis.
This is our interview.
Note: This interview is not a "typical" Mormon Stories Podcast interview, in that it warrants a PG-13 "rating" due to some adult language and topics in the interview. Listener and viewer discretion is advised.
I hope you enjoy.
Jim Bennett is the author of "A Faithful Reply to the CES Letter." He is also the son of the late Utah U.S. Senator Bob Bennett.
In Part 5 of a multi-part series with Jim, I bring to Jim listener/viewer questions, along with several questions/observations of my own, into a passionate, 4 hour final conversation.
If you were frustrated that I gave Jim "a pass" in the previous episodes, you may be more satisfied with this episode.
Jim Bennett is the author of "A Faithful Reply to the CES Letter." He is also the son of the late Utah U.S. Senator Bob Bennett.
In Part 4 of a multi-part series with Jim, we discuss in-depth his approach to maintaining belief in the Mormon church AFTER exposure to all of the historical and social problems currently vexing the LDS church, as highlighted in Jeremy Runnell's groundbreaking book "CES Letter: My Search for Answers to my Mormon Doubts."
Today's episode covers:
- Women and the church and the Ordain Women movement.
- The Mormon church's approach to "Law of Chastity" issues including pornography, masturbation, and one-on-one "worthiness interviews."
- The Mormon church's handling and mishandling of sexual abuse cases.
- The Mormon church's treatment (including excommunication) of activists and critics.
- A closing discussion of the faith crisis "epidemic" within the modern LDS church, and Jim's opinions about the best way to handle the situation.
To thank Jim for his participation so far in this series, please email him at: jim@canonizer.com.
Jim Bennett is the author of "A Faithful Reply to the CES Letter." He is also the son of the late Utah U.S. Senator Bob Bennett.
In Part 2 of a multi-part series with Jim, we discuss in-depth his approach to maintaining belief in the Mormon church AFTER exposure to all of the historical and social problems currently vexing the LDS church, as highlighted in Jeremy Runnell's groundbreaking book "CES Letter: My Search for Answers to my Mormon Doubts."
Today's episode covers:
- Joseph Smith's polygamy.
- Racism in the Book of Mormon.
- The LDS Church priesthood and temple ban on members of African descent.
- The LDS Church's teachings regarding LGBTQ members and same-sex marriage.
- What is the role/need for Mormon prophets?
Also, please do not miss my dear friend Bill Reel's super in-depth interview with Jim if you happened to miss it.
Jim Bennett is the author of "A Faithful Reply to the CES Letter." He is also the son of the late Utah U.S. Senator Bob Bennett.
In Part 2 of a multi-part series with Jim, we discuss in-depth his approach to maintaining belief in the Mormon church AFTER exposure to all of the historical and social problems currently vexing the LDS church, as highlighted in Jeremy Runnell's groundbreaking book "CES Letter: My Search for Answers to my Mormon Doubts."
Today's episode covers:
- The Book of Mormon
- The Witnesses to the Book of Mormon
- The Book of Abraham
- The Kinderhook Plates
- The First Vision
- And much, much more!
Also, please do not miss my dear friend Bill Reel's super in-depth interview with Jim if you happened to miss it.
Jim Bennett is the author of "A Faithful Reply to the CES Letter." He is also the son of the late Utah U.S. Senator Bob Bennett.
In Part 1 of a multi-part series with Jim, we discuss in-depth his approach to maintaining belief in the Mormon church AFTER exposure to to all of the historical and social problems currently vexing the LDS church, as highlighted in Jeremy Runnell's groundbreaking book "CES Letter: My Search for Answers to my Mormon Doubts.
Today's episode covers:
- How/why to continue believing in God after a Mormon crisis of faith.
- How/why to continue believing in Jesus after a Mormon crisis of faith.
- What it means to Jim to be a fallible Mormon prophet.
- How Jim views the claim that the Mormon church is the "one true church."
- Jim's condemnation of FAIRMormon's recent YouTube videos attacking Jeremy Runnells and me.
Are you looking for a story of hope and love to end this gosh-forsaken year? Here you go.
WordPerfect co-founder and philanthropist Bruce Bastian (interviewed here and here) never expected to find love again after his mixed-orientation Mormon marriage dissolved.
Then he met Clint Ford.
This is an epic love story for the ages, folks. So hopeful. So inspiring. I hope you enjoy!!!! And I hope that this story makes you as happy as it made me.
Ten years ago I interviewed WordPerfect co-founder and philanthropist Bruce Bastian, wherein we discussed his life growing up as gay Mormon boy in Idaho, his years at WordPerfect, his journey "coming out" as a gay Mormon father in the 1990s, and his early efforts to support LGBTQ rights.
Since this first interview, Bruce became even more active in fighting for LGBTQ equality in the United States, continuing his involvement with the Human Rights Campaign and supporting LGBTQ equality in Utah - all of which meaningfully contributed to the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States in 2015.
Recently I sat down again with Bruce to record a history of these past 10 years from his perspective. I hope you enjoy!
Today, Anthony Miller, Jana Spangler and Brittney Hartley join us to discuss the topic of navigating and enjoying Christmas after a Mormon faith crisis.
Zelph on the Shelf is one of the most successful YouTube channels in history dedicated to exploring Mormonism in thoughtful and entertaining ways.
Five years ago I sat down with Samantha Shelley and Tanner Gilliland to discuss their loss of faith as "Mormon Millennials." That episode was extremely well-received at the time, and was highly influential in the journey of tens of thousands of Mormons, including Tyler Glenn (lead singer of Neon Trees).
Today's episode with Tanner and Samantha will be in two parts:
Part 1: Samantha and Tanner discuss the evolution and impact of Zelph on the Shelf over the past 5 years.
Part 2 (My favorite part): Samantha and Tanner discuss how they have healed and grown over the past 5 years in many of the domains most salient to transitioning Mormons, including: creativity, community, identity, mental health, spirituality, sexuality, finding meaning/purpose in their lives, and in thoughts about death and the afterlife.
Part 3: We end this interview by discussing Tanner and Samantha's perspective on the recent Mormon apologetic content released by FAIRMormon, featuring controversial apologist Kwaku El.
I found Samantha and Tanner to be incredibly thoughtful and wise, and am confident that you will thoroughly enjoy this episode.
Recently, the Mormon apologetic organization FAIRMormon has released several aggressive new videos via their YouTube Channel starring the actors Kwaku El, Cardon Ellis, and Brad Witbeck. These videos are intended to appeal to younger Latter-day saints, but also launch aggressive attacks against me (John Dehlin) and Jeremy Runnells (author of the CES Letter). The historical accuracy/honesty of these videos has also been called into question by many.
Today we interview Anthony D. Miller - a wise and thoughtful post-Mormon - about these latest events. Some of the topics we hope to cover are listed below. We would also welcome your questions/comments.
Topics for today:
- Motivations behind Mormon apologetics.
- Differences between Mormon apologetics and critical scholarship
- Contrast traditional apologetics and more progressive, nuanced apologetics
- Examples of people who have shifted from apologetics towards critical scholarship, and their explanations as to “the why.”
- Examples of people who engage with critical scholarship, but operate within Mormonism with a mostly a metaphorical paradigm with an apologetic bent.
- Contrast how GenZ, Millennials, GenX, and Baby Boomers engage with information.
- How GenZ at times experiences fragility, catastrophizing, call-out culture, and perception of violence in speech, and how these things affect engagement with apologetics and scholarship. (Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Coddling of the American Mind).
- Current spectrum of apologetics
- Approaches and methods for distribution
- Firesides and conferences
- Radical Orthodoxy proclamation, Deznat, etc.
- Adaptations to respond to social media, YouTube, TikTok
- What we might expect going forward
- Will this approach work? Will it backfire? Is it ethical?
Recently I was super fortunate to sit down with reality tv stars Heather Gay and Dre Nord - who are both currently appearing on BravoTV's "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City." In this three-part series, we focus on Heather and Dre's life experiences within the context of Mormonism (and Utah Mormonism).
Part 1 covers...
- Heather and Dre's early years as devout Mormons.
- Dre's marriage, divorce, and faith crisis as a Mormon in her early 20s. This includes how Dre navigated her life as a divorced single ex-Mormon Utah Mom without a college degree.
- Heather's experiences at BYU and serving an LDS mission in France.
- Heather's somewhat challenging efforts to find a faithful Mormon husband (Billy Gay).
- Dre shares how she almost lost her mother to death by suicide, in part due to pressures of "perfectionism" that many Mormon women experience.
- Heather shares some of the reactions she has received from members of the Mormon and ex-Mormon communities, as well as from the Utah LGBTQ community, regarding her participation in the show.
https://youtu.be/svHV0bQEHwA
Part 2 covers...
- Heather's marriage to Billy Gay III, which culminated in Heather becoming Relief Society President ended in divorce.
- How Heather and Dre met, and how they were able to build a successful, multi-million dollar business together (Beauty Lab Laser) as divorced Mormon single women in Utah.
- Dre shares the tragic story of losing her brother to suicide last year, and how she and Heather created a 501c3 non-profit called "Don't Leave" to help "break the stigma around mental health."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtUYWOc_JOo&feature=youtu.be
Part 3 covers...
- Heather's struggle to accept the end of her "Eternal Marriage," which included years of denial.
- Heather's life as a divorced single Mom, which included experimentation with things she never considered trying as a devout Mormon (e.g. alcohol).
- How Heather's perspective on Mormonism changed once she became dear friends with two wonderful gay Mormon men.
- Heather and Dre discuss their opinions about how harmful the LDS Church's doctrine around LGBTQ members is.
- Heather and Dre also discuss the ways in which the LDS Church's "Proclamation on the Famly" harms not only LGBTQ members, but also Mormon women/girls and men/boys as well.
- Heather discusses her current struggle to reconcile her longstanding orthodox Mormon beliefs as they conflict with her developing beliefs about life.
This is a heartwarming, epic, and inspiring story of resilience. I was deeply moved by this vulnerability, wisdom, courage, and resilience of these inspiring women.
Please share any questions or comments you have for Heather and Dre below.
Recently I was super fortunate to sit down with reality tv stars Heather Gay and Dre Nord - who are both currently appearing on BravoTV's "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City." In this three-part series, we focus on Heather and Dre's life experiences within the context of Mormonism (and Utah Mormonism).
Part 1 covers...
- Heather and Dre's early years as devout Mormons.
- Dre's marriage, divorce, and faith crisis as a Mormon in her early 20s. This includes how Dre navigated her life as a divorced single ex-Mormon Utah Mom without a college degree.
- Heather's experiences at BYU and serving an LDS mission in France.
- Heather's somewhat challenging efforts to find a faithful Mormon husband (Billy Gay).
- Dre shares how she almost lost her mother to death by suicide, in part due to pressures of "perfectionism" that many Mormon women experience.
- Heather shares some of the reactions she has received from members of the Mormon and ex-Mormon communities, as well as from the Utah LGBTQ community, regarding her participation in the show.
https://youtu.be/svHV0bQEHwA
Part 2 covers...
- Heather's marriage to Billy Gay III, which culminated in Heather becoming Relief Society President ended in divorce.
- How Heather and Dre met, and how they were able to build a successful, multi-million dollar business together (Beauty Lab Laser) as divorced Mormon single women in Utah.
- Dre shares the tragic story of losing her brother to suicide last year, and how she and Heather created a 501c3 non-profit called "Don't Leave" to help "break the stigma around mental health."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtUYWOc_JOo&feature=youtu.be
Part 3 covers...
- Heather's struggle to accept the end of her "Eternal Marriage," which included years of denial.
- Heather's life as a divorced single Mom, which included experimentation with things she never considered trying as a devout Mormon (e.g. alcohol).
- How Heather's perspective on Mormonism changed once she became dear friends with two wonderful gay Mormon men.
- Heather and Dre discuss their opinions about how harmful the LDS Church's doctrine around LGBTQ members is.
- Heather and Dre also discuss the ways in which the LDS Church's "Proclamation on the Famly" harms not only LGBTQ members, but also Mormon women/girls and men/boys as well.
- Heather discusses her current struggle to reconcile her longstanding orthodox Mormon beliefs as they conflict with her developing beliefs about life.
This is a heartwarming, epic, and inspiring story of resilience. I was deeply moved by this vulnerability, wisdom, courage, and resilience of these inspiring women.
Please share any questions or comments you have for Heather and Dre below.
Mormon Stories Listeners,
I really need your help. The Mormon Church is funneling millions of dollars each year into non-profit "charities" like the More Good Foundation and FAIRMormon to smear my name and Jeremy Runnell's name, in hopes of destroying the positive impact of Mormon Stories Podcast. Watch any cult documentary. It's what cults do.
In a recent video released by paid actors supported by FAIRMormon and the More Good Foundation, Kwaku El, Brad Witbeck, and Cardon Ellis make the claim that I and Mormon Stories (and Jeremy Runnells) are intentionally "homewrecking for profit" with the work we do. Here's a clip of their lies.
https://youtu.be/3jYZNBwsS3Q?t=86
I could really use your help in the following way:
- Please record a short video or write out a paragraph or two describing if/how Mormon Stories Podcast has helped (or harmed) your family.
- Feel free to include what role (if any) the LDS Church, and/or apologetic sites like FAIRMormon played in promoting family health and unity, or in harming your family.
- Please email your videos to me here: mormonstories@gmail.com, or you can message them to me on Facebook.
- Or if you prefer to write your story, please do so in the comments below.
- Please know that these videos and/or this text could be used publicly.
This would mean the world to me, and will help blunt the lies that FAIRMormon, Cardon, Kwaku, Brad, and the More Good Foundation are telling people.
Thank you so, so much for your support.
John Dehlin
Recently I was super fortunate to sit down with reality tv stars Heather Gay and Dre Nord - who are both currently appearing on BravoTV's "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City."
In this two-part series, we focus on Heather and Dre's experiences as Mormons. Topics covered in today's episode include:
- Heather and Dre's early years as devout Mormons.
- Dre's marriage, divorce, and faith crisis as a Mormon in her early 20s.
- Heather's experiences at BYU and serving an LDS mission in France.
- Heather's somewhat challenging efforts to find a faithful Mormon husband (Billy Gay).
- Heather also provides glimpses into her emerging Mormon faith crisis, which she is currently in the middle of processing.
- Heather shares some of the reactions she has received from members of the Mormon and ex-Mormon communities, as well as from the Utah LGBTQ community, regarding her participation in the show.
This is a heartwarming and inspiring story of resilience. I was deeply moved by this vulnerability, wisdom, courage, and resilience of these inspiring women.
Next week we plan to share Part 2 of this interview, which will cover:
- Heather's marriage to Billy Gay III, which ended in divorce.
- Dre's life as a single Mom in Utah.
- How Heather and Dre met, and how they were able to build a successful, multi-million dollar business together as divorce Mormon single women in Utah (Beauty Lab Laser).
- Heather will go into more detail about her Mormon faith crisis.
- Heather and Dre will share their perspectives on life today, as highly successful entrepreneurial non-practicing Mormon single moms in Utah.
In today’s episode we will provide an overview of several LDS church apologetic non-profits, and discuss recent concerns about dishonesty, mean-spiritedness, and the incitement of violence by some people associated with these Mormon apologist non-profits. The Mormon apologetic non-profits that we will be discussing today include: the More Good Foundation, the Mormon Interpreter Foundation, Book of Mormon Central, and FAIRMormon.
Paul Cardall battled long odds from birth, eventually triumphing over a serious heart disability to earn distinction as an outstanding composer and pianist. In 1997 he first won widespread notice by setting author Richard Paul Evans’ No. 1 NY Times best-seller The Christmas Box to music. Cardall’s achievements range from releasing 11 chart-topping albums, winning the Gospel Music Association Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year, collaborating with Grammy-winning singer CeCe Winans, Audrey Assad, The Piano Guys among other distinguished artists.
With over 2 billion streams, Cardall is one of the most listened to Steinway & Sons sponsored artist in music business. His entrepreneurial activities include founding and directing the Stone Angel Music label and recording studio, promoting medical research and providing scholarships for congenital heart disease through his foundation. Cardall’s music has included works for piano, vocal, band and orchestral settings. On his latest album, Peaceful Piano, he returns to his solo performance roots while exploring complete real-time improvisation for the first time.
Paul's Mormon story includes:
- Growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah, learning to "fit in" as a child and youth with a heart condition.
- Serving an LDS mission, and marrying in an LDS temple.
- Paul's rise to celebrity as a piano performer - first in Salt Lake City, then joining the LDS Church speaking/inspiration circuit, and ultimately becoming a world-renowned musician, with hundreds of millions of Spotify downloads.
- Paul's receipt of a human heart transplant, and his recovery.
- Paul's struggles to maintain a healthy/happy marriage, ultimately leading to his disfellowshipment from the LDS Church and a shaming public divorce.
- Paul's remarriage to a non-LDS woman, and his invitation to co-author a Mormon hymn with LDS Church apostle David A. Bednar called "One by One."
- Paul's loss of testimony in the LDS Church, and his discovery of a new faith in traditional, non-denominational Christianity.
Cardall’s story is continuing to evolve as an artist, author and humanitarian. His upcoming album The Broken Miracle, which will be available for pre-order this December, was inspired by J.D. Netto’s biographical fictional novel, based on real events in the artists life from being born with only half a heart, enduring a series of surgeries, which culminated in a heart transplant. While waiting for a donor heart, the pianist’s brother was tragically killed. The album will feature several award-winning guests including David Archuleta, Ty Herndon, Thompson Square, Neon Tress’ Tyler Glenn and more.
We hope you enjoy this episode! Paul is a fantastic human.
In 2014 the LDS Church released an essay entitled "Race and the Priesthood" as part of its Gospel Topics Essays Initiative. This essay was groundbreaking in that it officially renounced past LDS racist teachings regarding blacks and the LDS Priesthood. This essay has been highly controversial. Some see it as groundbreaking positive progress. Some see it as deceptive and/or inadequate. Others lost their faith in the LDS Church because of it.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we interview Dr. Matt Harris who recently published an analysis of the Race and Priesthood essay. Matt's essay is entitled "Whiteness Theology and the Evolution of Mormon Racial Teachings." This essay is contained within the newly released book entitled "The LDS Gospel Topics Series: A Scholarly Engagement" published by Signature Books (edited by Matt Harris and Newell G. Bringhurst).
Click here to purchase this very important book: https://www.amazon.com/LDS-Gospel-Topics-Scholarly-Engagement/dp/1560852879
Join me now as I interview historian Dr. Matt Harris about his new book entitled "The LDS Gospel Topics Series: A Scholarly Engagement" published by Signature Books. In this episode we will provide an overview of the book, and discuss the events that led to the release of the essays by the LDS Church.
In today's Mormon Stories Podcast episode legendary Utah journalist and investigator Lynn Packer discusses his recent investigation into possible fraud perpetrated by Utah Mormon Tim Ballard and Utah Mormon Attorney General Sean Reyes - as part of Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), which has raised over $30 million claiming to rescue children from sex trafficking.
Packer has raised concerns about Tim Ballard and Sean Reyes being involved in the following:
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Stockpiling $30M in donations that are not being used to save children.
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Excessive compensation to Tim Ballard (over $300k/year). - Unethical accounting that now is likely hiding Tim Ballard's total compensation.
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Lavish expenditures (e.g., first class flights, 5 star hotels, dramatic helicopter appearances) with no financial accountability about how funds are used.
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Using false statistics to over-state the prevalence of child sex trafficking worldwide to lure donors.
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Using excessive emotion and religious manipulation to lure donors, including claims to be called of God, and to be protected by God in OUR's work.
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Using affinity with Mormon celebrities like Mormon apostle M. Russell Ballard, Glenn Beck, and Elizabeth/Ed Smart to lure donors.
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Claiming credit for raids that they were not involved with. - Engaging in illegal and unsafe raids (jump teams) that often yield no positive results.
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Alleged unsavory behavior of jump team members, including illegal drug use during raids, sexual assault, etc.
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Drawing money and attention away from legitimate charities who are meaningfully providing solutions to the problems OUR decries.
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Victimizing and politicizing the suffering of children for political gain (Sean Reyes).
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Associating with and taking advantage of known false conspiracy theories like QAnon.
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Using the LDS Church's law firm (Kirton & McConkie) to intimidate and silence whistleblowers.
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In summary, manipulating wealthy donors through religious and patriotic emotion and misusing or misallocating funds, all on the backs of a very vulnerable population.
Lynn Packer is best know for accurately exposing Mormon General Authority Paul H. Dunn for lying to Mormon church members about made-up World War II heroics and about playing professional baseball, all of which led to Elder Dunn being prematurely fired as a General Authority (and which the Mormon church tried to cover up through intimidation).
Please join us if you have comments or questions for Lynn.
NOTE: This podcast is not asserting that any of these allegations are true. Only that Lynn is claiming to have gathered evidence in support of these positions.
Dear Mormon Stories Podcast Listeners, Due to COVID-19, we have lost several donors in 2020. Please help us keep Mormon Stories Podcast alive by donating today, tomorrow, #GivingTuesday, or any time over the next several weeks. Facebook is matching donations made at or near 6am Mountain time tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. The Facebook Campaign link can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/936338056891340/936338066891339 Our Facebook goal is $20,000 for this year, and we are at $1000 at this point. You can also donate directly here: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m Please help us stay alive if you are in a position to help!
Paul H. Dunn is one of the most beloved General Authorities in the history of the Mormon church. His vast popularity was based on his uncanny ability to tell gripping stories in General Conference, in firesides, in over a dozen books, and on cassette tapes about his time as a professional baseball player with the St. Louis Cardinals, and about his career as a combat veteran in World War II.
The only problems were:
1) Paul Dunn made up these stories. They were literally untrue.
2) Paul Dunn made a great deal of money, and drew his fame from these false stories.
3) Paul Dunn used his fame/reputation to advance fraudulent business schemes.
Even more disturbing, however, were the lengths and breadths that the Mormon church went to, to suppress, cover-up, and kill this story - using its vast financial and legal resources.
This story only came to light because of one courageous Mormon journalist - Lynn Kenneth Packer - who coincidentally was the nephew of super powerful/influential Mormon apostle Boyd K. Packer.
In the end, Lynn Packer was fired from his job as a BYU professor for his involvement in investigating and breaking the Paul H. Dunn story. And while this story was minimally covered in an Arizona newspaper and in Sunstone magazine at the time, TO THIS DAY Lynn Packer has never been granted an extensive media interview to tell this story.
Until today that is.
Join us now for Part 4 of our interview with legendary Mormon journalist Lynn Packer (nephew of Boyd K. Packer), wherein he will be sharing with us what it was like to cover the darker side of Mormonism or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a journalist. Some of the stories we will cover in this episode include those of: Mark Hofmann, Ervil LeBaron, the Lafferty brothers, and Ted Bundy.
As part 3 in my interview with groundbreaking Mormon journalist Lynn Packer (nephew of Boyd K. Packer), I want to share with you a fascinating 30 minute video produced by Lynn, which provides essential background information to understand the following:
- The evolution of the LDS Church away from valuing thought, science, and scholarship (based on the influence of GA B.H. Roberts and others), and towards the prioritization of emotion-based orthodoxy and fundamentalism (based on the influence of J. Rueben Clark, Harold B. Lee, Joseph Fielding Smith, etc.)
- The careers of both LDS apostle Boyd K. Packer and GA Paul H. Dunn, And,
- The eventual backlash against science and scholarship led by Boyd K. Packer from the 1980s through today, which led to the intentional hiding of factual LDS Church history, and the punishment of scholars and thinkers (from the September 6 to modern excommunicants like myself).
This 30 minute video will provide important background for the subsequent 3 episodes with Lynn.
Twelve years ago Adam Hughes was serving as a Mormon bishop in Northern Arizona and Marlana was a stay-at-home Mormon mother of four. Last year, Adam and Marlana were still active, believing, orthodox Mormons living in Tucson, Arizona. Only a few months ago, Adam and Marlana lost their faith in Mormonism, while their son was preparing to leave on his mission.
This is their story.
Show Notes:
- George P. Lee
- "No More Mr. Nice Guy: A Proven Plan for Getting What You Want in Love, Sex, and Life" by Robert A. Glover
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Join me today in my series with Lynn Packer - journalist, investigative reporter, and nephew to the late LDS/Mormon apostle Boyd K. Packer.
Lynn Packer was involved in many significant Utah news stories including that of forger/bomber Mark Hofmann and serial killer Ted Bundy. Lynn is perhaps most well known for his investigation of Mormon General Authority Paul H. Dunn. Lynn's investigation directly led to Elder Paul H. Dunn being put on Emeritus Status by the LDS Church First Presidency for repeatedly telling fabricated stories to the worldwide church membership.
- In Part 1 we discuss the early life of Mormon Apostle Boyd K. Packer, and his rise to power within the LDS Church.
- In Part 2 we discuss Lynn Packer's life, and his perspectives on and interactions with Boyd K. Packer while he was working as a Utah investigative reporter (and while working at BYU).
- In Part 3 we will discuss Lynn's investigation of LDS General Authority Paul H. Dunn, discovering that he was telling false stories to LDS Church members about his involvement in professional baseball, and in his activities as a World War II soldier.
- In Part 4 we will discuss Lynn's recent investigation into Operation Underground Railroad and Tim Ballard.
Join me today in my series with Lynn Packer - journalist, investigative reporter, and nephew to the late LDS/Mormon apostle Boyd K. Packer.
Lynn Packer was involved in many significant Utah news stories including that of forger/bomber Mark Hofmann and serial killer Ted Bundy. Lynn is perhaps most well known for his investigation of Mormon General Authority Paul H. Dunn. Lynn's investigation directly led to Elder Paul H. Dunn being put on Emeritus Status by the LDS Church First Presidency for repeatedly telling fabricated stories to the worldwide church membership.
- In Part 1 we discuss the early life of Mormon Apostle Boyd K. Packer, and his rise to power within the LDS Church.
- In Part 2 we discuss Lynn Packer's life, and his perspectives on and interactions with Boyd K. Packer while he was working as a Utah investigative reporter (and while working at BYU).
- In Part 3 we will discuss Lynn's investigation of LDS General Authority Paul H. Dunn, discovering that he was telling false stories to LDS Church members about his involvement in professional baseball, and in his activities as a World War II soldier.
- In Part 4 we will discuss Lynn's recent investigation into Operation Underground Railroad and Tim Ballard.
On November 3rd U.S. citizens will vote in what many believe will be a defining election for the United States of America.
Today, in a two-part series on Mormon Stories Podcast, we seek to understand why some Mormons and Post-Mormons are choosing to vote for either of the main presidential candidates: Donald Trump or Joe Biden.
This episode features Mormons and Post-Mormons who support Joe Biden. Please join us for comments and questions.
On November 3rd U.S. Citizens will vote in what many believe will be a defining election for the United States of America.
Today, in a two-part series on Mormon Stories Podcast, we seek to understand why some Mormons and Post-Mormons are choosing to vote for either of the main presidential candidates: Donald Trump or Joe Biden.
This episode features Mormons and Post-Mormons who support Donald Trump. Please join us for comments and questions.
For the past two years a predominantly LDS neighborhood in southeastern Sandy, Utah (known as "Autumn Ridge") has been flying an unusually large number of rainbow flags during PRIDE week to show their support for fellow LGBTQ community members.
Last week, a faithful, non-LGBTQ-affirming Latter-day Saint neighbor in this community sent a somewhat self-righteous, pretentious, and cowardly letter to his/her fellow LDS neighbors, questioning their faithfulness to the LDS Church due to their flying of these rainbow flags. In response, a wonderful, faithful LDS Church member and neighbor named Cynthia K. Phillips penned a courageous, thoughtful response to this letter, which can be accessed here.
Today we interview the two founders of the "Project Rainbow" initiative in the Autumn Ridge section of Sandy, Utah: Kristy and Willy Donahoo. We also interview Cynthia Phillips, who is an active, believing member of her local LDS ward, and who fervently supports this initiative.
Our goals with this episode are:
- To spotlight good people doing good things.
- To inspire YOU to sponsor a Project Rainbow initiative in your neighborhood. Our hope is to turn Utah, Idaho, and Arizona RAINBOW-COLORED!
Please join us with your comments and questions!
Bios:
- Kristy Donahoo is a financial advisor and partner with Ray LeVitre, CFP™. Together, Much of Kristy’s career spanned over 20 years in executive management positions in Northern California/Silicon Valley with high tech and early internet companies. When she relocated to Utah, she was personally recruited by Utah’s Governor Michael O. Leavitt to lead the state’s hosting and business development programs for the 2002 Olympics. She later went on to teach in a highly regarded private Utah school prior to becoming a financial advisor. Kristy and her husband moved to Utah from California about 20 years ago. They enjoy Utah for its people, the four seasons and proximity to their four adult children. She and her family enjoy beach time in California and Hawaii during summers and snow sports during Utah winters. Kristy serves on the Advisory Board of the John Williams Encircle Home in Salt Lake City, a resource center for at-risk LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
- William Donahoo is an attorney with Donahoo & Associates and also handles case management and firm administration. William joined the firm in 2009 and specializes in prevailing wage cases, representing employee interests.
- Cynthia Phillips has been a teacher and administrator in secondary schools for the past 35 years during which she has taught Latin, History, English Language Arts, and Ancient Greek. Cindy is currently a secondary teacher at the Weilenmann School of Discovery, a public charter school located in Park City, UT, where she also served as the Executive Director for many years. During her career, she has never allowed administrative assignments take her fully out of the classroom because teaching and students are her love and passion. Prior to her administrative and teaching positions at the Weilenmann School, Cindy was an administrator and teacher at the Waterford School, a private school located in Sandy, UT. Cindy is currently a member of the governor-appointed Utah State Charter School Board, a member of the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission, a member of the Lone Peak Hospital Board in Draper, UT, and a former member of the Northeastern Utah Educational Services Board. Cindy holds a BA in Latin from Brigham Young University, an MA in Classics from Tufts University, an MA in History from the University of Utah, and she is currently a PhD candidate in Comparative Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Utah. Cindy and her husband, Greg, reside in Sandy, UT and Heber, UT. They have five children and fourteen grandchildren.
Katie Harmon was raised Catholic in Laramie, Wyoming. After falling in love with a Mormon boy at age 15, Katie became socially/emotionally converted to the LDS Church in spite of...
- High ambitions for herself (Katie was a 4.0 student, got a 33 on her ACT, was in AP classes, got a full ride scholarship to the University of Wyoming, and wanted to become a doctor) and
- Strongly valuing social justice (e.g., anti-homophobia, anti-sexism, anti-racism).
As Katie became fully committed to the Mormon church, she saw her original aspirations slowly slip away, as she began to follow "the Mormon way for women." Katie ended up:
- Experiencing severe Scrupulosity as a Mormon woman.
- Enduring an invasive and inappropriate "sexual repentance" process.
- Marrying 3 months after graduating high school to a man she had only known 7 months.
- Getting sealed to her husband while her non-LDS family sat outside the Mormon temple.
- Having three children within a short period of time before she felt ready to do so, based on LDS teachings.
- Feeling frustrated when, after her 2nd child was diagnosed with major health issues at 20 weeks, priesthood blessings failed to heal her ailing child. She basically discovered after conversion that the "Priesthood power" was not real, and did not work.
- Confronting the stifling "ableism" of Mormon doctrine, theology, and culture.
As Katie's hopes and dreams began to fall apart, she began studying Mormonism more closely, and discovered that she was not taught as an investigator important truths about Mormon history and the LDS church that would likely have prevented her from joining.
Katie's motivation for doing this interview is to call on the LDS Church to be fully honest in its missionary efforts, and in its education of children and youth, so that people like her can not be misled into joining and/or committing their lives to the Mormon church without being fully informed about its history, doctrine, and theology.
The TikTok platform has become a major player in global culture, and the ExMormon TikTok community has become very active/vibrant over the past few months.
Today we feature ExMormon TikTok sensation Kayla White (ExMormonMindy). Her channel can be found here.
This is Kayla's story.
Brennan Harris’ dad, Kip Brower Harris, took his own life on January 9, 2019, while he was employed as Dean of Students at Brigham Young University - Idaho. During his 30 year career at BYU Idaho, Kip Harris had served twice as a Mormon bishop, served in a Mormon Stake Presidency, and was personal friends with LDS Church apostle David Bednar.
In the final years of his second term as bishop, Kip Harris became involved in an extra-marital affair with a neighbor and ward member. Inexplicably, when Kip Harris was found in a car with this neighbor/ward member by a Sugar City police officer, this police officer informed Kip Harris' LDS church leaders (violating the separation of church and state). Kip Harris' church leaders, in turn, notified Harris' employer (BYU Idaho), who then put Kim Harris on leave (threatening to fire him). This horrific sequence of confidentiality violations led Kim Harris to feel like his only option was to take his own life, which he did in January of 2019. Press coverage of Kip Harris' death can be found here and here.
Brennan Harris, Kip's son, believes that the LDS Church, BYU Idaho, and Sugar City police are all partially responsible for his father’s death. Brennan has written publicly about his father's story at these links:
- A brief biography of Kip Harris by his son, Brennan.
- A description of the events leading up Kim Harris' death by suicide, also written by Brennan.
This is Brennan’s story.
Ezra Taft Benson is perhaps the most controversial apostle-president in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For nearly fifty years he delivered impassioned sermons in Utah and elsewhere, mixing religion with ultraconservative right-wing political views and conspiracy theories. His teachings inspired Mormon extremists to stockpile weapons, predict the end of the world, and commit acts of violence against their government. The First Presidency rebuked him, his fellow apostles wanted him disciplined, and grassroots Mormons called for his removal from the Quorum of the Twelve. Yet Benson was beloved by millions of Latter-day Saints, who praised him for his stances against communism, socialism, and the welfare state, and admired his service as secretary of agriculture under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Using previously restricted documents from archives across the United States.
Matthew L. Harris breaks new ground as the first to evaluate why Benson embraced a radical form of conservatism, and how under his leadership Mormons became the most reliable supporters of the Republican Party of any religious group in America.
Matthew L. Harris is professor of history at Colorado State University-Pueblo. He is the author of The Mormon Church and Blacks: A Documentary History and editor of Thunder from the Right: Ezra Taft Benson in Mormonism and Politics.
Matthew's new book can be purchased here: https://uofupress.lib.utah.edu/watchman-on-the-tower/
Ezra Taft Benson is perhaps the most controversial apostle-president in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For nearly fifty years he delivered impassioned sermons in Utah and elsewhere, mixing religion with ultraconservative right-wing political views and conspiracy theories. His teachings inspired Mormon extremists to stockpile weapons, predict the end of the world, and commit acts of violence against their government. The First Presidency rebuked him, his fellow apostles wanted him disciplined, and grassroots Mormons called for his removal from the Quorum of the Twelve. Yet Benson was beloved by millions of Latter-day Saints, who praised him for his stances against communism, socialism, and the welfare state, and admired his service as secretary of agriculture under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Using previously restricted documents from archives across the United States.
Matthew L. Harris breaks new ground as the first to evaluate why Benson embraced a radical form of conservatism, and how under his leadership Mormons became the most reliable supporters of the Republican Party of any religious group in America.
Matthew L. Harris is professor of history at Colorado State University-Pueblo. He is the author of The Mormon Church and Blacks: A Documentary History and editor of Thunder from the Right: Ezra Taft Benson in Mormonism and Politics.
Matthew's new book can be purchased here: https://uofupress.lib.utah.edu/watchman-on-the-tower/
Mormon Stories Podcast Friends,
Have you ever been touched, inspired, or educated by a particular 3-10 minute segment of a Mormon Stories Podcast episode? If so, I could really use your help.
I am looking to create 100 short, 5-10 minute YouTube videos that include highlights of the most touching or memorable Mormon Stories podcast moments. Consequently, I am seeking volunteers who are willing to go to YouTube and email to me the episode link and time codes (start and stop) of their favorite highlights from past Mormon Stories Podcast episodes. From there I will chop up the videos and put them on my new "Understanding Mormonism" YouTube channel. If you are willing to help, please email the YouTube link and time code (start/step) to: understandmormonism@gmail.com
And thank you SO much!
John Dehlin
Is there more than one way to be a Mormon? What qualifies as "authentic Mormonism"? Has it always been this way? Is it possible to reconcile religious belief with a natural, scientific view of the universe?
Many people see secular and religious views as incompatible. They seem to believe it necessary to suspend disbelief and accept superstition in order to be religious, or that religion is an obstacle to productive engagement with the world. Even many of us who still profess some level of religiosity will admit that religion sometimes makes productive engagement more difficult and is sometimes less effective than it could be. For those who believe in prophecies of the eventual redemption of humanity, is it possible to work toward a vision of the future that is understood only vaguely, if at all? What is the effect of faith that is not active? Might active faith in Mormon (and other religious) visions of the future be essential to realizing them?
Today we'll be talking with Carl Youngblood about his life as a Mormon and a transhumanist, what that word even means, and how his struggle to apply his faith meaningfully in our rapidly changing world has led him to co-found the Mormon Transhumanist Association, where he currently serves as a member of the board of Directors. Carl looks forward to sharing his ideas and answering your questions about his life and faith.
Was your marriage destroyed, or almost destroyed by the LDS Church's 12-step program for pornography "addiction"? Join us today as we sit down with Nik and Dawna Berry to discuss how the LDS Church's 12-step program for Pornography addiction almost ruined their marriage, and how they survived and healed from it.
Mitch Shira is an actor and impressionst whose TikTok videos have been taking the progressive and post-Mormon world by storm. Under the TikTok handle "genie_man," Mitch impersonates past and present LDS Church General Authorities with incredible accuracy and sharp-edged humor. Today, meet the man behind the voices.
Warning: Adult humor. Discussion of electro-schock therapy of LGBTQ Mormons.
A sampling of MItch's videos:
- Gordon B. Hinckley
- Boyd K. Packer
- Thomas S. Monson
- Jeffrey R. Holland
- Gollum/Smeagol
- A compilation of GA's in an aspirational apology for LDS Church past wrongdoings.
Join us today as we bring back the wonderful, groundbreaking historian Shannon Caldwell Montez.
Previously on Mormon Stories, Shannon shared with us:
- Her research regarding how LDS Church general authority, historian, and chief apologist B.H. Roberts lost his testimony in Book of Mormon historicity, and
- Her own heartbreaking and inspiring story as a Mormon woman, wife, and mother.
Today Shannon returns to share with us her research regarding "The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922" - which were organized by LDS Church General Authority B.H. Roberts after he failed to obtain any meaningful or useful answers from the LDS Church First Presidency, Quorum of the 12, or other General Authorities regarding the deep and significant scientific problems that completely undermine the credibility of the Book of Mormon as ancient history.
Shannon's thesis is outstanding, and it can be found here.
As part of our ongoing series on 21st century Mormonism outside of the United States, today we interview Douglas Stilgoe. Douglas is a 23 year old, 3rd generation Mormon raised in Warwickshire, England (Coventry England Stake). Douglas' story is interesting for many reasons: * He discusses life as a Mormon in the UK in the 2000's. * He was raised in the same area as Tom Phillips, the high-ranking Mormon church leader in the U.K. who lost his faith and left the church AFTER receiving his 2nd anointing. * His story explores how painful and damaging Mormonism can be on families when a parent loses their faith. * He discusses his own very recent loss of faith as a young adult in the U.K., after being a very devout believing youth (just over the past year).
For more information on Tom Phillips and the 2nd Anointing, see here.
Today I will be reviewing my recent research into the topic of how the pirate Captain William Kidd and the practice of New England treasure digging that followed Kidd directly inspired Joseph Smith to create the Book of Mormon. I've been doing this research in preparation for a new Youtube channel I'm launching called "Understanding Mormonism with Dr. John Dehlin." I need your help in the following ways: 1) I'd love to know if there are any important errors or omissions in my research. 2) I'd love to know if you find the research interesting/worthwhile overall. 3) I am making a call for listeners to submit their own essays/PowerPoint presentations for future videos in this project. Any feedback, questions, or any submissions can be sent to: understandmormonism@gmail.com
Karen Adam was raised in a same-sex household in Scotland (her mother identified as Lesbian). She joined the Mormon church at age 17 in 1992 after a teenage pregnancy. Karen lived as a member of the LDS Church in Scotland for almost 20 years - maturing from a young teenage mother to serving as LDS Sunday School teacher, Young Women’s President, Compassionate Service Leader, Relief Society Teacher, Primary Presidency, etc. Karen was married and sealed for eternity in an LDS temple, and for years helped raise six children, living a very traditional LDS family life. When Karen’s marriage fell apart she found solace in serving the wider community in Scotland outside the confines of her Scottish Mormon ward. This led on to a political awakening, and ultimately to her leaving the LDS church, and running for political office in Scotland. Topics covered in this episode include: * Converting to the LDS Church in Scotland, * Teenage pregnancy. * Being a devout Mormon in Scotland. * Navigating an abusive marriage that included drug addiction. * Navigating divorce and remarriage within the Mormon church in Scotland. * Dealing with harmful messages and policies regarding female sexuality as a Mormon Scott, including damaging bishop interviews. * Responding to the Mormon church's harmful LGBTQ policies as a Mormon Scott having been raised in a same-sex household. * Experiencing a Mormon faith crisis in Scotland. * Rebuilding life as a post-Mormon divorced Scottish mother. * Throwing her hat into the political ring in mid-life as a Scottish ex-Mormon woman.
This is Karen's story.
As many of you will recall, Shannon Caldwell Montez joined us on Mormon Stories Podcast in July, 2020 to tell us her own story, as well as to tell us the story of B.H. Roberts - the LDS Church historian and General Authority who was tasked to answer problems about Book of Mormon historicity, only to lose his testimony of the Book of Mormon as a historical document.
During the B.H. Roberts episode we learned about a series of all-day meetings B.H. Roberts had in January, 1922 with the LDS Church First Presidency, Quorum of 12 Apostles, and the Quorum of 70 to discuss these Book of Mormon problems in-depth. Ultimately, Shannon shows in her thesis that the LDS church leadership was both unprepared and unwilling to address the problems Roberts presented - resulting in much disappointment and frustration for Roberts.
In this follow-up interview with Shannon, we review evidence addressing the question as to whether or not Mormon General Authority and church historian B.H. Roberts lost his testimony of the Book of Mormon as a historical document.
Resources Mentioned in the Podcast Include:
- Shannon's Thesis: The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922
- B.H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon by Thomas G. Alexander in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
- B.H. Roberts's Studies of the Book of Mormon by Brigham D. Madsen in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
- "Is There Any Way to Escape These Difficulties?": The Book of Mormon Studies of B.H. Roberts by George D. Smith in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.
- Mr. Couch and Elder Roberts, by Richard F. Keeler in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.
- View of the Hebrews by Mormon Handbook
- Remembering B.H. Roberts by Sterling M. McMurrin in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.
- Defending the Keystone: An Overview of the Arguments For and Against View of the Hebrews as a Possible Source for the Book of Mormon by Madison U Sowell in Sunstone Magazine
- MormonThink B.H. Roberts Quotes
- B.H. Roberts' Secret Manuscript by Jerald and Sandra Tanner
- Terryl Givens Misrepresents B.H. Roberts by Rollo Tomasi
- B.H. Roberts Book Stirs Controversy by Ron Bitton in Sunstone Magazine
- The Works of B.H. Roberts on Project Gutenberg
For more than a century Joseph Smith's Book of Abraham "translation" has been revered as holy scripture by devout Mormons, and denounced by all credible non-LDS Egyptologists as a 100% erroneous translation -- a combination of Joseph Smith's imagination and some plagiarism (much like the Book of Mormon, the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, and the Mormon temple ceremony.
The first major scholarly analysis and critique of the Book of Abraham by world-class Egyptologists came in 1912 and was published in the New York Times. Of course this article was neither appropriately considered nor adequately addressed by LDS church leadership, and ultimately the issue faded from LDS church membership consciousness for several more decades.
Beginning in 1966 with the rediscovery of the core Book of Abraham papyri fragments found in the archives of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art (that were thought to have been lost in the 1871 Great Chicago Fire), Mormon apologists such as Hugh Nibley, John Gee, Daniel C. Peterson, Kerry Muhlestein, Michael D. Rhodes, etc. have attempted to employ apologetic tactics to rescue the Book of Abraham from a total loss of credibility - once credible translations of the papyrus demonstrated undeniably that Joseph Smith's "translation" was 100% inaccurate, and in fact, had nothing to do with Abraham at all. In fact, the papyri were dated to be written over 1500 years after the time Abraham would have lived.
For decades questioning, doubting, and non-believing Mormons have engaged with Mormon apologists like Nibley, Gee, Muhlestein, and Rhodes to determine the historicity and legitimacy of the Book of Abraham - with the credibility of Joseph Smith and the LDS church restoration hanging in the balance. In spite of the LDS church's century-long efforts to either hide or convolute the issues surrounding the Book of Abraham, many Mormons have lost their faith and left the church over the Book of Abraham, as it is often listed as one of the primary reasons that Mormons lose their faith.
While many orthodox, doubting, and post-Mormons have heard the opinions of pseudo-Egyptologists/Book of Abraham apologists like John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and Michael D. Rhodes, few Mormons or post-Mormons have actually heard the opinions of a legitimate, world-class Egyptologist about the historicity and credibility of the Book of Abraham - until today.
Today, as a joint production of Mormon Stories Podcast and Radio Free Mormon podcast, we interview Dr. Robert Ritner. Dr. Ritner is Professor of Egyptology at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago and was from 1991-1996 the first Marilyn M. Simpson Assistant Professor of Egyptology at Yale University. Dr. Ritner is the author of over 100 publications on Egyptian religion, magic, medicine, language and literature, as well as social and political history. He has lectured extensively on each of these topics throughout the United States, Europe and Egypt. Ritner has led Oriental Institute tours of Egypt for 30 years. He is also the author of The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: A Complete Edition, and an essay entitled “Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham” — A Response - written as a response to the LDS church's gospel topics essay on the Book of Abraham, which is deeply problematic according to Dr. Ritner.
In this three-part sit-down with Dr. Ritner, we will discuss his upbringing in Houston, Texas and his scholarly background and the events that led to him becoming interested in the Book of Abraham. We will provide a contextualizing history to the Book of Abraham story, and discuss in-depth Joseph Smith's completely erroneous translation of Facsimiles 1-3 from the papyrus. We explore the emergence of the Abraham Egyptian Papers in the mid 1960s, along with the discovery of the "lost" Book of Abraham papyrus. We end this series by exploring some of the seemingly unscholarly and disingenuous tactics used by Book of Abraham apologists John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and Michael D. Rhodes to try to bolster belief in the Book of Abraham.
Finally, a HUGE thanks to Bruce MacArthur for making this interview possible. Also, a MASSIVE thanks to RFM for co-hosting, Bill Reel for all of his great work over the years, along with all of the amazing scholars who helped me/us prepare for this interview, including: Mike Brown of the Mormon Stories Truth Claims essays, MormonThink, Jeremy Runnells and the CES Letter, Dan Vogel, Brent Metcalfe, Letter for my Wife, MormonInfoGraphics.com, this super cool video, and much much more content than I could ever fully list here.
——————
Sadly, Dr. Ritner passed away on July 25, 2021. He was one of the few non-Mormon Egyptology experts willing to address tough issues with the Book of Abraham and its apologists. He will always be missed.
——————
Show Notes:
- The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: A Complete Edition by Robert K. Ritner
- "Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham," Gospel Topics Essay
- "Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham--A Response," by Robert K. Ritner, University of Chicago Oriental Institute
- "Facsimile 1 Examined", comparing the Joseph Smith translation to what it actually says in Egyptian
- "The Four Sons of Horus, Facsimile 2 Figure 6," by John Gee
- Mormon Stories interview with Shannon Caldwell Montez
- The Four Sons of Horus
- "Lion Couch Scene in the Book of Abraham: Evidence of Authenticity," produced by FAIR
- "The Book Of Abraham – Missing Scrolls, Catalyst Theories, and Bad Apologetics" on Radio Free Mormon
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 - Robert Ritner's Curriculum Vitae
- "Public Response to Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham," linked from Dr. Ritner's homepage at the University of Chicago
- The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magical Practice by Robert Ritner
- “The 'Breathing Permit of Hor' Thirty-Four Years Later," by Robert Ritner, Dialogue, April 2021
- "Interview with John Gee on the Book of Abraham," FAIRVoice podcast, July 30, 2020
- "The Book of Abraham, Revelation, and You," by Kerry Muhlstein, Ensign, 2018
- Comparison of the Facsimile 2 papyrus and the version printed in the Book of Abraham
- "The Source of the Book of Abraham Identified," by Grant S. Heward and Jerald Tanner, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- "Facsimile 2 Examined", comparing the Smith translation to what it says in Egyptian
- "Notes on the Sons of Horus," by John Gee, FARMS, 1991
- "The Book of Abraham, I Presume," by John Gee, FairMormon Conference, 2012
- "Evidences of the Book of Abraham: Historicity," by Kerry Muhlstein, Pearl of Great Price Central
- "Kolob, the Governing One," Pearl of Great Price Central
- "Facsimile 3 Examined", comparing the Smith translation to what it says in Egyptian
- "The Breathing Permit of Hor: A Translation of the Apparent Source of the Book of Abraham," by Klaus Baer, Dialogue, 1968
- "All the Court’s a Stage: Facsimile 3, a Royal Mumming," by Hugh Nibley, Abraham in Egypt, 2000
- An Introduction to the Book of Abraham, by John Gee
- The Hor Book of Breathings: A Translation and Commentary by Michael D. Rhodes
- "Book of Abraham Facsimile No. 3," by Paul Osborne
- "Brian Hauglid Interview" on Radio Free Mormon
- The Lost Book of Abraham: Investigating a Remarkable Claim, documentary by John Grooters
- Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary
- "Joseph Smith, Adam Clarke, and the Making of a Bible Revision," by Thomas A Wayment, Journal of Mormon History, July 2020
- The lead printing plate used for Facsimile 3
- The Rocky Mountain Saints: A Full and Complete History of the Mormons, from the First Vision of Joseph Smith to the Last Courtship of Brigham Young...and the Development of the Great Mineral Wealth of the Territory of Utahby Thomas Stenhouse
- "Museum Walls Proclaim Fraud of Mormon Prophet: Sacred Books Claimed to Have Been Given Divinely to the First Prophet Are Shown to be Taken from Old Egyptian Originals, Their Translation Being a Work of the Imagination---What a Comparison with Metropolitan Museum Treasure Shows," New York Times, December 29, 1912
- "The Rise and Fall of B.H. Roberts," Mormon Stories interview with Shannon Caldwell Montez
- Joseph Smith, Jr. as a Translator, Rev. F.S. Spalding, 1912
- An Approach to the Book of Abraham by Hugh Nibley
- "Mormons' Book of Abraham Called Product of Imagination," by Wallace Turner, New York Times, May 3, 1970
- "The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: Translations and Interpretations," by John A. Wilson, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- "The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: Phase One," by Hugh Nibley, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- "The Joseph Smith Papyri: A Preliminary Report," by Richard A. Parker, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- Joseph Smith's Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar, compiled and published by Jerald and Sandra Tanner
- General Joseph Smith's Appeal to the Green Mountain Boys, December 1843
- "The Breathing Permit of Hor Among the Joseph Smith Papyri," by Robert Ritner, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, July 2003
- For His Ka: Essays Offered in Memory of Klaus Baer, University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1994
- Abraham in Egypt by Hugh Nibley
- Books of the Dead Belonging to Tshemmin and Neferirnub by Michael D. Rhodes
- Image of reconstructed papyri from known fragments
- The "Valuable Discovery" papers of 1835
- The Breathing Permit of Hor vs. the Book of Abraham manuscript
- Statement of Warren Parrish, describing the translation process
- "Selling Our Birthright for a Mess of Pottage: The Historical Authenticity of the Book of Abraham," by John Gee, 2018 FairMormon Conference
- "The requirements of ritual purity in ancient Egypt," by John Gee, PhD dissertation, Yale University, 1998
- "The problem with peer review," by John Gee, Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, 2012
- "Review of Robert K. Ritner, Jr., The Libyan Anarchy: Inscriptions from Egypt's Third Intermediate Period," by John Gee, Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, 2012
- Retraction of Gee's "problem with peer review" and review of Ritner's book by Katja Goebs, Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, 2012
- "The Joseph Smith Papers Project Stumbles," by John Gee, Interpreter, 2019
- The Joseph Smith Papers, Revelations and Translations, Volume 4: Book of Abraham and Related Manuscripts by Robin Jensen and Brian Hauglid
- "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater than the Intellect," BYU address by Boyd K. Packer, August 22, 1981
- Book of Abraham Apologetics: A Review and Critique by Dan Vogel
- "Book of Abraham: Mormon Truth Claims," by Michael Brown, Mormon Stories
- Letter to a CES Director by Jeremy Runnells
- Letter for my Wife
- Mormon Infographics
- Missed In Sunday School
—————
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
—————
MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
For more than a century Joseph Smith's Book of Abraham "translation" has been revered as holy scripture by devout Mormons, and denounced by all credible non-LDS Egyptologists as a 100% erroneous translation -- a combination of Joseph Smith's imagination and some plagiarism (much like the Book of Mormon, the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, and the Mormon temple ceremony.
The first major scholarly analysis and critique of the Book of Abraham by world-class Egyptologists came in 1912 and was published in the New York Times. Of course this article was neither appropriately considered nor adequately addressed by LDS church leadership, and ultimately the issue faded from LDS church membership consciousness for several more decades.
Beginning in 1966 with the rediscovery of the core Book of Abraham papyri fragments found in the archives of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art (that were thought to have been lost in the 1871 Great Chicago Fire), Mormon apologists such as Hugh Nibley, John Gee, Daniel C. Peterson, Kerry Muhlestein, Michael D. Rhodes, etc. have attempted to employ apologetic tactics to rescue the Book of Abraham from a total loss of credibility - once credible translations of the papyrus demonstrated undeniably that Joseph Smith's "translation" was 100% inaccurate, and in fact, had nothing to do with Abraham at all. In fact, the papyri were dated to be written over 1500 years after the time Abraham would have lived.
For decades questioning, doubting, and non-believing Mormons have engaged with Mormon apologists like Nibley, Gee, Muhlestein, and Rhodes to determine the historicity and legitimacy of the Book of Abraham - with the credibility of Joseph Smith and the LDS church restoration hanging in the balance. In spite of the LDS church's century-long efforts to either hide or convolute the issues surrounding the Book of Abraham, many Mormons have lost their faith and left the church over the Book of Abraham, as it is often listed as one of the primary reasons that Mormons lose their faith.
While many orthodox, doubting, and post-Mormons have heard the opinions of pseudo-Egyptologists/Book of Abraham apologists like John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and Michael D. Rhodes, few Mormons or post-Mormons have actually heard the opinions of a legitimate, world-class Egyptologist about the historicity and credibility of the Book of Abraham - until today.
Today, as a joint production of Mormon Stories Podcast and Radio Free Mormon podcast, we interview Dr. Robert Ritner. Dr. Ritner is Professor of Egyptology at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago and was from 1991-1996 the first Marilyn M. Simpson Assistant Professor of Egyptology at Yale University. Dr. Ritner is the author of over 100 publications on Egyptian religion, magic, medicine, language and literature, as well as social and political history. He has lectured extensively on each of these topics throughout the United States, Europe and Egypt. Ritner has led Oriental Institute tours of Egypt for 30 years. He is also the author of The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: A Complete Edition, and an essay entitled “Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham” — A Response - written as a response to the LDS church's gospel topics essay on the Book of Abraham, which is deeply problematic according to Dr. Ritner.
In this three-part sit-down with Dr. Ritner, we will discuss his upbringing in Houston, Texas and his scholarly background and the events that led to him becoming interested in the Book of Abraham. We will provide a contextualizing history to the Book of Abraham story, and discuss in-depth Joseph Smith's completely erroneous translation of Facsimiles 1-3 from the papyrus. We explore the emergence of the Abraham Egyptian Papers in the mid 1960s, along with the discovery of the "lost" Book of Abraham papyrus. We end this series by exploring some of the seemingly unscholarly and disingenuous tactics used by Book of Abraham apologists John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and Michael D. Rhodes to try to bolster belief in the Book of Abraham.
Finally, a HUGE thanks to Bruce MacArthur for making this interview possible. Also, a MASSIVE thanks to RFM for co-hosting, Bill Reel for all of his great work over the years, along with all of the amazing scholars who helped me/us prepare for this interview, including: Mike Brown of the Mormon Stories Truth Claims essays, MormonThink, Jeremy Runnells and the CES Letter, Dan Vogel, Brent Metcalfe, Letter for my Wife, MormonInfoGraphics.com, this super cool video, and much much more content than I could ever fully list here.
——————
Sadly, Dr. Ritner passed away on July 25, 2021. He was one of the few non-Mormon Egyptology experts willing to address tough issues with the Book of Abraham and its apologists. He will always be missed.
——————
Show Notes:
- The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: A Complete Edition by Robert K. Ritner
- "Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham," Gospel Topics Essay
- "Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham--A Response," by Robert K. Ritner, University of Chicago Oriental Institute
- "Facsimile 1 Examined", comparing the Joseph Smith translation to what it actually says in Egyptian
- "The Four Sons of Horus, Facsimile 2 Figure 6," by John Gee
- Mormon Stories interview with Shannon Caldwell Montez
- The Four Sons of Horus
- "Lion Couch Scene in the Book of Abraham: Evidence of Authenticity," produced by FAIR
- "The Book Of Abraham – Missing Scrolls, Catalyst Theories, and Bad Apologetics" on Radio Free Mormon
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 - Robert Ritner's Curriculum Vitae
- "Public Response to Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham," linked from Dr. Ritner's homepage at the University of Chicago
- The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magical Practice by Robert Ritner
- “The 'Breathing Permit of Hor' Thirty-Four Years Later," by Robert Ritner, Dialogue, April 2021
- "Interview with John Gee on the Book of Abraham," FAIRVoice podcast, July 30, 2020
- "The Book of Abraham, Revelation, and You," by Kerry Muhlstein, Ensign, 2018
- Comparison of the Facsimile 2 papyrus and the version printed in the Book of Abraham
- "The Source of the Book of Abraham Identified," by Grant S. Heward and Jerald Tanner, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- "Facsimile 2 Examined", comparing the Smith translation to what it says in Egyptian
- "Notes on the Sons of Horus," by John Gee, FARMS, 1991
- "The Book of Abraham, I Presume," by John Gee, FairMormon Conference, 2012
- "Evidences of the Book of Abraham: Historicity," by Kerry Muhlstein, Pearl of Great Price Central
- "Kolob, the Governing One," Pearl of Great Price Central
- "Facsimile 3 Examined", comparing the Smith translation to what it says in Egyptian
- "The Breathing Permit of Hor: A Translation of the Apparent Source of the Book of Abraham," by Klaus Baer, Dialogue, 1968
- "All the Court’s a Stage: Facsimile 3, a Royal Mumming," by Hugh Nibley, Abraham in Egypt, 2000
- An Introduction to the Book of Abraham, by John Gee
- The Hor Book of Breathings: A Translation and Commentary by Michael D. Rhodes
- "Book of Abraham Facsimile No. 3," by Paul Osborne
- "Brian Hauglid Interview" on Radio Free Mormon
- The Lost Book of Abraham: Investigating a Remarkable Claim, documentary by John Grooters
- Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary
- "Joseph Smith, Adam Clarke, and the Making of a Bible Revision," by Thomas A Wayment, Journal of Mormon History, July 2020
- The lead printing plate used for Facsimile 3
- The Rocky Mountain Saints: A Full and Complete History of the Mormons, from the First Vision of Joseph Smith to the Last Courtship of Brigham Young...and the Development of the Great Mineral Wealth of the Territory of Utahby Thomas Stenhouse
- "Museum Walls Proclaim Fraud of Mormon Prophet: Sacred Books Claimed to Have Been Given Divinely to the First Prophet Are Shown to be Taken from Old Egyptian Originals, Their Translation Being a Work of the Imagination---What a Comparison with Metropolitan Museum Treasure Shows," New York Times, December 29, 1912
- "The Rise and Fall of B.H. Roberts," Mormon Stories interview with Shannon Caldwell Montez
- Joseph Smith, Jr. as a Translator, Rev. F.S. Spalding, 1912
- An Approach to the Book of Abraham by Hugh Nibley
- "Mormons' Book of Abraham Called Product of Imagination," by Wallace Turner, New York Times, May 3, 1970
- "The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: Translations and Interpretations," by John A. Wilson, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- "The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: Phase One," by Hugh Nibley, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- "The Joseph Smith Papyri: A Preliminary Report," by Richard A. Parker, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- Joseph Smith's Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar, compiled and published by Jerald and Sandra Tanner
- General Joseph Smith's Appeal to the Green Mountain Boys, December 1843
- "The Breathing Permit of Hor Among the Joseph Smith Papyri," by Robert Ritner, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, July 2003
- For His Ka: Essays Offered in Memory of Klaus Baer, University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1994
- Abraham in Egypt by Hugh Nibley
- Books of the Dead Belonging to Tshemmin and Neferirnub by Michael D. Rhodes
- Image of reconstructed papyri from known fragments
- The "Valuable Discovery" papers of 1835
- The Breathing Permit of Hor vs. the Book of Abraham manuscript
- Statement of Warren Parrish, describing the translation process
- "Selling Our Birthright for a Mess of Pottage: The Historical Authenticity of the Book of Abraham," by John Gee, 2018 FairMormon Conference
- "The requirements of ritual purity in ancient Egypt," by John Gee, PhD dissertation, Yale University, 1998
- "The problem with peer review," by John Gee, Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, 2012
- "Review of Robert K. Ritner, Jr., The Libyan Anarchy: Inscriptions from Egypt's Third Intermediate Period," by John Gee, Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, 2012
- Retraction of Gee's "problem with peer review" and review of Ritner's book by Katja Goebs, Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, 2012
- "The Joseph Smith Papers Project Stumbles," by John Gee, Interpreter, 2019
- The Joseph Smith Papers, Revelations and Translations, Volume 4: Book of Abraham and Related Manuscripts by Robin Jensen and Brian Hauglid
- "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater than the Intellect," BYU address by Boyd K. Packer, August 22, 1981
- Book of Abraham Apologetics: A Review and Critique by Dan Vogel
- "Book of Abraham: Mormon Truth Claims," by Michael Brown, Mormon Stories
- Letter to a CES Director by Jeremy Runnells
- Letter for my Wife
- Mormon Infographics
- Missed In Sunday School
—————
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
—————
MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
For more than a century Joseph Smith's Book of Abraham "translation" has been revered as holy scripture by devout Mormons, and denounced by all credible non-LDS Egyptologists as a 100% erroneous translation -- a combination of Joseph Smith's imagination and some plagiarism (much like the Book of Mormon, the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, and the Mormon temple ceremony.
The first major scholarly analysis and critique of the Book of Abraham by world-class Egyptologists came in 1912 and was published in the New York Times. Of course this article was neither appropriately considered nor adequately addressed by LDS church leadership, and ultimately the issue faded from LDS church membership consciousness for several more decades.
Beginning in 1966 with the rediscovery of the core Book of Abraham papyri fragments found in the archives of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art (that were thought to have been lost in the 1871 Great Chicago Fire), Mormon apologists such as Hugh Nibley, John Gee, Daniel C. Peterson, Kerry Muhlestein, Michael D. Rhodes, etc. have attempted to employ apologetic tactics to rescue the Book of Abraham from a total loss of credibility - once credible translations of the papyrus demonstrated undeniably that Joseph Smith's "translation" was 100% inaccurate, and in fact, had nothing to do with Abraham at all. In fact, the papyri were dated to be written over 1500 years after the time Abraham would have lived.
For decades questioning, doubting, and non-believing Mormons have engaged with Mormon apologists like Nibley, Gee, Muhlestein, and Rhodes to determine the historicity and legitimacy of the Book of Abraham - with the credibility of Joseph Smith and the LDS church restoration hanging in the balance. In spite of the LDS church's century-long efforts to either hide or convolute the issues surrounding the Book of Abraham, many Mormons have lost their faith and left the church over the Book of Abraham, as it is often listed as one of the primary reasons that Mormons lose their faith.
While many orthodox, doubting, and post-Mormons have heard the opinions of pseudo-Egyptologists/Book of Abraham apologists like John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and Michael D. Rhodes, few Mormons or post-Mormons have actually heard the opinions of a legitimate, world-class Egyptologist about the historicity and credibility of the Book of Abraham - until today.
Today, as a joint production of Mormon Stories Podcast and Radio Free Mormon podcast, we interview Dr. Robert Ritner. Dr. Ritner is Professor of Egyptology at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago and was from 1991-1996 the first Marilyn M. Simpson Assistant Professor of Egyptology at Yale University. Dr. Ritner is the author of over 100 publications on Egyptian religion, magic, medicine, language and literature, as well as social and political history. He has lectured extensively on each of these topics throughout the United States, Europe and Egypt. Ritner has led Oriental Institute tours of Egypt for 30 years. He is also the author of The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: A Complete Edition, and an essay entitled “Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham” — A Response - written as a response to the LDS church's gospel topics essay on the Book of Abraham, which is deeply problematic according to Dr. Ritner.
In this three-part sit-down with Dr. Ritner, we will discuss his upbringing in Houston, Texas and his scholarly background and the events that led to him becoming interested in the Book of Abraham. We will provide a contextualizing history to the Book of Abraham story, and discuss in-depth Joseph Smith's completely erroneous translation of Facsimiles 1-3 from the papyrus. We explore the emergence of the Abraham Egyptian Papers in the mid 1960s, along with the discovery of the "lost" Book of Abraham papyrus. We end this series by exploring some of the seemingly unscholarly and disingenuous tactics used by Book of Abraham apologists John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and Michael D. Rhodes to try to bolster belief in the Book of Abraham.
Finally, a HUGE thanks to Bruce MacArthur for making this interview possible. Also, a MASSIVE thanks to RFM for co-hosting, Bill Reel for all of his great work over the years, along with all of the amazing scholars who helped me/us prepare for this interview, including: Mike Brown of the Mormon Stories Truth Claims essays, MormonThink, Jeremy Runnells and the CES Letter, Dan Vogel, Brent Metcalfe, Letter for my Wife, MormonInfoGraphics.com, this super cool video, and much much more content than I could ever fully list here.
——————
Sadly, Dr. Ritner passed away on July 25, 2021. He was one of the few non-Mormon Egyptology experts willing to address tough issues with the Book of Abraham and its apologists. He will always be missed.
——————
Show Notes:
- The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: A Complete Edition by Robert K. Ritner
- "Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham," Gospel Topics Essay
- "Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham--A Response," by Robert K. Ritner, University of Chicago Oriental Institute
- "Facsimile 1 Examined", comparing the Joseph Smith translation to what it actually says in Egyptian
- "The Four Sons of Horus, Facsimile 2 Figure 6," by John Gee
- Mormon Stories interview with Shannon Caldwell Montez
- The Four Sons of Horus
- "Lion Couch Scene in the Book of Abraham: Evidence of Authenticity," produced by FAIR
- "The Book Of Abraham – Missing Scrolls, Catalyst Theories, and Bad Apologetics" on Radio Free Mormon
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 - Robert Ritner's Curriculum Vitae
- "Public Response to Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham," linked from Dr. Ritner's homepage at the University of Chicago
- The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magical Practice by Robert Ritner
- “The 'Breathing Permit of Hor' Thirty-Four Years Later," by Robert Ritner, Dialogue, April 2021
- "Interview with John Gee on the Book of Abraham," FAIRVoice podcast, July 30, 2020
- "The Book of Abraham, Revelation, and You," by Kerry Muhlstein, Ensign, 2018
- Comparison of the Facsimile 2 papyrus and the version printed in the Book of Abraham
- "The Source of the Book of Abraham Identified," by Grant S. Heward and Jerald Tanner, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- "Facsimile 2 Examined", comparing the Smith translation to what it says in Egyptian
- "Notes on the Sons of Horus," by John Gee, FARMS, 1991
- "The Book of Abraham, I Presume," by John Gee, FairMormon Conference, 2012
- "Evidences of the Book of Abraham: Historicity," by Kerry Muhlstein, Pearl of Great Price Central
- "Kolob, the Governing One," Pearl of Great Price Central
- "Facsimile 3 Examined", comparing the Smith translation to what it says in Egyptian
- "The Breathing Permit of Hor: A Translation of the Apparent Source of the Book of Abraham," by Klaus Baer, Dialogue, 1968
- "All the Court’s a Stage: Facsimile 3, a Royal Mumming," by Hugh Nibley, Abraham in Egypt, 2000
- An Introduction to the Book of Abraham, by John Gee
- The Hor Book of Breathings: A Translation and Commentary by Michael D. Rhodes
- "Book of Abraham Facsimile No. 3," by Paul Osborne
- "Brian Hauglid Interview" on Radio Free Mormon
- The Lost Book of Abraham: Investigating a Remarkable Claim, documentary by John Grooters
- Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary
- "Joseph Smith, Adam Clarke, and the Making of a Bible Revision," by Thomas A Wayment, Journal of Mormon History, July 2020
- The lead printing plate used for Facsimile 3
- The Rocky Mountain Saints: A Full and Complete History of the Mormons, from the First Vision of Joseph Smith to the Last Courtship of Brigham Young...and the Development of the Great Mineral Wealth of the Territory of Utahby Thomas Stenhouse
- "Museum Walls Proclaim Fraud of Mormon Prophet: Sacred Books Claimed to Have Been Given Divinely to the First Prophet Are Shown to be Taken from Old Egyptian Originals, Their Translation Being a Work of the Imagination---What a Comparison with Metropolitan Museum Treasure Shows," New York Times, December 29, 1912
- "The Rise and Fall of B.H. Roberts," Mormon Stories interview with Shannon Caldwell Montez
- Joseph Smith, Jr. as a Translator, Rev. F.S. Spalding, 1912
- An Approach to the Book of Abraham by Hugh Nibley
- "Mormons' Book of Abraham Called Product of Imagination," by Wallace Turner, New York Times, May 3, 1970
- "The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: Translations and Interpretations," by John A. Wilson, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- "The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: Phase One," by Hugh Nibley, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- "The Joseph Smith Papyri: A Preliminary Report," by Richard A. Parker, Dialogue, Summer 1968
- Joseph Smith's Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar, compiled and published by Jerald and Sandra Tanner
- General Joseph Smith's Appeal to the Green Mountain Boys, December 1843
- "The Breathing Permit of Hor Among the Joseph Smith Papyri," by Robert Ritner, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, July 2003
- For His Ka: Essays Offered in Memory of Klaus Baer, University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1994
- Abraham in Egypt by Hugh Nibley
- Books of the Dead Belonging to Tshemmin and Neferirnub by Michael D. Rhodes
- Image of reconstructed papyri from known fragments
- The "Valuable Discovery" papers of 1835
- The Breathing Permit of Hor vs. the Book of Abraham manuscript
- Statement of Warren Parrish, describing the translation process
- "Selling Our Birthright for a Mess of Pottage: The Historical Authenticity of the Book of Abraham," by John Gee, 2018 FairMormon Conference
- "The requirements of ritual purity in ancient Egypt," by John Gee, PhD dissertation, Yale University, 1998
- "The problem with peer review," by John Gee, Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, 2012
- "Review of Robert K. Ritner, Jr., The Libyan Anarchy: Inscriptions from Egypt's Third Intermediate Period," by John Gee, Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, 2012
- Retraction of Gee's "problem with peer review" and review of Ritner's book by Katja Goebs, Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, 2012
- "The Joseph Smith Papers Project Stumbles," by John Gee, Interpreter, 2019
- The Joseph Smith Papers, Revelations and Translations, Volume 4: Book of Abraham and Related Manuscripts by Robin Jensen and Brian Hauglid
- "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater than the Intellect," BYU address by Boyd K. Packer, August 22, 1981
- Book of Abraham Apologetics: A Review and Critique by Dan Vogel
- "Book of Abraham: Mormon Truth Claims," by Michael Brown, Mormon Stories
- Letter to a CES Director by Jeremy Runnells
- Letter for my Wife
- Mormon Infographics
- Missed In Sunday School
—————
We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming!
Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50
—————
MSP on Spotify
MSP on Apple Podcasts
MSP Blog
Patreon
TikTok
Discord
Contact Us!
*MormonStories@gmail.com
*PO Box 171085
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
Over the past several decades. credible Mormon-themed scholarship has determined beyond any reasonable doubt that Joseph Smith's claim have special powers to "translate" ancient languages was not true, and that Joseph often relied on plagiarism to produce his "revelations." Up until recently, at least three clear instances of false translation by Joseph Smith were widely known: the Book of Mormon, the Book of Abraham, and the Kinderhook Plates.
In the summer of 2015, something truly remarkable happened. A BYU undergraduate, along with her professor, discovered a fourth example of false translation, and yet another example of plagiarism on the part of Joseph Smith - this time in the canonized "Joseph Smith Translation" of the Holy Bible (found in modern LDS scripture)
Join me and scholar Haley Wilson Lemmón today as we discuss this groundbreaking research she conducted at BYU, along side professor Thomas A. Wayment -- as together they discovered literally hundreds of instances where Joseph Smith plagiarized portions of the Joseph Smith "Translation" of the Bible directly from Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary.
Today's story includes:
- Haley's early years growing up as a highly devout Mormon girl and young woman who struggled significantly with undiagnosed religious anxiety (possibly scrupulosity).
- Haley's LDS mission to Panama.
- Haley's discovery of Joseph Smith's plagiarism, as she was working as a BYU undergraduate research assistant under Dr. Thomas A. Wayment.
- Haley's deep struggle with her Mormon faith once she began studying the authenticity of Mormon scripture and other truth claims.
- Haley's troubling brush with the BYU Honor Code Office, which almost resulted in her being expelled from BYU.
- How Haley's name was almost removed from the publishing of her research with Dr. Wayment.
- A review of Haley's current views on LDS Church truth claims.
As a part of this interview, we will be discussing in-depth the article/chapter "A Recently Recovered Source: The Use of Adam Clarke’s Bible Commentary in Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation" that she co-authored with Thomas A. Wayment, which recently appeared in the newly released book "Producing Ancient Scripture: Joseph Smith's Translation Projects in the Development of Mormon Christianity," edited by Michael MacKay, Mark Ashurst-McGee, and Brian M. Hauglid.
How does a Mormon wife and mother become a groundbreaking historian?
Join us today on Mormon Stories Podcast as Shannon Caldwell Montez shares with us her journey to become a historian after living an orthodox Mormon life for decades.
Shannon recently obtained a Master's degree in history from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her Master's thesis is entitled "The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922" - which chronicles how Mormon General Authority B.H. Roberts lost his faith in the historicity of the Book of Mormon, called a multi-day meeting with all of the top LDS Church leadership to inform them of the many, credible scientific problems with the Book of Mormon.
Shannon's Master's thesis can be downloaded here: https://scholarworks.unr.edu/handle/11714/6712
Shannon's previous Mormon Stories Podcast interview about the life of B. H. Roberts can be found here.
Have you ever wondered how much the top-level Mormon church leaders know about the problems with LDS Church truth claims, and for how long they have known about these problems?
Long before Mormon General Authority F. Enzio Busche lost his testimony in the Mormon church…
Long before Mormon Area Authority Hans Mattsson lost his testimony in the Mormon church....
Long before the CES Letter…
Long before Mormon Stories Podcast...
Long before Grant Palmer....
Long before the Leonard Arrington church history years…
Long before Fawn Brodie wrote “No Man Knows My History”....
….did you know that a high-level Mormon General Authority lost his faith in the historicity of the Book of Mormon -- in the early 1900s - after an in-depth study of the scientific problems with the Book of Mormon (e.g., archaeological, anthropological, linguistic, geographic)?
More significantly, did you know that this same General Authority notified the LDS First Presidency of the scientific problems with the Book of Mormon via three separate manuscripts, and in 1922 led a two-day emergency meeting in Salt Lake City with all the top Mormon church leadership -- the LDS First Presidency, the Quorum of 12 Apostles, and the Quorum of the Seventy -- to candidly discuss what to do about these problems with the Book of Mormon?
Did you know that soon after this General Authority led this meeting with all the top Mormon church leadership, he was sent on a mission -- far, far away from LDS Church headquarters?
Did you know that these three, in-depth manuscripts -- outlining in great detail the credible scientific problems with Book of Mormon historicity - were intentionally hid from LDS Church membership for over 60 years? Did you also know that after this General Authority died, top LDS Church leaders intentionally did all they could to erase from church membership the memory of this thoughtful, honest, and courageous General Authority?
Did you know that the only reason we know any of this is because progressive Mormon church members quietly delivered copies of these manuscripts to Mormon scholars, and that these manuscripts were eventually published - against the Mormon church’s will - by the University of Illinois Press in the 1980s (and eventually by Signature Books)?
Today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode covers the rise and fall of Mormon General Authority Brigham Henry (B.H.) Roberts. You will not want to miss this story.
Our interviewee is Mormon historian Shannon Caldwell Montez - who recently completed a Master’s Thesis at the University of Nevada - Reno entitled: “The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922.”
The song for today’s podcast bumper is called “All is Well” by The Sabre Rattlers.
Today we interview Ed Decker -- ex-Mormon, Evangelical Christian, career "Anti-Mormon," and creator of the controversial 80's "anti-Mormon" movie called “The God Makers.” Today’s interview focuses on four main areas:
Part 1: Ed’s conversion to Mormonism, his life as a Mormon, his loss of faith, and his excommunication.
Part 2: Ed’s “calling” to minister to Mormons, and the making of “The Godmakers.”
Part 3: A discussion about the impact of and controversies surrounding “The God Makers.”
Part 4: Ed’s unfortunate involvement in “The God Makers 2,” the negative fallout, and Ed’s life from then until now.
Today we interview Ed Decker -- ex-Mormon, Evangelical Christian, career "Anti-Mormon," and creator of the controversial 80's "anti-Mormon" movie called “The God Makers.” Today’s interview focuses on four main areas:
Part 1: Ed’s conversion to Mormonism, his life as a Mormon, his loss of faith, and his excommunication.
Part 2: Ed’s “calling” to minister to Mormons, and the making of “The Godmakers.”
Part 3: A discussion about the impact of and controversies surrounding “The God Makers.”
Part 4: Ed’s unfortunate involvement in “The God Makers 2,” the negative fallout, and Ed’s life from then until now.
Today we interview Ed Decker -- ex-Mormon, Evangelical Christian, career "Anti-Mormon," and creator of the controversial 80's "anti-Mormon" movie called “The God Makers.” Today’s interview focuses on four main areas:
Part 1: Ed’s conversion to Mormonism, his life as a Mormon, his loss of faith, and his excommunication.
Part 2: Ed’s “calling” to minister to Mormons, and the making of “The Godmakers.”
Part 3: A discussion about the impact of and controversies surrounding “The God Makers.”
Part 4: Ed’s unfortunate involvement in “The God Makers 2,” the negative fallout, and Ed’s life from then until now.
Today we interview Ed Decker -- ex-Mormon, Evangelical Christian, career "Anti-Mormon," and creator of the controversial 80's "anti-Mormon" movie called “The God Makers.” Today’s interview focuses on four main areas:
Part 1: Ed’s conversion to Mormonism, his life as a Mormon, his loss of faith, and his excommunication.
Part 2: Ed’s “calling” to minister to Mormons, and the making of “The Godmakers.”
Part 3: A discussion about the impact of and controversies surrounding “The God Makers.”
Part 4: Ed’s unfortunate involvement in “The God Makers 2,” the negative fallout, and Ed’s life from then until now.
Today we interview Ed Decker -- ex-Mormon, Evangelical Christian, career "Anti-Mormon," and creator of the controversial 80's "anti-Mormon" movie called “The God Makers.” Today’s interview focuses on four main areas:
Part 1: Ed’s conversion to Mormonism, his life as a Mormon, his loss of faith, and his excommunication.
Part 2: Ed’s “calling” to minister to Mormons, and the making of “The Godmakers.”
Part 3: A discussion about the impact of and controversies surrounding “The God Makers.”
Part 4: Ed’s unfortunate involvement in “The God Makers 2,” the negative fallout, and Ed’s life from then until now.
When someone loses their faith in Mormonism, there are several paths often followed. One is to become agnostic or atheist, and never to rejoin a religion again. One is to re-join a Christian church. One is to follow a more fundamentalist Mormon path (e.g. Denver Snuffer, Preppers, Julie Rowe). And one is to become susceptible to new age beliefs and other gurus or cult leaders. Today we will be talking about the last option.
Teal Swan (born Mary Teal Bosworth) is described on her web site as an American spiritual teacher, author, and social media personality. She was raised in Logan, UT, and as a teenager was connected to controversial Mormon therapist Barbara Snow, who was at the center of the Satanic Ritual Abuse panic in the 1990s and 2000s. After a very turbulent childhood, which involved self harm and suicidality, Teal pursued modeling for a time, and eventually began pursuing the path of becoming a spiritual guide.
Teal's teachings on how to manage mental health issues have often been described as unconventional and she has received criticism for how she attracts fans, with some critics nicknaming her "The Suicide Catalyst". At present she has 700,000 followers and has been covered by the BBC, and in several documentaries, including a recent documentary on Netflix.
Her history of work is highly controversial because it incorporates various super controversial and problematic ideologies and practices such as:
- The cultivation of repressed/recovered (false) memories.
- Claims of Satanic ritual abuse.
- Energy healing.
- Clairvoyance.
- Numerology.
- The Law of Attraction.
- A belief in a "Third Eye."
- The usage of crystals to "raise your vibration or frequency."
- A belief in multiple lives.
- A belief that she is an alien from another planet.
- A belief in spiritual projections/possessions.
- When dealing with suicidal clients, referring to suicide as "pushing the reset button" for a future life.
- Communal living.
Jared Dobson was raised LDS, served an LDS mission, got married and divorced, became suicidal, and started searching for answers in New Age Spirituality. He came across Teal Swan, and became a follower in her movement (a "Tealer") for 2 years. He ended up moving in with Teal and became a part of her communal family in Park City, Utah. They were romantically involved for 5-6 months, were set to have a child together, and as the relationship began to fray, Jared was kicked out of the commune and checked himself into a psychiatric ward (UNI at the University of Utah).
He has been recovering ever since.
This is Jared's story of his experiences with Teal Swan. This story also has important connections to other cult-like phenomena occurring in recent times, including the Lori Vallow/Chad Daybell/Julie Rowe/Prepper phenomena. It also is an insider's view into the emergence of a modern cult.
When someone loses their faith in Mormonism, there are several paths often followed. One is to become agnostic or atheist, and never to rejoin a religion again. One is to re-join a Christian church. One is to follow a more fundamentalist Mormon path (e.g. Denver Snuffer, Preppers, Julie Rowe). And one is to become susceptible to new age beliefs and other gurus or cult leaders. Today we will be talking about the last option.
Teal Swan (born Mary Teal Bosworth) is described on her web site as an American spiritual teacher, author, and social media personality. She was raised in Logan, UT, and as a teenager was connected to controversial Mormon therapist Barbara Snow, who was at the center of the Satanic Ritual Abuse panic in the 1990s and 2000s. After a very turbulent childhood, which involved self harm and suicidality, Teal pursued modeling for a time, and eventually began pursuing the path of becoming a spiritual guide.
Teal's teachings on how to manage mental health issues have often been described as unconventional and she has received criticism for how she attracts fans, with some critics nicknaming her "The Suicide Catalyst". At present she has 700,000 followers and has been covered by the BBC, and in several documentaries, including a recent documentary on Netflix.
Her history of work is highly controversial because it incorporates various super controversial and problematic ideologies and practices such as:
- The cultivation of repressed/recovered (false) memories.
- Claims of Satanic ritual abuse.
- Energy healing.
- Clairvoyance.
- Numerology.
- The Law of Attraction.
- A belief in a "Third Eye."
- The usage of crystals to "raise your vibration or frequency."
- A belief in multiple lives.
- A belief that she is an alien from another planet.
- A belief in spiritual projections/possessions.
- When dealing with suicidal clients, referring to suicide as "pushing the reset button" for a future life.
- Communal living.
Jared Dobson was raised LDS, served an LDS mission, got married and divorced, became suicidal, and started searching for answers in New Age Spirituality. He came across Teal Swan, and became a follower in her movement (a "Tealer") for 2 years. He ended up moving in with Teal and became a part of her communal family in Park City, Utah. They were romantically involved for 5-6 months, were set to have a child together, and as the relationship began to fray, Jared was kicked out of the commune and checked himself into a psychiatric ward (UNI at the University of Utah).
He has been recovering ever since.
This is Jared's story of his experiences with Teal Swan. This story also has important connections to other cult-like phenomena occurring in recent times, including the Lori Vallow/Chad Daybell/Julie Rowe/Prepper phenomena. It also is an insider's view into the emergence of a modern cult.
When someone loses their faith in Mormonism, there are several paths often followed. One is to become agnostic or atheist, and never to rejoin a religion again. One is to re-join a Christian church. One is to follow a more fundamentalist Mormon path (e.g. Denver Snuffer, Preppers, Julie Rowe). And one is to become susceptible to new age beliefs and other gurus or cult leaders. Today we will be talking about the last option.
Teal Swan (born Mary Teal Bosworth) is described on her web site as an American spiritual teacher, author, and social media personality. She was raised in Logan, UT, and as a teenager was connected to controversial Mormon therapist Barbara Snow, who was at the center of the Satanic Ritual Abuse panic in the 1990s and 2000s. After a very turbulent childhood, which involved self harm and suicidality, Teal pursued modeling for a time, and eventually began pursuing the path of becoming a spiritual guide.
Teal's teachings on how to manage mental health issues have often been described as unconventional and she has received criticism for how she attracts fans, with some critics nicknaming her "The Suicide Catalyst". At present she has 700,000 followers and has been covered by the BBC, and in several documentaries, including a recent documentary on Netflix.
Her history of work is highly controversial because it incorporates various super controversial and problematic ideologies and practices such as:
- The cultivation of repressed/recovered (false) memories.
- Claims of Satanic ritual abuse.
- Energy healing.
- Clairvoyance.
- Numerology.
- The Law of Attraction.
- A belief in a "Third Eye."
- The usage of crystals to "raise your vibration or frequency."
- A belief in multiple lives.
- A belief that she is an alien from another planet.
- A belief in spiritual projections/possessions.
- When dealing with suicidal clients, referring to suicide as "pushing the reset button" for a future life.
- Communal living.
Jared Dobson was raised LDS, served an LDS mission, got married and divorced, became suicidal, and started searching for answers in New Age Spirituality. He came across Teal Swan, and became a follower in her movement (a "Tealer") for 2 years. He ended up moving in with Teal and became a part of her communal family in Park City, Utah. They were romantically involved for 5-6 months, were set to have a child together, and as the relationship began to fray, Jared was kicked out of the commune and checked himself into a psychiatric ward (UNI at the University of Utah).
He has been recovering ever since.
This is Jared's story of his experiences with Teal Swan. This story also has important connections to other cult-like phenomena occurring in recent times, including the Lori Vallow/Chad Daybell/Julie Rowe/Prepper phenomena. It also is an insider's view into the emergence of a modern cult.
When someone loses their faith in Mormonism, there are several paths often followed. One is to become agnostic or atheist, and never to rejoin a religion again. One is to re-join a Christian church. One is to follow a more fundamentalist Mormon path (e.g. Denver Snuffer, Preppers, Julie Rowe). And one is to become susceptible to new age beliefs and other gurus or cult leaders. Today we will be talking about the last option.
Teal Swan (born Mary Teal Bosworth) is described on her web site as an American spiritual teacher, author, and social media personality. She was raised in Logan, UT, and as a teenager was connected to controversial Mormon therapist Barbara Snow, who was at the center of the Satanic Ritual Abuse panic in the 1990s and 2000s. After a very turbulent childhood, which involved self harm and suicidality, Teal pursued modeling for a time, and eventually began pursuing the path of becoming a spiritual guide.
Teal's teachings on how to manage mental health issues have often been described as unconventional and she has received criticism for how she attracts fans, with some critics nicknaming her "The Suicide Catalyst". At present she has 700,000 followers and has been covered by the BBC, and in several documentaries, including a recent documentary on Netflix.
Her history of work is highly controversial because it incorporates various super controversial and problematic ideologies and practices such as:
- The cultivation of repressed/recovered (false) memories.
- Claims of Satanic ritual abuse.
- Energy healing.
- Clairvoyance.
- Numerology.
- The Law of Attraction.
- A belief in a "Third Eye."
- The usage of crystals to "raise your vibration or frequency."
- A belief in multiple lives.
- A belief that she is an alien from another planet.
- A belief in spiritual projections/possessions.
- When dealing with suicidal clients, referring to suicide as "pushing the reset button" for a future life.
- Communal living.
Jared Dobson was raised LDS, served an LDS mission, got married and divorced, became suicidal, and started searching for answers in New Age Spirituality. He came across Teal Swan, and became a follower in her movement (a "Tealer") for 2 years. He ended up moving in with Teal and became a part of her communal family in Park City, Utah. They were romantically involved for 5-6 months, were set to have a child together, and as the relationship began to fray, Jared was kicked out of the commune and checked himself into a psychiatric ward (UNI at the University of Utah).
He has been recovering ever since.
This is Jared's story of his experiences with Teal Swan. This story also has important connections to other cult-like phenomena occurring in recent times, including the Lori Vallow/Chad Daybell/Julie Rowe/Prepper phenomena. It also is an insider's view into the emergence of a modern cult.
For the past year a generous donor has been supporting a Mormon Stories billboard in Idaho Falls, Idaho (picture below). Unfortunately, because of a change in financial situation, the donor is no longer able to continue supporting the billboard.
If we can raise recurring pledges of $650/month from community members, or $7800 in total donations, we can continue this billboard for the next year. If we can raise $3300 (only $700 more at this point) we can secure it with a 6 month contract.
Please know that 100% of billboard donations go to billboards, and are fully tax deductible in the U.S.
Here is the link to donate to this billboard campaign:
https://donorbox.org/idaho-falls-mormon-stories-billboard-campaign-2020
Please support this billboard if you would like to see it continue in Idaho Falls. Also, please spread the word if you know others who might be able/willing to support.
Every once in a while we have an epic, multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast episode about a family who experiences a faith crisis together -- wherein multiple family members (including some of the children) participate in the re-telling of the story.
This is one of those episodes.
Sam and Sara Pinson were living the Mormon dream: raised in the LDS Church, married in the LDS temple, etc. Sam obtained his “dream job” working 5 years for Microsoft, and later left Microsoft to start his own business. The Pinson dream culminated in Sam and Sara moving to Ammon (Idaho Falls), Idaho, wherein Sam was called as a Mormon bishop. Everything seemed perfect - except it wasn’t.
- Their teenage daughter, Olivia, was questioning both the church, and her sexuality.
- Their son, Sam Jr., was suffering with Scrupulosity (religious OCD)
- And both Sam and Sara were beginning to question their Mormon faith while Sam was serving as bishop.
Today’s episode tells the story of how a devout Mormon family in Ammon, Idaho, led by a Mormon Bishop, can end up losing their faith in Mormonism in 2020. It also includes a full recounting of how Sam began to speak openly about his struggles with the church after losing his faith - leading to threats and ultimately a disciplinary council/excommunication. And yes, Sam recorded and is now sharing here the full audio of his excommunication (Part 6).
Sam’s wife Sara, along with two of their brilliant children - Olivia and Sam Jr. - also participate in this super-thoughtful story/discussion.
You will not be disappointed in this episode. HUGE thanks to Sam Sr., Sara, Olivia, and Sam Jr. for their willingness to join us on Mormon Stories Podcast and tell their epic story.
Every once in a while we have an epic, multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast episode about a family who experiences a faith crisis together -- wherein multiple family members (including some of the children) participate in the re-telling of the story.
This is one of those episodes.
Sam and Sara Pinson were living the Mormon dream: raised in the LDS Church, married in the LDS temple, etc. Sam obtained his “dream job” working 5 years for Microsoft, and later left Microsoft to start his own business. The Pinson dream culminated in Sam and Sara moving to Ammon (Idaho Falls), Idaho, wherein Sam was called as a Mormon bishop. Everything seemed perfect - except it wasn’t.
- Their teenage daughter, Olivia, was questioning both the church, and her sexuality.
- Their son, Sam Jr., was suffering with Scrupulosity (religious OCD)
- And both Sam and Sara were beginning to question their Mormon faith while Sam was serving as bishop.
Today’s episode tells the story of how a devout Mormon family in Ammon, Idaho, led by a Mormon Bishop, can end up losing their faith in Mormonism in 2020. It also includes a full recounting of how Sam began to speak openly about his struggles with the church after losing his faith - leading to threats and ultimately a disciplinary council/excommunication. And yes, Sam recorded and is now sharing here the full audio of his excommunication (Part 6).
Sam’s wife Sara, along with two of their brilliant children - Olivia and Sam Jr. - also participate in this super-thoughtful story/discussion.
You will not be disappointed in this episode. HUGE thanks to Sam Sr., Sara, Olivia, and Sam Jr. for their willingness to join us on Mormon Stories Podcast and tell their epic story.
Every once in a while we have an epic, multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast episode about a family who experiences a faith crisis together -- wherein multiple family members (including some of the children) participate in the re-telling of the story.
This is one of those episodes.
Sam and Sara Pinson were living the Mormon dream: raised in the LDS Church, married in the LDS temple, etc. Sam obtained his “dream job” working 5 years for Microsoft, and later left Microsoft to start his own business. The Pinson dream culminated in Sam and Sara moving to Ammon (Idaho Falls), Idaho, wherein Sam was called as a Mormon bishop. Everything seemed perfect - except it wasn’t.
- Their teenage daughter, Olivia, was questioning both the church, and her sexuality.
- Their son, Sam Jr., was suffering with Scrupulosity (religious OCD)
- And both Sam and Sara were beginning to question their Mormon faith while Sam was serving as bishop.
Today’s episode tells the story of how a devout Mormon family in Ammon, Idaho, led by a Mormon Bishop, can end up losing their faith in Mormonism in 2020. It also includes a full recounting of how Sam began to speak openly about his struggles with the church after losing his faith - leading to threats and ultimately a disciplinary council/excommunication. And yes, Sam recorded and is now sharing here the full audio of his excommunication (Part 6).
Sam’s wife Sara, along with two of their brilliant children - Olivia and Sam Jr. - also participate in this super-thoughtful story/discussion.
You will not be disappointed in this episode. HUGE thanks to Sam Sr., Sara, Olivia, and Sam Jr. for their willingness to join us on Mormon Stories Podcast and tell their epic story.
Every once in a while we have an epic, multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast episode about a family who experiences a faith crisis together -- wherein multiple family members (including some of the children) participate in the re-telling of the story.
This is one of those episodes.
Sam and Sara Pinson were living the Mormon dream: raised in the LDS Church, married in the LDS temple, etc. Sam obtained his “dream job” working 5 years for Microsoft, and later left Microsoft to start his own business. The Pinson dream culminated in Sam and Sara moving to Ammon (Idaho Falls), Idaho, wherein Sam was called as a Mormon bishop. Everything seemed perfect - except it wasn’t.
- Their teenage daughter, Olivia, was questioning both the church, and her sexuality.
- Their son, Sam Jr., was suffering with Scrupulosity (religious OCD)
- And both Sam and Sara were beginning to question their Mormon faith while Sam was serving as bishop.
Today’s episode tells the story of how a devout Mormon family in Ammon, Idaho, led by a Mormon Bishop, can end up losing their faith in Mormonism in 2020. It also includes a full recounting of how Sam began to speak openly about his struggles with the church after losing his faith - leading to threats and ultimately a disciplinary council/excommunication. And yes, Sam recorded and is now sharing here the full audio of his excommunication (Part 6).
Sam’s wife Sara, along with two of their brilliant children - Olivia and Sam Jr. - also participate in this super-thoughtful story/discussion.
You will not be disappointed in this episode. HUGE thanks to Sam Sr., Sara, Olivia, and Sam Jr. for their willingness to join us on Mormon Stories Podcast and tell their epic story.
Every once in a while we have an epic, multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast episode about a family who experiences a faith crisis together -- wherein multiple family members (including some of the children) participate in the re-telling of the story.
This is one of those episodes.
Sam and Sara Pinson were living the Mormon dream: raised in the LDS Church, married in the LDS temple, etc. Sam obtained his “dream job” working 5 years for Microsoft, and later left Microsoft to start his own business. The Pinson dream culminated in Sam and Sara moving to Ammon (Idaho Falls), Idaho, wherein Sam was called as a Mormon bishop. Everything seemed perfect - except it wasn’t.
- Their teenage daughter, Olivia, was questioning both the church, and her sexuality.
- Their son, Sam Jr., was suffering with Scrupulosity (religious OCD)
- And both Sam and Sara were beginning to question their Mormon faith while Sam was serving as bishop.
Today’s episode tells the story of how a devout Mormon family in Ammon, Idaho, led by a Mormon Bishop, can end up losing their faith in Mormonism in 2020. It also includes a full recounting of how Sam began to speak openly about his struggles with the church after losing his faith - leading to threats and ultimately a disciplinary council/excommunication. And yes, Sam recorded and is now sharing here the full audio of his excommunication (Part 6).
Sam’s wife Sara, along with two of their brilliant children - Olivia and Sam Jr. - also participate in this super-thoughtful story/discussion.
You will not be disappointed in this episode. HUGE thanks to Sam Sr., Sara, Olivia, and Sam Jr. for their willingness to join us on Mormon Stories Podcast and tell their epic story.
Every once in a while we have an epic, multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast episode about a family who experiences a faith crisis together -- wherein multiple family members (including some of the children) participate in the re-telling of the story.
This is one of those episodes.
Sam and Sara Pinson were living the Mormon dream: raised in the LDS Church, married in the LDS temple, etc. Sam obtained his “dream job” working 5 years for Microsoft, and later left Microsoft to start his own business. The Pinson dream culminated in Sam and Sara moving to Ammon (Idaho Falls), Idaho, wherein Sam was called as a Mormon bishop. Everything seemed perfect - except it wasn’t.
- Their teenage daughter, Olivia, was questioning both the church, and her sexuality.
- Their son, Sam Jr., was suffering with Scrupulosity (religious OCD)
- And both Sam and Sara were beginning to question their Mormon faith while Sam was serving as bishop.
Today’s episode tells the story of how a devout Mormon family in Ammon, Idaho, led by a Mormon Bishop, can end up losing their faith in Mormonism in 2020. It also includes a full recounting of how Sam began to speak openly about his struggles with the church after losing his faith - leading to threats and ultimately a disciplinary council/excommunication. And yes, Sam recorded and is now sharing here the full audio of his excommunication (Part 6).
Sam’s wife Sara, along with two of their brilliant children - Olivia and Sam Jr. - also participate in this super-thoughtful story/discussion.
You will not be disappointed in this episode. HUGE thanks to Sam Sr., Sara, Olivia, and Sam Jr. for their willingness to join us on Mormon Stories Podcast and tell their epic story.
Every once in a while we have an epic, multi-part Mormon Stories Podcast episode about a family who experiences a faith crisis together -- wherein multiple family members (including some of the children) participate in the re-telling of the story.
This is one of those episodes.
Sam and Sara Pinson were living the Mormon dream: raised in the LDS Church, married in the LDS temple, etc. Sam obtained his “dream job” working 5 years for Microsoft, and later left Microsoft to start his own business. The Pinson dream culminated in Sam and Sara moving to Ammon (Idaho Falls), Idaho, wherein Sam was called as a Mormon bishop. Everything seemed perfect - except it wasn’t.
- Their teenage daughter, Olivia, was questioning both the church, and her sexuality.
- Their son, Sam Jr., was suffering with Scrupulosity (religious OCD)
- And both Sam and Sara were beginning to question their Mormon faith while Sam was serving as bishop.
Today’s episode tells the story of how a devout Mormon family in Ammon, Idaho, led by a Mormon Bishop, can end up losing their faith in Mormonism in 2020. It also includes a full recounting of how Sam began to speak openly about his struggles with the church after losing his faith - leading to threats and ultimately a disciplinary council/excommunication. And yes, Sam recorded and is now sharing here the full audio of his excommunication (Part 6).
Sam’s wife Sara, along with two of their brilliant children - Olivia and Sam Jr. - also participate in this super-thoughtful story/discussion.
You will not be disappointed in this episode. HUGE thanks to Sam Sr., Sara, Olivia, and Sam Jr. for their willingness to join us on Mormon Stories Podcast and tell their epic story.
Yesterday afternoon I sat down with eight super-thoughtful Post-Mormons of color to discuss the unlawful killing of people of color by law enforcement officers and white citizens in the United States of America.
While these killings happen on a monthly basis in the United States, and have been occurring for centuries -- three of the 2020 killings that seem to be invoking particularly strong reactions are those of:
-
George Floyd (46) - Killed in May in Minneapolis by police officer Derek Chauvin, while fellow officers watched.
-
Ahmaud Arbery (25) - Killed in South Georgia by Travis McMichael, while his father watched.
-
Breonna Taylor - Killed in March in Louisville by narcotics detectives after they knocked down her apartment door
We are aware the killings of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery only because they were recorded by smart phones. As summarized by actor Will Smith, “Racism isn’t getting worse. It’s getting filmed.”
These killings have led to numerous public protests throughout the United States, including this past weekend in Salt Lake City. In some instances, it has been reported that white supremacists have infiltrated some of the protests to stoke violence and disorder.
We also discussed LDS Church president Russell M. Nelson’s recent statement in reaction to the killing of George Floyd, and the corresponding protests surrounding public awareness of Floyd’s death.
Our panelists included the following:
Cecile Shellman
Spencer Nugent
Darron Smith
Jason Ball
Kimilyn Poulson
Mark Nugent
Solange Renfroe
Victoria Denise
Yesterday afternoon I sat down with eight super-thoughtful Post-Mormons of color to discuss the unlawful killing of people of color by law enforcement officers and white citizens in the United States of America.
While these killings happen on a monthly basis in the United States, and have been occurring for centuries -- three of the 2020 killings that seem to be invoking particularly strong reactions are those of:
-
George Floyd (46) - Killed in May in Minneapolis by police officer Derek Chauvin, while fellow officers watched.
-
Ahmaud Arbery (25) - Killed in South Georgia by Travis McMichael, while his father watched.
-
Breonna Taylor - Killed in March in Louisville by narcotics detectives after they knocked down her apartment door
We are aware the killings of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery only because they were recorded by smart phones. As summarized by actor Will Smith, “Racism isn’t getting worse. It’s getting filmed.”
These killings have led to numerous public protests throughout the United States, including this past weekend in Salt Lake City. In some instances, it has been reported that white supremacists have infiltrated some of the protests to stoke violence and disorder.
We also discussed LDS Church president Russell M. Nelson’s recent statement in reaction to the killing of George Floyd, and the corresponding protests surrounding public awareness of Floyd’s death.
Our panelists included the following:
Cecile Shellman
Spencer Nugent
Darron Smith
Jason Ball
Kimilyn Poulson
Mark Nugent
Solange Renfroe
Victoria Denise
As part of our ongoing series on claims of Satanic Ritual Abuse within the Mormon Church, today we interview Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist and the author of some 70 books on religious pluralism and new religious movements.
Massimo is author of the article: A Rumor of Devils: Allegations of Satanic Child Abuse and Mormonism, 1985-1994, a paper read at the Mormon History Association in Park City, Utah on May 21, 1994. In today's episode we review the highlights of this article.
Dr, Introvigne was until 2016 professor of Sociology of Religions at Pontifical Salesian University in Torino, Italy. He has written articles inter alia for Dialogue and BYU Studies. In 2011, he served as the Representative for combating racism, xenophobia and religious intolerance of the OSCE, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, in which the USA and Canada are also participating states.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we continue our series on the history of Repressed Memory Therapy and claims of Satanic Ritual Abuse within Utah Mormonism.
Today’s interview is with “Kim,” who tells her experiences of being subjected to techniques of hypnosis and repressed/recovered memory in Provo/Orem Utah between 1988 and 1992. In the interview Kim discusses her traumatic childhood - which led to her conversion to Mormonism, and left her vulnerable to Repressed/Recovered Memory techniques in adulthood while she was attempting to recover from childhood PTSD.
While living in Provo/Orem, UT and struggling in her early marriage, Kim was referred to Mormon therapists Rex Kocherhans and Ruth Kilpack - both of whom were practitioners of Repressed/Recovered Memory therapy. Interestingly, Ruth Killpack was referred to Kim by her LDS bishop, and was also a therapist to Martha Beck, who controversially claimed that her late father, Mormon scholar and apologist Hugh Nibley, sexually abused her. Martha Beck has acknowledged that her memories of abuse were recovered through these same Repressed/Recovered Memory techniques.
As Ruth engaged in therapy with Mormon therapists Rex Kocherhans and Ruth Kilpack, Ruth was pressured in therapy using hypnosis to “remember” being sexually abused during her childhood, which resulted in her accusing several family members of sexual abuse - even though she was never convinced that the “memories” produced under hypnosis were real. As these accusations left Kim increasingly paranoid, ostracized from her family, and ultimately re-traumatized - and as Kim grew increasingly uncomfortable with her therapists’ lack of appropriate boundaries and unethical therapeutic ethics -- Kim determined that her “memories” of family abuse were in fact implanted or manipulated by her therapists.
“Kim” was later directly interviewed by Mormon General Authority Glenn Pace as a part of his investigation into Satanic Ritual within Mormonism, and eventually Kim spoke out as an advocate against “”Repressed or Recovered Memory” Techniques in newspapers, and on TV.
This is Kim’s story.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we continue our series on the history of Repressed Memory Therapy and claims of Satanic Ritual Abuse within Utah Mormonism.
Today’s interview is with “Kim,” who tells her experiences of being subjected to techniques of hypnosis and repressed/recovered memory in Provo/Orem Utah between 1988 and 1992. In the interview Kim discusses her traumatic childhood - which led to her conversion to Mormonism, and left her vulnerable to Repressed/Recovered Memory techniques in adulthood while she was attempting to recover from childhood PTSD.
While living in Provo/Orem, UT and struggling in her early marriage, Kim was referred to Mormon therapists Rex Kocherhans and Ruth Kilpack - both of whom were practitioners of Repressed/Recovered Memory therapy. Interestingly, Ruth Killpack was referred to Kim by her LDS bishop, and was also a therapist to Martha Beck, who controversially claimed that her late father, Mormon scholar and apologist Hugh Nibley, sexually abused her. Martha Beck has acknowledged that her memories of abuse were recovered through these same Repressed/Recovered Memory techniques.
As Ruth engaged in therapy with Mormon therapists Rex Kocherhans and Ruth Kilpack, Ruth was pressured in therapy using hypnosis to “remember” being sexually abused during her childhood, which resulted in her accusing several family members of sexual abuse - even though she was never convinced that the “memories” produced under hypnosis were real. As these accusations left Kim increasingly paranoid, ostracized from her family, and ultimately re-traumatized - and as Kim grew increasingly uncomfortable with her therapists’ lack of appropriate boundaries and unethical therapeutic ethics -- Kim determined that her “memories” of family abuse were in fact implanted or manipulated by her therapists.
“Kim” was later directly interviewed by Mormon General Authority Glenn Pace as a part of his investigation into Satanic Ritual within Mormonism, and eventually Kim spoke out as an advocate against “”Repressed or Recovered Memory” Techniques in newspapers, and on TV.
This is Kim’s story.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we continue our series on the history of Repressed Memory Therapy and claims of Satanic Ritual Abuse within Utah Mormonism.
Today’s interview is with “Kim,” who tells her experiences of being subjected to techniques of hypnosis and repressed/recovered memory in Provo/Orem Utah between 1988 and 1992. In the interview Kim discusses her traumatic childhood - which led to her conversion to Mormonism, and left her vulnerable to Repressed/Recovered Memory techniques in adulthood while she was attempting to recover from childhood PTSD.
While living in Provo/Orem, UT and struggling in her early marriage, Kim was referred to Mormon therapists Rex Kocherhans and Ruth Kilpack - both of whom were practitioners of Repressed/Recovered Memory therapy. Interestingly, Ruth Killpack was referred to Kim by her LDS bishop, and was also a therapist to Martha Beck, who controversially claimed that her late father, Mormon scholar and apologist Hugh Nibley, sexually abused her. Martha Beck has acknowledged that her memories of abuse were recovered through these same Repressed/Recovered Memory techniques.
As Ruth engaged in therapy with Mormon therapists Rex Kocherhans and Ruth Kilpack, Ruth was pressured in therapy using hypnosis to “remember” being sexually abused during her childhood, which resulted in her accusing several family members of sexual abuse - even though she was never convinced that the “memories” produced under hypnosis were real. As these accusations left Kim increasingly paranoid, ostracized from her family, and ultimately re-traumatized - and as Kim grew increasingly uncomfortable with her therapists’ lack of appropriate boundaries and unethical therapeutic ethics -- Kim determined that her “memories” of family abuse were in fact implanted or manipulated by her therapists.
“Kim” was later directly interviewed by Mormon General Authority Glenn Pace as a part of his investigation into Satanic Ritual within Mormonism, and eventually Kim spoke out as an advocate against “”Repressed or Recovered Memory” Techniques in newspapers, and on TV.
This is Kim’s story.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we continue our series on the history of Repressed Memory Therapy and claims of Satanic Ritual Abuse within Utah Mormonism.
Today’s interview is with “Kim,” who tells her experiences of being subjected to techniques of hypnosis and repressed/recovered memory in Provo/Orem Utah between 1988 and 1992. In the interview Kim discusses her traumatic childhood - which led to her conversion to Mormonism, and left her vulnerable to Repressed/Recovered Memory techniques in adulthood while she was attempting to recover from childhood PTSD.
While living in Provo/Orem, UT and struggling in her early marriage, Kim was referred to Mormon therapists Rex Kocherhans and Ruth Kilpack - both of whom were practitioners of Repressed/Recovered Memory therapy. Interestingly, Ruth Killpack was referred to Kim by her LDS bishop, and was also a therapist to Martha Beck, who controversially claimed that her late father, Mormon scholar and apologist Hugh Nibley, sexually abused her. Martha Beck has acknowledged that her memories of abuse were recovered through these same Repressed/Recovered Memory techniques.
As Ruth engaged in therapy with Mormon therapists Rex Kocherhans and Ruth Kilpack, Ruth was pressured in therapy using hypnosis to “remember” being sexually abused during her childhood, which resulted in her accusing several family members of sexual abuse - even though she was never convinced that the “memories” produced under hypnosis were real. As these accusations left Kim increasingly paranoid, ostracized from her family, and ultimately re-traumatized - and as Kim grew increasingly uncomfortable with her therapists’ lack of appropriate boundaries and unethical therapeutic ethics -- Kim determined that her “memories” of family abuse were in fact implanted or manipulated by her therapists.
“Kim” was later directly interviewed by Mormon General Authority Glenn Pace as a part of his investigation into Satanic Ritual within Mormonism, and eventually Kim spoke out as an advocate against “”Repressed or Recovered Memory” Techniques in newspapers, and on TV.
This is Kim’s story.
As part of a multi-part series on claims of Satanic Ritual Abuse within Mormonism, today we are interviewing Dr. David Frankfurter - author of "Evil Incarnate: Rumors of Demonic Conspiracy and Satanic Abuse in History."
David Frankfurter holds the William Goodwin Aurelio Chair of the Appreciation of Scripture at Boston University. He joined the faculty of B.U. in the fall of 2010. A scholar of ancient Mediterranean religions with specialties in Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature, magical texts, popular religion, and Egypt in the Roman and late antique periods, Frankfurter’s particular interests revolve around theoretical issues like the place of magic in religion, the relationship of religion and violence, the nature of Christianization, and the representation of evil in culture.
After earning his B.A. in Religion from Wesleyan University, M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School, and M.A./Ph.D. from Princeton University, Frankfurter taught at the College of Charleston and the University of New Hampshire, and he held fellowships at the Institute for Advanced Study (1993-95) and the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study (2007-8), as well as research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (1992) and the Guggenheim Foundation (2007-8).
A HUGE thank you to Rick Phillips for making this episode possible.
As part of a multi-part series on claims of Satanic Ritual Abuse within Mormonism, today we are interviewing Dr. David Frankfurter - author of "Evil Incarnate: Rumors of Demonic Conspiracy and Satanic Abuse in History."
David Frankfurter holds the William Goodwin Aurelio Chair of the Appreciation of Scripture at Boston University. He joined the faculty of B.U. in the fall of 2010. A scholar of ancient Mediterranean religions with specialties in Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature, magical texts, popular religion, and Egypt in the Roman and late antique periods, Frankfurter’s particular interests revolve around theoretical issues like the place of magic in religion, the relationship of religion and violence, the nature of Christianization, and the representation of evil in culture.
After earning his B.A. in Religion from Wesleyan University, M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School, and M.A./Ph.D. from Princeton University, Frankfurter taught at the College of Charleston and the University of New Hampshire, and he held fellowships at the Institute for Advanced Study (1993-95) and the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study (2007-8), as well as research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (1992) and the Guggenheim Foundation (2007-8).
A HUGE thank you to Rick Phillips for making this episode possible.
In today's episode I will provide a brief introduction to the history of Satanic Ritual Abuse Claims Within Mormonism. My intention is to follow up a few more episodes from experts and others who are able/willing to give first-hand accounts relating to this topic.
In today's episode we sit down with Hannah Comeau, who shares her story about struggling with Scrupulosity (Religious OCD) and feminist inclinations as a Mormon teenage girl in Rexburg, Idaho.
In today's episode we sit down with Hannah Comeau, who shares her story about struggling with Scrupulosity (Religious OCD) and feminist inclinations as a Mormon teenage girl in Rexburg, Idaho.
In today's episode we sit down with Hannah Comeau, who shares her story about struggling with Scrupulosity (Religious OCD) and feminist inclinations as a Mormon teenage girl in Rexburg, Idaho.
Five years years ago, upon completing my Psychology Ph.D., I began holding retreats and workshops to support Mormons in faith crisis, and specifically to help reduce anxiety, depression, suicidality, family strife, and unnecessary divorce for those experiencing a Mormon Faith Crisis. For many of these workshops and retreats, I was fortunate to co-present with Natasha Helfer Parker and Margi Dehlin.
In August of 2019 we decided to hold a weekend retreat and record the entire experience ,including the attendee participation. This is that retreat, which was held from 8/30 to 9/1/2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 40 audience members participated. The following topics were addressed:
- Understanding and Navigating a Religious Transition
- Fundamentals of Mental Health in a Religious Transition
- The Key to Healthy Relationships: Emotional Intimacy
- Healthy Sexuality After a Faith Transition
- Conscious Parenting
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
We hope you enjoy this content. It is the best insight we can share to help you navigate your religious transition.
Finally, a HUGE thanks goes to Clint and Jeni Martin for underwriting this event.
Five years years ago, upon completing my Psychology Ph.D., I began holding retreats and workshops to support Mormons in faith crisis, and specifically to help reduce anxiety, depression, suicidality, family strife, and unnecessary divorce for those experiencing a Mormon Faith Crisis. For many of these workshops and retreats, I was fortunate to co-present with Natasha Helfer Parker and Margi Dehlin.
In August of 2019 we decided to hold a weekend retreat and record the entire experience ,including the attendee participation. This is that retreat, which was held from 8/30 to 9/1/2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 40 audience members participated. The following topics were addressed:
- Understanding and Navigating a Religious Transition
- Fundamentals of Mental Health in a Religious Transition
- The Key to Healthy Relationships: Emotional Intimacy
- Healthy Sexuality After a Faith Transition
- Conscious Parenting
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
We hope you enjoy this content. It is the best insight we can share to help you navigate your religious transition.
Finally, a HUGE thanks goes to Clint and Jeni Martin for underwriting this event.
Five years years ago, upon completing my Psychology Ph.D., I began holding retreats and workshops to support Mormons in faith crisis, and specifically to help reduce anxiety, depression, suicidality, family strife, and unnecessary divorce for those experiencing a Mormon Faith Crisis. For many of these workshops and retreats, I was fortunate to co-present with Natasha Helfer Parker and Margi Dehlin.
In August of 2019 we decided to hold a weekend retreat and record the entire experience ,including the attendee participation. This is that retreat, which was held from 8/30 to 9/1/2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 40 audience members participated. The following topics were addressed:
- Understanding and Navigating a Religious Transition
- Fundamentals of Mental Health in a Religious Transition
- The Key to Healthy Relationships: Emotional Intimacy
- Healthy Sexuality After a Faith Transition
- Conscious Parenting
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
We hope you enjoy this content. It is the best insight we can share to help you navigate your religious transition.
Finally, a HUGE thanks goes to Clint and Jeni Martin for underwriting this event.
Five years years ago, upon completing my Psychology Ph.D., I began holding retreats and workshops to support Mormons in faith crisis, and specifically to help reduce anxiety, depression, suicidality, family strife, and unnecessary divorce for those experiencing a Mormon Faith Crisis. For many of these workshops and retreats, I was fortunate to co-present with Natasha Helfer Parker and Margi Dehlin.
In August of 2019 we decided to hold a weekend retreat and record the entire experience ,including the attendee participation. This is that retreat, which was held from 8/30 to 9/1/2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 40 audience members participated. The following topics were addressed:
- Understanding and Navigating a Religious Transition
- Fundamentals of Mental Health in a Religious Transition
- The Key to Healthy Relationships: Emotional Intimacy
- Healthy Sexuality After a Faith Transition
- Conscious Parenting
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
We hope you enjoy this content. It is the best insight we can share to help you navigate your religious transition.
Finally, a HUGE thanks goes to Clint and Jeni Martin for underwriting this event.
Five years years ago, upon completing my Psychology Ph.D., I began holding retreats and workshops to support Mormons in faith crisis, and specifically to help reduce anxiety, depression, suicidality, family strife, and unnecessary divorce for those experiencing a Mormon Faith Crisis. For many of these workshops and retreats, I was fortunate to co-present with Natasha Helfer Parker and Margi Dehlin.
In August of 2019 we decided to hold a weekend retreat and record the entire experience ,including the attendee participation. This is that retreat, which was held from 8/30 to 9/1/2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 40 audience members participated. The following topics were addressed:
- Understanding and Navigating a Religious Transition
- Fundamentals of Mental Health in a Religious Transition
- The Key to Healthy Relationships: Emotional Intimacy
- Healthy Sexuality After a Faith Transition
- Conscious Parenting
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
We hope you enjoy this content. It is the best insight we can share to help you navigate your religious transition.
Finally, a HUGE thanks goes to Clint and Jeni Martin for underwriting this event.
Five years years ago, upon completing my Psychology Ph.D., I began holding retreats and workshops to support Mormons in faith crisis, and specifically to help reduce anxiety, depression, suicidality, family strife, and unnecessary divorce for those experiencing a Mormon Faith Crisis. For many of these workshops and retreats, I was fortunate to co-present with Natasha Helfer Parker and Margi Dehlin.
In August of 2019 we decided to hold a weekend retreat and record the entire experience ,including the attendee participation. This is that retreat, which was held from 8/30 to 9/1/2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 40 audience members participated. The following topics were addressed:
- Understanding and Navigating a Religious Transition
- Fundamentals of Mental Health in a Religious Transition
- The Key to Healthy Relationships: Emotional Intimacy
- Healthy Sexuality After a Faith Transition
- Conscious Parenting
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
We hope you enjoy this content. It is the best insight we can share to help you navigate your religious transition.
Finally, a HUGE thanks goes to Clint and Jeni Martin for underwriting this event.
Five years years ago, upon completing my Psychology Ph.D., I began holding retreats and workshops to support Mormons in faith crisis, and specifically to help reduce anxiety, depression, suicidality, family strife, and unnecessary divorce for those experiencing a Mormon Faith Crisis. For many of these workshops and retreats, I was fortunate to co-present with Natasha Helfer Parker and Margi Dehlin.
In August of 2019 we decided to hold a weekend retreat and record the entire experience ,including the attendee participation. This is that retreat, which was held from 8/30 to 9/1/2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 40 audience members participated. The following topics were addressed:
- Understanding and Navigating a Religious Transition
- Fundamentals of Mental Health in a Religious Transition
- The Key to Healthy Relationships: Emotional Intimacy
- Healthy Sexuality After a Faith Transition
- Conscious Parenting
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
We hope you enjoy this content. It is the best insight we can share to help you navigate your religious transition.
Finally, a HUGE thanks goes to Clint and Jeni Martin for underwriting this event.
Five years years ago, upon completing my Psychology Ph.D., I began holding retreats and workshops to support Mormons in faith crisis, and specifically to help reduce anxiety, depression, suicidality, family strife, and unnecessary divorce for those experiencing a Mormon Faith Crisis. For many of these workshops and retreats, I was fortunate to co-present with Natasha Helfer Parker and Margi Dehlin.
In August of 2019 we decided to hold a weekend retreat and record the entire experience ,including the attendee participation. This is that retreat, which was held from 8/30 to 9/1/2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 40 audience members participated. The following topics were addressed:
- Understanding and Navigating a Religious Transition
- Fundamentals of Mental Health in a Religious Transition
- The Key to Healthy Relationships: Emotional Intimacy
- Healthy Sexuality After a Faith Transition
- Conscious Parenting
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
We hope you enjoy this content. It is the best insight we can share to help you navigate your religious transition.
Finally, a HUGE thanks goes to Clint and Jeni Martin for underwriting this event.
Five years years ago, upon completing my Psychology Ph.D., I began holding retreats and workshops to support Mormons in faith crisis, and specifically to help reduce anxiety, depression, suicidality, family strife, and unnecessary divorce for those experiencing a Mormon Faith Crisis. For many of these workshops and retreats, I was fortunate to co-present with Natasha Helfer Parker and Margi Dehlin.
In August of 2019 we decided to hold a weekend retreat and record the entire experience ,including the attendee participation. This is that retreat, which was held from 8/30 to 9/1/2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 40 audience members participated. The following topics were addressed:
- Understanding and Navigating a Religious Transition
- Fundamentals of Mental Health in a Religious Transition
- The Key to Healthy Relationships: Emotional Intimacy
- Healthy Sexuality After a Faith Transition
- Conscious Parenting
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
We hope you enjoy this content. It is the best insight we can share to help you navigate your religious transition.
Finally, a HUGE thanks goes to Clint and Jeni Martin for underwriting this event.
Five years years ago, upon completing my Psychology Ph.D., I began holding retreats and workshops to support Mormons in faith crisis, and specifically to help reduce anxiety, depression, suicidality, family strife, and unnecessary divorce for those experiencing a Mormon Faith Crisis. For many of these workshops and retreats, I was fortunate to co-present with Natasha Helfer Parker and Margi Dehlin.
In August of 2019 we decided to hold a weekend retreat and record the entire experience ,including the attendee participation. This is that retreat, which was held from 8/30 to 9/1/2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 40 audience members participated. The following topics were addressed:
- Understanding and Navigating a Religious Transition
- Fundamentals of Mental Health in a Religious Transition
- The Key to Healthy Relationships: Emotional Intimacy
- Healthy Sexuality After a Faith Transition
- Conscious Parenting
- Communicating with Believing Family and Friends
We hope you enjoy this content. It is the best insight we can share to help you navigate your religious transition.
Finally, a HUGE thanks goes to Clint and Jeni Martin for underwriting this event.
Clarissa Winter is a direct descendant of Brigham Young (on her father’s side) and a Guatemalan Mormon convert (on her mother’s side). Clarissa was raised in Orderville, Utah as a devout Mormon, but during her teenage years began to “fall away” from orthodox Mormonism as she explored her own sexuality and struggled with anxiety, depression, and suicidality. After being labeled by her Mormon peers with terms like “bad,” “slut,” “crazy,” “whore,” “unworthy” - and after being threatened with excommunication by two Mormon bishops for sexual exploration - Clarissa left Mormonism and spent many years as a young adult trying to heal from her Mormon upbringing, and develop her own sense of self-worth and self-empowerment. Today’s episode is about rising strong as an ex-Mormon adult after being deemed “unworthy” and experiencing rejection from one’s conservative Mormon community. Clarissa is also a model, a big fan of scary movies, and does scary movie-themed boudoir shoots. You can find her Instagram account at callmemrskrueger.
Clarissa Winter is a direct descendant of Brigham Young (on her father’s side) and a Guatemalan Mormon convert (on her mother’s side). Clarissa was raised in Orderville, Utah as a devout Mormon, but during her teenage years began to “fall away” from orthodox Mormonism as she explored her own sexuality and struggled with anxiety, depression, and suicidality. After being labeled by her Mormon peers with terms like “bad,” “slut,” “crazy,” “whore,” “unworthy” - and after being threatened with excommunication by two Mormon bishops for sexual exploration - Clarissa left Mormonism and spent many years as a young adult trying to heal from her Mormon upbringing, and develop her own sense of self-worth and self-empowerment. Today’s episode is about rising strong as an ex-Mormon adult after being deemed “unworthy” and experiencing rejection from one’s conservative Mormon community. Clarissa is also a model, a big fan of scary movies, and does scary movie-themed boudoir shoots. You can find her Instagram account at callmemrskrueger.
Clarissa Winter is a direct descendant of Brigham Young (on her father’s side) and a Guatemalan Mormon convert (on her mother’s side). Clarissa was raised in Orderville, Utah as a devout Mormon, but during her teenage years began to “fall away” from orthodox Mormonism as she explored her own sexuality and struggled with anxiety, depression, and suicidality. After being labeled by her Mormon peers with terms like “bad,” “slut,” “crazy,” “whore,” “unworthy” - and after being threatened with excommunication by two Mormon bishops for sexual exploration - Clarissa left Mormonism and spent many years as a young adult trying to heal from her Mormon upbringing, and develop her own sense of self-worth and self-empowerment. Today’s episode is about rising strong as an ex-Mormon adult after being deemed “unworthy” and experiencing rejection from one’s conservative Mormon community. Clarissa is also a model, a big fan of scary movies, and does scary movie-themed boudoir shoots. You can find her Instagram account at callmemrskrueger.
Clarissa Winter is a direct descendant of Brigham Young (on her father’s side) and a Guatemalan Mormon convert (on her mother’s side). Clarissa was raised in Orderville, Utah as a devout Mormon, but during her teenage years began to “fall away” from orthodox Mormonism as she explored her own sexuality and struggled with anxiety, depression, and suicidality. After being labeled by her Mormon peers with terms like “bad,” “slut,” “crazy,” “whore,” “unworthy” - and after being threatened with excommunication by two Mormon bishops for sexual exploration - Clarissa left Mormonism and spent many years as a young adult trying to heal from her Mormon upbringing, and develop her own sense of self-worth and self-empowerment. Today’s episode is about rising strong as an ex-Mormon adult after being deemed “unworthy” and experiencing rejection from one’s conservative Mormon community. Clarissa is also a model, a big fan of scary movies, and does scary movie-themed boudoir shoots. You can find her Instagram account at callmemrskrueger.
Given the high demand for coaching support right now and the cash crunch being felt by everyone, I am putting together two weekly online Mormon faith transition support groups: one for individuals, and one for couples.
I am limiting the individual group to 8 people, and the couples group to 4 couples.
There are three main benefits to support groups:
1) They are more effective, mostly because you get input/support/ideas/motivation from an entire group.
2) They last longer (1.5 hours/week instead of 1 hour/week).
3) They are cheaper.
Topics for these groups will include:
- Navigating a faith crisis.
- Navigating relationships with believing family and friends.
- Improving mental health.
- Improving marriage/relationships.
- Parenting.
- Building a new, healthy life after a faith crisis.
- Whatever else folks want/need.
I have a Ph.D. in clinical and counseling psychology with 6 years of training in group therapy - and will be moderating these support groups. Margi may join us from time to time, depending on topic.
You will sign up for an automatic, weekly payment. The cost is $40/week/individual, and $80/week/couple. We will establish a regular meeting day/time once the group is filled. We will meet online, viz Zoom.
This is the registration page for the individual group.
https://donorbox.org/mormonfaithtransitiongroup
If you know anyone who might benefit from this group, please spread the word.
Email for any questions at: drjohndehlin@gmail.com
For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art.
Important themes for this episode include:
- Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth.
- Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult.
- Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis.
- Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church.
- An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students and faculty).
- Navigating and healing from religion-based depression, including suicidality.
- Deconstructing Mormon literalism and reconstructing a nuanced worldview.
- Learning to choose love over ideas.
Additional Resources mentioned in the episodes: * Ryan's AMAZING faith crisis/transition Reading/Podcast list can be found here, and has also been included below, after the video and audio links. This is probably the most impressive and thoughtful resources list I've ever seen for Mormon/religious faith transitions. * Holly's Art: https://www.artbyholly.com/abstract.html -- This link goes straight to the art Holly has done related to her faith transition, and her reclamation of motherhood. * Ryan's Music: http://www.ryannielsenmusic.com/music -- This link goes straight to the music portion of Ryan's website. Several pieces there are related to my faith transition, including "Prayer for Peace" and "Requiem." * Support Ryan! Ryan has written a 9 movement suite that explores his experience of a faith crisis, through the lens of the life of Elijah Abel. It's time to get this recorded. Ryan has created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the project. Please support this worthy project!
For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art.
Important themes for this episode include:
- Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth.
- Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult.
- Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis.
- Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church.
- An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students and faculty).
- Navigating and healing from religion-based depression, including suicidality.
- Deconstructing Mormon literalism and reconstructing a nuanced worldview.
- Learning to choose love over ideas.
Additional Resources mentioned in the episodes: * Ryan's AMAZING faith crisis/transition Reading/Podcast list can be found here, and has also been included below, after the video and audio links. This is probably the most impressive and thoughtful resources list I've ever seen for Mormon/religious faith transitions. * Holly's Art: https://www.artbyholly.com/abstract.html -- This link goes straight to the art Holly has done related to her faith transition, and her reclamation of motherhood. * Ryan's Music: http://www.ryannielsenmusic.com/music -- This link goes straight to the music portion of Ryan's website. Several pieces there are related to my faith transition, including "Prayer for Peace" and "Requiem." * Support Ryan! Ryan has written a 9 movement suite that explores his experience of a faith crisis, through the lens of the life of Elijah Abel. It's time to get this recorded. Ryan has created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the project. Please support this worthy project!
For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art.
Important themes for this episode include:
- Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth.
- Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult.
- Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis.
- Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church.
- An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students and faculty).
- Navigating and healing from religion-based depression, including suicidality.
- Deconstructing Mormon literalism and reconstructing a nuanced worldview.
- Learning to choose love over ideas.
Additional Resources mentioned in the episodes: * Ryan's AMAZING faith crisis/transition Reading/Podcast list can be found here, and has also been included below, after the video and audio links. This is probably the most impressive and thoughtful resources list I've ever seen for Mormon/religious faith transitions. * Holly's Art: https://www.artbyholly.com/abstract.html -- This link goes straight to the art Holly has done related to her faith transition, and her reclamation of motherhood. * Ryan's Music: http://www.ryannielsenmusic.com/music -- This link goes straight to the music portion of Ryan's website. Several pieces there are related to my faith transition, including "Prayer for Peace" and "Requiem." * Support Ryan! Ryan has written a 9 movement suite that explores his experience of a faith crisis, through the lens of the life of Elijah Abel. It's time to get this recorded. Ryan has created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the project. Please support this worthy project!
For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art.
Important themes for this episode include:
- Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth.
- Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult.
- Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis.
- Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church.
- An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students and faculty).
- Navigating and healing from religion-based depression, including suicidality.
- Deconstructing Mormon literalism and reconstructing a nuanced worldview.
- Learning to choose love over ideas.
Additional Resources mentioned in the episodes: * Ryan's AMAZING faith crisis/transition Reading/Podcast list can be found here, and has also been included below, after the video and audio links. This is probably the most impressive and thoughtful resources list I've ever seen for Mormon/religious faith transitions. * Holly's Art: https://www.artbyholly.com/abstract.html -- This link goes straight to the art Holly has done related to her faith transition, and her reclamation of motherhood. * Ryan's Music: http://www.ryannielsenmusic.com/music -- This link goes straight to the music portion of Ryan's website. Several pieces there are related to my faith transition, including "Prayer for Peace" and "Requiem." * Support Ryan! Ryan has written a 9 movement suite that explores his experience of a faith crisis, through the lens of the life of Elijah Abel. It's time to get this recorded. Ryan has created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the project. Please support this worthy project!
For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art.
Important themes for this episode include:
- Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth.
- Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult.
- Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis.
- Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church.
- An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students and faculty).
- Navigating and healing from religion-based depression, including suicidality.
- Deconstructing Mormon literalism and reconstructing a nuanced worldview.
- Learning to choose love over ideas.
Additional Resources mentioned in the episodes: * Ryan's AMAZING faith crisis/transition Reading/Podcast list can be found here, and has also been included below, after the video and audio links. This is probably the most impressive and thoughtful resources list I've ever seen for Mormon/religious faith transitions. * Holly's Art: https://www.artbyholly.com/abstract.html -- This link goes straight to the art Holly has done related to her faith transition, and her reclamation of motherhood. * Ryan's Music: http://www.ryannielsenmusic.com/music -- This link goes straight to the music portion of Ryan's website. Several pieces there are related to my faith transition, including "Prayer for Peace" and "Requiem." * Support Ryan! Ryan has written a 9 movement suite that explores his experience of a faith crisis, through the lens of the life of Elijah Abel. It's time to get this recorded. Ryan has created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the project. Please support this worthy project!
For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art.
Important themes for this episode include:
- Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth.
- Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult.
- Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis.
- Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church.
- An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students and faculty).
- Navigating and healing from religion-based depression, including suicidality.
- Deconstructing Mormon literalism and reconstructing a nuanced worldview.
- Learning to choose love over ideas.
Additional Resources mentioned in the episodes: * Ryan's AMAZING faith crisis/transition Reading/Podcast list can be found here, and has also been included below, after the video and audio links. This is probably the most impressive and thoughtful resources list I've ever seen for Mormon/religious faith transitions. * Holly's Art: https://www.artbyholly.com/abstract.html -- This link goes straight to the art Holly has done related to her faith transition, and her reclamation of motherhood. * Ryan's Music: http://www.ryannielsenmusic.com/music -- This link goes straight to the music portion of Ryan's website. Several pieces there are related to my faith transition, including "Prayer for Peace" and "Requiem." * Support Ryan! Ryan has written a 9 movement suite that explores his experience of a faith crisis, through the lens of the life of Elijah Abel. It's time to get this recorded. Ryan has created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the project. Please support this worthy project!
For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Ryan Nielsen and Holly Parson Nielsen, who were both raised as devout Mormons in Rexburg, Idaho. After marriage, Ryan worked as full-time BYU-Idaho faculty for twelve years in the Department of Music, while Holly taught middle school art.
Important themes for this episode include:
- Ryan's perfectionism and guilt/shame as a Mormon youth.
- Holly's closeted feminism as a Mormon youth and adult.
- Holly and Ryan learning to listen to their own inner voices, which also involved navigating a religious faith crisis.
- Navigating BYU-Idaho while one is full time faculty, and in a mixed-faith marriage. This story includes harassment from bishopric over maintaining continuing faculty endorsement (mostly related to Holly’s resignation from the Mormon church.
- An insider’s view of BYU-Idaho administration, including difficulties dealing with BYU-Idaho executives related to Title IX issues (e.g., sexual misconduct of Mormon ecclesiastical leaders towards BYU-Idaho students and faculty).
- Navigating and healing from religion-based depression, including suicidality.
- Deconstructing Mormon literalism and reconstructing a nuanced worldview.
- Learning to choose love over ideas.
Additional Resources mentioned in the episodes: * Ryan's AMAZING faith crisis/transition Reading/Podcast list can be found here, and has also been included below, after the video and audio links. This is probably the most impressive and thoughtful resources list I've ever seen for Mormon/religious faith transitions. * Holly's Art: https://www.artbyholly.com/abstract.html -- This link goes straight to the art Holly has done related to her faith transition, and her reclamation of motherhood. * Ryan's Music: http://www.ryannielsenmusic.com/music -- This link goes straight to the music portion of Ryan's website. Several pieces there are related to my faith transition, including "Prayer for Peace" and "Requiem." * Support Ryan! Ryan has written a 9 movement suite that explores his experience of a faith crisis, through the lens of the life of Elijah Abel. It's time to get this recorded. Ryan has created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the project. Please support this worthy project!
The “THRIVING after Mormonism” project is an effort to profile thriving post-Mormons and progressive Mormons with the intent of providing tips, tricks, inspiration, and hope to those who are questioning and/or leaving Mormonism.
If you are a newly questioning/doubting Mormon, we want you to know know that:
- You are not crazy.
- You are not alone.
- You should not be afraid to doubt/question Mormonism.
- You CAN find healing, joy, and growth beyond orthodox Mormonism.
It is also a way for you to “bear testimony” of your truths and life choices as they stand today.
WHO: I am looking for a set of 100 post-Mormons and progressive Mormons to interview on Mormon Stories Podcast who would consider themselves to be thriving after leaving Mormonism (or Mormon orthodoxy). Not flawless….not perfect…..just thriving. When I say thriving, I mean overall healthier and happier than when you were active in the church.
HOW: I have put together 20 questions for THRIVING post-Mormons and progressive Mormons to reflect upon, and to answer. I have had numerous people tell me that the simple process of reflecting upon and answering these questions has been deeply therapeutic for them. Some have even wept joyful or grief-filled tears as they’ve gone through the process of answering the questions.
I hope to release at least a few profiles a week over the next 6-12 months.
Candidates for future Mormon Stories Podcast episodes will be culled from these profiles.
I hope to include these profiles in an upcoming book that I hope to write entitled: THRIVING: The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis.
Please submit your questions/answers if you are able/willing to do so!!!! I know that this project is going to help many people.
Periodically on Mormon Stories Podcast I try to interview “normal” or everyday Mormons about their faith journey – and in every case these “normal” Mormons turn out to be extraordinarily thoughtful and courageous. Today’s interview is no exception to this rule.
Today on Mormon Stories podcast I am interviewing Kalin Orgill Organ. Aside from Kalin being a super thoughtful and courageous human, Kalin’s story includes several important themes in modern Mormonism:
- Kalin was raised in an orthodox Mormon home in California and in Highland, Utah – with seven siblings.
- She was sexually abused as a child, which possibly awakened her to her own sexuality early than other children.
- She began masturbating as a girl, before she even knew what the term meant. This instigated a multi-year effort between herself, her parents, and her Mormon bishop to try to stop the behavior, and to become “worthy” in God’s eyes.
- Kalin “lost her virginity” as a Mormon teen, which, along with her inability to stop masturbating, only made her feel less worthy.
- Kalin had doubts/questions as a Mormon teen, and even listened briefly to Mormon Stories podcast PRIOR to serving her mission. She fought hard to gain a testimony while on her mission.
- Over time, three of Kalin’s siblings came out to her as LGBTQ, which multiplied her confusion and doubt.
- After returning from a successful Mormon mission, Kalin married her husband Aaron in a Mormon temple, wherein they became to onlookers the “perfect Mormon couple.”
- Over time, after a lifetime of struggling to feel worthy, Kalin’s doubts began to consume her, and she began to contemplate suicide as a Mormon wife and mother of two children.
- Kalin is currently navigating a mixed-faith marriage, and remains an active non-literal believer in her Salt Lake City ward.
This is Kalin’s story – how she lost her orthodox Mormon faith, but found herself (and her own voice) in the process.
You will not be disappointed with this interview. I hope you will join us. And please spread the word if you can!
Periodically on Mormon Stories Podcast I try to interview “normal” or everyday Mormons about their faith journey – and in every case these “normal” Mormons turn out to be extraordinarily thoughtful and courageous. Today’s interview is no exception to this rule.
Today on Mormon Stories podcast I am interviewing Kalin Orgill Organ. Aside from Kalin being a super thoughtful and courageous human, Kalin’s story includes several important themes in modern Mormonism:
- Kalin was raised in an orthodox Mormon home in California and in Highland, Utah – with seven siblings.
- She was sexually abused as a child, which possibly awakened her to her own sexuality early than other children.
- She began masturbating as a girl, before she even knew what the term meant. This instigated a multi-year effort between herself, her parents, and her Mormon bishop to try to stop the behavior, and to become “worthy” in God’s eyes.
- Kalin “lost her virginity” as a Mormon teen, which, along with her inability to stop masturbating, only made her feel less worthy.
- Kalin had doubts/questions as a Mormon teen, and even listened briefly to Mormon Stories podcast PRIOR to serving her mission. She fought hard to gain a testimony while on her mission.
- Over time, three of Kalin’s siblings came out to her as LGBTQ, which multiplied her confusion and doubt.
- After returning from a successful Mormon mission, Kalin married her husband Aaron in a Mormon temple, wherein they became to onlookers the “perfect Mormon couple.”
- Over time, after a lifetime of struggling to feel worthy, Kalin’s doubts began to consume her, and she began to contemplate suicide as a Mormon wife and mother of two children.
- Kalin is currently navigating a mixed-faith marriage, and remains an active non-literal believer in her Salt Lake City ward.
This is Kalin’s story – how she lost her orthodox Mormon faith, but found herself (and her own voice) in the process.
You will not be disappointed with this interview. I hope you will join us. And please spread the word if you can!
Periodically on Mormon Stories Podcast I try to interview “normal” or everyday Mormons about their faith journey – and in every case these “normal” Mormons turn out to be extraordinarily thoughtful and courageous. Today’s interview is no exception to this rule.
Today on Mormon Stories podcast I am interviewing Kalin Orgill Organ. Aside from Kalin being a super thoughtful and courageous human, Kalin’s story includes several important themes in modern Mormonism:
- Kalin was raised in an orthodox Mormon home in California and in Highland, Utah – with seven siblings.
- She was sexually abused as a child, which possibly awakened her to her own sexuality early than other children.
- She began masturbating as a girl, before she even knew what the term meant. This instigated a multi-year effort between herself, her parents, and her Mormon bishop to try to stop the behavior, and to become “worthy” in God’s eyes.
- Kalin “lost her virginity” as a Mormon teen, which, along with her inability to stop masturbating, only made her feel less worthy.
- Kalin had doubts/questions as a Mormon teen, and even listened briefly to Mormon Stories podcast PRIOR to serving her mission. She fought hard to gain a testimony while on her mission.
- Over time, three of Kalin’s siblings came out to her as LGBTQ, which multiplied her confusion and doubt.
- After returning from a successful Mormon mission, Kalin married her husband Aaron in a Mormon temple, wherein they became to onlookers the “perfect Mormon couple.”
- Over time, after a lifetime of struggling to feel worthy, Kalin’s doubts began to consume her, and she began to contemplate suicide as a Mormon wife and mother of two children.
- Kalin is currently navigating a mixed-faith marriage, and remains an active non-literal believer in her Salt Lake City ward.
This is Kalin’s story – how she lost her orthodox Mormon faith, but found herself (and her own voice) in the process.
You will not be disappointed with this interview. I hope you will join us. And please spread the word if you can!
Periodically on Mormon Stories Podcast I try to interview “normal” or everyday Mormons about their faith journey – and in every case these “normal” Mormons turn out to be extraordinarily thoughtful and courageous. Today’s interview is no exception to this rule.
Today on Mormon Stories podcast I am interviewing Kalin Orgill Organ. Aside from Kalin being a super thoughtful and courageous human, Kalin’s story includes several important themes in modern Mormonism:
- Kalin was raised in an orthodox Mormon home in California and in Highland, Utah – with seven siblings.
- She was sexually abused as a child, which possibly awakened her to her own sexuality early than other children.
- She began masturbating as a girl, before she even knew what the term meant. This instigated a multi-year effort between herself, her parents, and her Mormon bishop to try to stop the behavior, and to become “worthy” in God’s eyes.
- Kalin “lost her virginity” as a Mormon teen, which, along with her inability to stop masturbating, only made her feel less worthy.
- Kalin had doubts/questions as a Mormon teen, and even listened briefly to Mormon Stories podcast PRIOR to serving her mission. She fought hard to gain a testimony while on her mission.
- Over time, three of Kalin’s siblings came out to her as LGBTQ, which multiplied her confusion and doubt.
- After returning from a successful Mormon mission, Kalin married her husband Aaron in a Mormon temple, wherein they became to onlookers the “perfect Mormon couple.”
- Over time, after a lifetime of struggling to feel worthy, Kalin’s doubts began to consume her, and she began to contemplate suicide as a Mormon wife and mother of two children.
- Kalin is currently navigating a mixed-faith marriage, and remains an active non-literal believer in her Salt Lake City ward.
This is Kalin’s story – how she lost her orthodox Mormon faith, but found herself (and her own voice) in the process.
You will not be disappointed with this interview. I hope you will join us. And please spread the word if you can!
Periodically on Mormon Stories Podcast I try to interview “normal” or everyday Mormons about their faith journey – and in every case these “normal” Mormons turn out to be extraordinarily thoughtful and courageous. Today’s interview is no exception to this rule.
Today on Mormon Stories podcast I am interviewing Kalin Orgill Organ. Aside from Kalin being a super thoughtful and courageous human, Kalin’s story includes several important themes in modern Mormonism:
- Kalin was raised in an orthodox Mormon home in California and in Highland, Utah – with seven siblings.
- She was sexually abused as a child, which possibly awakened her to her own sexuality early than other children.
- She began masturbating as a girl, before she even knew what the term meant. This instigated a multi-year effort between herself, her parents, and her Mormon bishop to try to stop the behavior, and to become “worthy” in God’s eyes.
- Kalin “lost her virginity” as a Mormon teen, which, along with her inability to stop masturbating, only made her feel less worthy.
- Kalin had doubts/questions as a Mormon teen, and even listened briefly to Mormon Stories podcast PRIOR to serving her mission. She fought hard to gain a testimony while on her mission.
- Over time, three of Kalin’s siblings came out to her as LGBTQ, which multiplied her confusion and doubt.
- After returning from a successful Mormon mission, Kalin married her husband Aaron in a Mormon temple, wherein they became to onlookers the “perfect Mormon couple.”
- Over time, after a lifetime of struggling to feel worthy, Kalin’s doubts began to consume her, and she began to contemplate suicide as a Mormon wife and mother of two children.
- Kalin is currently navigating a mixed-faith marriage, and remains an active non-literal believer in her Salt Lake City ward.
This is Kalin’s story – how she lost her orthodox Mormon faith, but found herself (and her own voice) in the process.
You will not be disappointed with this interview. I hope you will join us. And please spread the word if you can!
URGENT! I am currently being flooded by parents and family members of Mormon missionaries, elderly senior missionaries, patriarchs, temple workers, workers at Deseret Industries, etc. about the Mormon church's tragically inadequate response to the COVID-19 / Coronavirus outbreak. It appears as though many church leaders, mission presidents, and missionaries are seeing the Corona virus pandemic as an opportunity to corner people in their homes, with hopes of spreading the gospel. It has also come to my attention that Mormon church patriarchs, temple workers (most of whom also fit into the high risk category), and workers at Deseret Industries are still being asked to travel from home to home to give patriarchal blessings, and/or to show up at the temples or at Deseret Industries to work.
Please spread the word so we can help the Mormon church keep its members safe.
Did you ever struggle with your identity as a Mormon? Did you ever feel like who you were inside didn't fit the Mormon mold?
Have you ever been estranged from family over religious differences? Are you suffering with the idea that reconciliation will never happen?
Join us now for this epic and inspiring Mormon Stories Podcast episode which covers so many essential topics including:
-
Faith, family, commitment.
-
Divorce. Estrangement.
-
Excommunication and re-baptism.
-
Faith crisis issues.
-
Family reconciliation after 17 years of estrangement.
These are thoughtful, wise, and inspiring humans - and you will not regret time spent on this episode. It will restore your faith that relationships can be reconciled after estrangement from a faith crisis.
Did you ever struggle with your identity as a Mormon? Did you ever feel like who you were inside didn't fit the Mormon mold?
Have you ever been estranged from family over religious differences? Are you suffering with the idea that reconciliation will never happen?
Join us now for this epic and inspiring Mormon Stories Podcast episode which covers so many essential topics including:
-
Faith, family, commitment.
-
Divorce. Estrangement.
-
Excommunication and re-baptism.
-
Faith crisis issues.
-
Family reconciliation after 17 years of estrangement.
These are thoughtful, wise, and inspiring humans - and you will not regret time spent on this episode. It will restore your faith that relationships can be reconciled after estrangement from a faith crisis.
Did you ever struggle with your identity as a Mormon? Did you ever feel like who you were inside didn't fit the Mormon mold?
Have you ever been estranged from family over religious differences? Are you suffering with the idea that reconciliation will never happen?
Join us now for this epic and inspiring Mormon Stories Podcast episode which covers so many essential topics including:
-
Faith, family, commitment.
-
Divorce. Estrangement.
-
Excommunication and re-baptism.
-
Faith crisis issues.
-
Family reconciliation after 17 years of estrangement.
These are thoughtful, wise, and inspiring humans - and you will not regret time spent on this episode. It will restore your faith that relationships can be reconciled after estrangement from a faith crisis.
Did you ever struggle with your identity as a Mormon? Did you ever feel like who you were inside didn't fit the Mormon mold? Have you ever been estranged from family over religious differences? Are you suffering with the idea that reconciliation will never happen? Join us now for this epic and inspiring Mormon Stories Podcast episode which covers so many essential topics including: - Faith, family, commitment. - Divorce. Estrangement. - Excommunication and re-baptism. - Faith crisis issues. - Family reconciliation after 17 years of estrangement. These are thoughtful, wise, and inspiring humans - and you will not regret time spent on this episode. It will restore your faith that relationships can be reconciled after estrangement from a faith crisis.
Did you ever struggle with your identity as a Mormon? Did you ever feel like who you were inside didn't fit the Mormon mold? Have you ever been estranged from family over religious differences? Are you suffering with the idea that reconciliation will never happen? Join us now for this epic and inspiring Mormon Stories Podcast episode which covers so many essential topics including: - Faith, family, commitment. - Divorce. Estrangement. - Excommunication and re-baptism. - Faith crisis issues. - Family reconciliation after 17 years of estrangement. These are thoughtful, wise, and inspiring humans - and you will not regret time spent on this episode. It will restore your faith that relationships can be reconciled after estrangement from a faith crisis.
Did you ever struggle with your identity as a Mormon? Did you ever feel like who you were inside didn't fit the Mormon mold? Have you ever been estranged from family over religious differences? Are you suffering with the idea that reconciliation will never happen? Join us now for this epic and inspiring Mormon Stories Podcast episode which covers so many essential topics including: - Faith, family, commitment. - Divorce. Estrangement. - Excommunication and re-baptism. - Faith crisis issues. - Family reconciliation after 17 years of estrangement. These are thoughtful, wise, and inspiring humans - and you will not regret time spent on this episode. It will restore your faith that relationships can be reconciled after estrangement from a faith crisis.
Did you ever struggle with your identity as a Mormon? Did you ever feel like who you were inside didn't fit the Mormon mold? Have you ever been estranged from family over religious differences? Are you suffering with the idea that reconciliation will never happen? Join us now for this epic and inspiring Mormon Stories Podcast episode which covers so many essential topics including: - Faith, family, commitment. - Divorce. Estrangement. - Excommunication and re-baptism. - Faith crisis issues. - Family reconciliation after 17 years of estrangement. These are thoughtful, wise, and inspiring humans - and you will not regret time spent on this episode. It will restore your faith that relationships can be reconciled after estrangement from a faith crisis.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we are interviewing Anastasia Bigun. Anastasia was born in Ukraine. She and her mother met the Mormon missionaries when she was 10, and she began attending the Mormon church then, though she was not allowed by her father to be baptized until age 18. After joining the Mormon church, Anastasia moved to the United States at age 21 to attend BYU. The themes for today’s interview will include: 1) Learning more about living in Ukraine, and Ukraine’s relationship to Russia, 2) what it is like to be Mormon in Ukraine, 3) Anastasia’s own faith journey, and 4) Anastasia’s perspective on the U.S./Ukraine/Russia news stories this year.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we are interviewing Anastasia Bigun. Anastasia was born in Ukraine. She and her mother met the Mormon missionaries when she was 10, and she began attending the Mormon church then, though she was not allowed by her father to be baptized until age 18. After joining the Mormon church, Anastasia moved to the United States at age 21 to attend BYU. The themes for today’s interview will include: 1) Learning more about living in Ukraine, and Ukraine’s relationship to Russia, 2) what it is like to be Mormon in Ukraine, 3) Anastasia’s own faith journey, and 4) Anastasia’s perspective on the U.S./Ukraine/Russia news stories this year.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we are interviewing Anastasia Bigun. Anastasia was born in Ukraine. She and her mother met the Mormon missionaries when she was 10, and she began attending the Mormon church then, though she was not allowed by her father to be baptized until age 18. After joining the Mormon church, Anastasia moved to the United States at age 21 to attend BYU. The themes for today’s interview will include: 1) Learning more about living in Ukraine, and Ukraine’s relationship to Russia, 2) what it is like to be Mormon in Ukraine, 3) Anastasia’s own faith journey, and 4) Anastasia’s perspective on the U.S./Ukraine/Russia news stories this year.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we are interviewing Anastasia Bigun. Anastasia was born in Ukraine. She and her mother met the Mormon missionaries when she was 10, and she began attending the Mormon church then, though she was not allowed by her father to be baptized until age 18. After joining the Mormon church, Anastasia moved to the United States at age 21 to attend BYU. The themes for today’s interview will include: 1) Learning more about living in Ukraine, and Ukraine’s relationship to Russia, 2) what it is like to be Mormon in Ukraine, 3) Anastasia’s own faith journey, and 4) Anastasia’s perspective on the U.S./Ukraine/Russia news stories this year.
February 2020 marks the 5 year anniversary of my excommunication from the Mormon church.
In a desire to protect myself against the possibility of slander or misinformation from the church or its apologists (as was experienced by former church members such as Fawn Brodie, Simon Southerton, and Kate Kelly during their disciplinary councils), I recorded all of the interviews I had with my bishops (James Stephenson and Brian Hunt) and stake presidents (Mark Jensen and Bryan King) leading up to my disciplinary council/excommunication.
As I have been opposed to Mormon Disciplinary Councils from my childhood on, it was always my intention to publish these interviews as a matter of public record - but I decided to hold off on publishing them for several years.
In light of the recent changes made to the Mormon church's disciplinary council process, and on the 5th anniversary of my excommunication, I am publishing them now.
February 2020 marks the 5 year anniversary of my excommunication from the Mormon church.
In a desire to protect myself against the possibility of slander or misinformation from the church or its apologists (as was experienced by former church members such as Fawn Brodie, Simon Southerton, and Kate Kelly during their disciplinary councils), I recorded all of the interviews I had with my bishops (James Stephenson and Brian Hunt) and stake presidents (Mark Jensen and Bryan King) leading up to my disciplinary council/excommunication.
As I have been opposed to Mormon Disciplinary Councils from my childhood on, it was always my intention to publish these interviews as a matter of public record - but I decided to hold off on publishing them for several years.
In light of the recent changes made to the Mormon church's disciplinary council process, and on the 5th anniversary of my excommunication, I am publishing them now.
February 2020 marks the 5 year anniversary of my excommunication from the Mormon church.
In a desire to protect myself against the possibility of slander or misinformation from the church or its apologists (as was experienced by former church members such as Fawn Brodie, Simon Southerton, and Kate Kelly during their disciplinary councils), I recorded all of the interviews I had with my bishops (James Stephenson and Brian Hunt) and stake presidents (Mark Jensen and Bryan King) leading up to my disciplinary council/excommunication.
As I have been opposed to Mormon Disciplinary Councils from my childhood on, it was always my intention to publish these interviews as a matter of public record - but I decided to hold off on publishing them for several years.
In light of the recent changes made to the Mormon church's disciplinary council process, and on the 5th anniversary of my excommunication, I am publishing them now.
February 2020 marks the 5 year anniversary of my excommunication from the Mormon church.
In a desire to protect myself against the possibility of slander or misinformation from the church or its apologists (as was experienced by former church members such as Fawn Brodie, Simon Southerton, and Kate Kelly during their disciplinary councils), I recorded all of the interviews I had with my bishops (James Stephenson and Brian Hunt) and stake presidents (Mark Jensen and Bryan King) leading up to my disciplinary council/excommunication.
As I have been opposed to Mormon Disciplinary Councils from my childhood on, it was always my intention to publish these interviews as a matter of public record - but I decided to hold off on publishing them for several years.
In light of the recent changes made to the Mormon church's disciplinary council process, and on the 5th anniversary of my excommunication, I am publishing them now.
February 2020 marks the 5 year anniversary of my excommunication from the Mormon church.
In a desire to protect myself against the possibility of slander or misinformation from the church or its apologists (as was experienced by former church members such as Fawn Brodie, Simon Southerton, and Kate Kelly during their disciplinary councils), I recorded all of the interviews I had with my bishops (James Stephenson and Brian Hunt) and stake presidents (Mark Jensen and Bryan King) leading up to my disciplinary council/excommunication.
As I have been opposed to Mormon Disciplinary Councils from my childhood on, it was always my intention to publish these interviews as a matter of public record - but I decided to hold off on publishing them for several years.
In light of the recent changes made to the Mormon church's disciplinary council process, and on the 5th anniversary of my excommunication, I am publishing them now.
February 2020 marks the 5 year anniversary of my excommunication from the Mormon church.
In a desire to protect myself against the possibility of slander or misinformation from the church or its apologists (as was experienced by former church members such as Fawn Brodie, Simon Southerton, and Kate Kelly during their disciplinary councils), I recorded all of the interviews I had with my bishops (James Stephenson and Brian Hunt) and stake presidents (Mark Jensen and Bryan King) leading up to my disciplinary council/excommunication.
As I have been opposed to Mormon Disciplinary Councils from my childhood on, it was always my intention to publish these interviews as a matter of public record - but I decided to hold off on publishing them for several years.
In light of the recent changes made to the Mormon church's disciplinary council process, and on the 5th anniversary of my excommunication, I am publishing them now.
This is Part 2 of our review of the recently announced changes to the LDS Church's General Handbook of Instructions. Major changes include:
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Major changes to the church's Disciplinary Council and Exommunication processes.
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Major changes for LGBTQ Mormons, and specifically for Transgender Mormons.
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Some minor changes for women/feminists.
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Other changes to general policy.
Tonight our panel includes Natasha Helfer Parker, Gina Colvin, Anthony D. Miller, Kyle Ashworth, Samantha Taylor, and Jana Johnson Spangler.
This is Part 2 of our review of the recently announced changes to the LDS Church's General Handbook of Instructions. Major changes include:
-
Major changes to the church's Disciplinary Council and Exommunication processes.
-
Major changes for LGBTQ Mormons, and specifically for Transgender Mormons.
-
Some minor changes for women/feminists.
-
Other changes to general policy.
Tonight our panel includes Natasha Helfer Parker, Gina Colvin, Anthony D. Miller, Kyle Ashworth, Samantha Taylor, and Jana Johnson Spangler.
This is Part 2 of our review of the recently announced changes to the LDS Church's General Handbook of Instructions. Major changes include:
-
Major changes to the church's Disciplinary Council and Exommunication processes.
-
Major changes for LGBTQ Mormons, and specifically for Transgender Mormons.
-
Some minor changes for women/feminists.
-
Other changes to general policy.
Tonight our panel includes Natasha Helfer Parker, Gina Colvin, Anthony D. Miller, Kyle Ashworth, Samantha Taylor, and Jana Johnson Spangler.
Today we will be reviewing the recently announced changes to the LDS Church's General Handbook of Instructions. Major changes include:
-
Major changes to the church's Disciplinary Council and Excommunication processes.
-
Major changes for LGBTQ Mormons, and specifically for Transgender Mormons.
-
Some minor changes for women/feminists.
-
Other changes to general policy.
For part 1 of this series I will be reviewing the changes. For parts 2 - ? of this series I will bring on a panel to discuss the changes.
On today’s episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Dr. Chris Thomas as we discuss his book “A Pentecostal Reads The Book of Mormon.” We begin by discovering Dr. Thomas’ religious background and perspective, then delve into how and why Dr. Thomas decided to apply his perspective to the Mormon faith.
On today’s episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Dr. Chris Thomas as we discuss his book “A Pentecostal Reads The Book of Mormon.” We begin by discovering Dr. Thomas’ religious background and perspective, then delve into how and why Dr. Thomas decided to apply his perspective to the Mormon faith.
On today’s episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Dr. Chris Thomas as we discuss his book “A Pentecostal Reads The Book of Mormon.” We begin by discovering Dr. Thomas’ religious background and perspective, then delve into how and why Dr. Thomas decided to apply his perspective to the Mormon faith.
For today's Mormon Stories Podcast interview we will speak with Sian Wall Coombs. Sian is a mother of 5 who lives in Wales (U.K.). We will be discussing:
- Her life as the 7th of 9 children in a Welsh Mormon family,
- Her parents' very public divorce,
- Dealing with the difficulties of teenage pregnancy and church discipline,
- Her marriage to a church convert and life as an orthodox Mormon,
- Her faith crisis, and
- Her process of navigating life after Mormonism.
For today's Mormon Stories Podcast interview we will speak with Sian Wall Coombs. Sian is a mother of 5 who lives in Wales (U.K.). We will be discussing:
- Her life as the 7th of 9 children in a Welsh Mormon family,
- Her parents' very public divorce,
- Dealing with the difficulties of teenage pregnancy and church discipline,
- Her marriage to a church convert and life as an orthodox Mormon,
- Her faith crisis, and
- Her process of navigating life after Mormonism.
For today's Mormon Stories Podcast interview we will speak with Sian Wall Coombs. Sian is a mother of 5 who lives in Wales (U.K.). We will be discussing:
- Her life as the 7th of 9 children in a Welsh Mormon family,
- Her parents' very public divorce,
- Dealing with the difficulties of teenage pregnancy and church discipline,
- Her marriage to a church convert and life as an orthodox Mormon,
- Her faith crisis, and
- Her process of navigating life after Mormonism.
For today's Mormon Stories Podcast interview we will speak with Sian Wall Coombs. Sian is a mother of 5 who lives in Wales (U.K.). We will be discussing:
- Her life as the 7th of 9 children in a Welsh Mormon family,
- Her parents' very public divorce,
- Dealing with the difficulties of teenage pregnancy and church discipline,
- Her marriage to a church convert and life as an orthodox Mormon,
- Her faith crisis, and
- Her process of navigating life after Mormonism.
It has been five years since "Mormon Stories" podcast host John Dehlin was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It was a very difficult episode for him and his family, who also either left the church or are no longer active.
The podcast began 15 years ago and has become a place where Latter-day Saints having a faith crisis can go for support and understanding.
Now it has sparked a community of both former and current believers who look to Dehlin for camaraderie.
Today we speak with sociologists Rick Phillips and Ryan Cragun about "Why the Mormon Church has Declining Growth Rates in Utah and the World."
Today we speak with sociologists Rick Phillips and Ryan Cragun about "Why the Mormon Church has Declining Growth Rates in Utah and the World."
Rob from the Normon Podcast interviews John Dehlin about Mormon Stories Podcast, why he started it, and his excommunication. They also discuss changes in society and religion on homosexual marriage.
Today we are interviewing Lila Tueller - daughter of prominent Mormon General Authority, Hartman Rector Jr. Today we will discuss Lila’s story, which includes:
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Her parent’s story joining the church and becoming church leaders.
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What it was like to grow up in the family of a prominent Mormon General Authority.
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Lila’s own faith journey as a Mormon, which includes her own faith crisis.
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Lila’s beliefs and perspective now about Mormonism, and about life.
Today we are interviewing Lila Tueller - daughter of prominent Mormon General Authority, Hartman Rector Jr. Today we will discuss Lila’s story, which includes:
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Her parent’s story joining the church and becoming church leaders.
-
What it was like to grow up in the family of a prominent Mormon General Authority.
-
Lila’s own faith journey as a Mormon, which includes her own faith crisis.
-
Lila’s beliefs and perspective now about Mormonism, and about life.
Today we are interviewing Lila Tueller - daughter of prominent Mormon General Authority, Hartman Rector Jr. Today we will discuss Lila’s story, which includes:
-
Her parent’s story joining the church and becoming church leaders.
-
What it was like to grow up in the family of a prominent Mormon General Authority.
-
Lila’s own faith journey as a Mormon, which includes her own faith crisis.
-
Lila’s beliefs and perspective now about Mormonism, and about life.
Today we are interviewing Lila Tueller - daughter of prominent Mormon General Authority, Hartman Rector Jr. Today we will discuss Lila’s story, which includes:
-
Her parent’s story joining the church and becoming church leaders.
-
What it was like to grow up in the family of a prominent Mormon General Authority.
-
Lila’s own faith journey as a Mormon, which includes her own faith crisis.
-
Lila’s beliefs and perspective now about Mormonism, and about life.
On January 16, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that a newly approved and launched Utah HIV/Condom campaign is in jeopardy as Governor Gary Herbert has expressed discomfort with the "offensive" packaging.
Today we briefly interview Sampson Utley who is a volunteer on the project, and who has insider information about the story.
Join us now as we continue our interview with Joe Tippetts about returning to Mormon Church Activity as a Non-Traditional Believer.
Join us now as we continue our interview with Joe Tippetts about returning to Mormon Church Activity as a Non-Traditional Believer.
Join us now as we continue our interview with Joe Tippetts about returning to Mormon Church Activity as a Non-Traditional Believer.
In today’s episode we interview Dave, Keri, and Alyssa Witbeck as they discuss their navigation through Mormonism as a family of very conscientious members. Themes in today’s episode include parent/child dynamics, perfectionism, religious orthodoxy, spousal abuse, eating disorders, divorce, depression, and faith crises. We will also discuss the basic THRIVE questions around healing and growth beyond Mormonism.
In today’s episode we interview Dave, Keri, and Alyssa Witbeck as they discuss their navigation through Mormonism as a family of very conscientious members. Themes in today’s episode include parent/child dynamics, perfectionism, religious orthodoxy, spousal abuse, eating disorders, divorce, depression, and faith crises. We will also discuss the basic THRIVE questions around healing and growth beyond Mormonism.
In today’s episode we interview Dave, Keri, and Alyssa Witbeck as they discuss their navigation through Mormonism as a family of very conscientious members. Themes in today’s episode include parent/child dynamics, perfectionism, religious orthodoxy, spousal abuse, eating disorders, divorce, depression, and faith crises. We will also discuss the basic THRIVE questions around healing and growth beyond Mormonism.
In today’s episode we interview Dave, Keri, and Alyssa Witbeck as they discuss their navigation through Mormonism as a family of very conscientious members. Themes in today’s episode include parent/child dynamics, perfectionism, religious orthodoxy, spousal abuse, eating disorders, divorce, depression, and faith crises. We will also discuss the basic THRIVE questions around healing and growth beyond Mormonism.
In today’s episode we interview Dave, Keri, and Alyssa Witbeck as they discuss their navigation through Mormonism as a family of very conscientious members. Themes in today’s episode include parent/child dynamics, perfectionism, religious orthodoxy, spousal abuse, eating disorders, divorce, depression, and faith crises. We will also discuss the basic THRIVE questions around healing and growth beyond Mormonism.
Join us today as we interview Joe Tippetts, who resigned from the Mormon church in 2014 after losing his faith. In 2019 Joe was re-baptized into the church again. His passion now is building bridges between Mormons and post-Mormons.
Join us today as we interview Joe Tippetts, who resigned from the Mormon church in 2014 after losing his faith. In 2019 Joe was re-baptized into the church again. His passion now is building bridges between Mormons and post-Mormons.
Join us today as we interview Joe Tippetts, who resigned from the Mormon church in 2014 after losing his faith. In 2019 Joe was re-baptized into the church again. His passion now is building bridges between Mormons and post-Mormons.
In our first in a series of condensed interviews where we interview mixed-faith couples and get right to the heart of the issues they face, we meet with Polly and Justin Brown. Polly and Justin were recently featured on an episode of the Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast and today we are excited to hear their story.
In our first in a series of condensed interviews where we interview mixed-faith couples and get right to the heart of the issues they face, we meet with Polly and Justin Brown. Polly and Justin were recently featured on an episode of the Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast and today we are excited to hear their story.
Our follow-up interview with author Amber Scorah of the book "Leaving the Witness" at the Community of Christ in Salt Lake City, Utah. In this interview, we solicit comments and questions from our live audience.
I have SUPER good news for those of you who have always wanted to attend a Mormon Stories / Faith Crisis Retreat...I have a super cool opportunity.
A generous donor has stepped forward to underwrite the event, and a few other generous folks have offered their St. George homes to us...so here's the scoop!
1) We are able to make the 12/6-12/8 St. George retreat available to ANYONE who wants to attend. If you cannot afford the registration fee, you are free to pay what you can afford, and the generous donor will cover the rest.
2) We will be driving a retreat karaoke party van down from Salt Lake City on the morning of 12/6, returning the evening of 12/8....so if anyone wants to drive with us...have a blast...and save on transportation, we'd love to have you!
3) Finally, we have several guest rooms available for folks to stay in if you need a place to stay in St. George. If you can pay something for them, great. If you are not able to afford them, that's ok too!
In summary, PLEASE don't let finances stop you from attending our Mormon Stories / faith crisis retreat if you are able to come. We will focus on all the important issues including:
1) Navigating a religious faith crisis.
2) Communicating with believing family and friends.
3) Navigating a mixed faith marriage.
4) Improving your mental health during a faith transition.
5) Improving your sexuality during and after a faith transition.
6) Parenting after a faith crisis.
And whatever else you want/need help on.
Please spread the word, and we hope to see many of you you soon!
While in Seattle, Washington this past week—we were excited to finally put a face to the voice that so many in the post- and progressive-Mormon world have come to know—by interviewing the host of the Radio Free Mormon podcast of the family of Mormon Discussions podcasts. While we still do not disclose his name, we are confident that after this 7-hour journey with "RFM," you will come away with an accurate depiction of the man behind some of the most informative and entertaining podcasts in the Mormon community.
Broadcasting behind Enemy lines, Radio Free Mormon tackles the difficult subjects in Mormonism like no one else. Dissecting things like a surgeon, RFM gets to the crux of the issue, exposing all the connections and subtleties that lie below the surface. His unique sense of humor, his knowledge of Mormonism, his displaying of the data. If you haven’t yet listened, you likely could use some Radio Free Mormon in your life.
While in Seattle, Washington this past week—we were excited to finally put a face to the voice that so many in the post- and progressive-Mormon world have come to know—by interviewing the host of the Radio Free Mormon podcast of the family of Mormon Discussions podcasts. While we still do not disclose his name, we are confident that after this 7-hour journey with "RFM," you will come away with an accurate depiction of the man behind some of the most informative and entertaining podcasts in the Mormon community.
Broadcasting behind Enemy lines, Radio Free Mormon tackles the difficult subjects in Mormonism like no one else. Dissecting things like a surgeon, RFM gets to the crux of the issue, exposing all the connections and subtleties that lie below the surface. His unique sense of humor, his knowledge of Mormonism, his displaying of the data. If you haven’t yet listened, you likely could use some Radio Free Mormon in your life.
While in Seattle, Washington this past week—we were excited to finally put a face to the voice that so many in the post- and progressive-Mormon world have come to know—by interviewing the host of the Radio Free Mormon podcast of the family of Mormon Discussions podcasts. While we still do not disclose his name, we are confident that after this 7-hour journey with "RFM," you will come away with an accurate depiction of the man behind some of the most informative and entertaining podcasts in the Mormon community.
Broadcasting behind Enemy lines, Radio Free Mormon tackles the difficult subjects in Mormonism like no one else. Dissecting things like a surgeon, RFM gets to the crux of the issue, exposing all the connections and subtleties that lie below the surface. His unique sense of humor, his knowledge of Mormonism, his displaying of the data. If you haven’t yet listened, you likely could use some Radio Free Mormon in your life.
While in Seattle, Washington this past week—we were excited to finally put a face to the voice that so many in the post- and progressive-Mormon world have come to know—by interviewing the host of the Radio Free Mormon podcast of the family of Mormon Discussions podcasts. While we still do not disclose his name, we are confident that after this 7-hour journey with "RFM," you will come away with an accurate depiction of the man behind some of the most informative and entertaining podcasts in the Mormon community.
Broadcasting behind Enemy lines, Radio Free Mormon tackles the difficult subjects in Mormonism like no one else. Dissecting things like a surgeon, RFM gets to the crux of the issue, exposing all the connections and subtleties that lie below the surface. His unique sense of humor, his knowledge of Mormonism, his displaying of the data. If you haven’t yet listened, you likely could use some Radio Free Mormon in your life.
While in Seattle, Washington this past week—we were excited to finally put a face to the voice that so many in the post- and progressive-Mormon world have come to know—by interviewing the host of the Radio Free Mormon podcast of the family of Mormon Discussions podcasts. While we still do not disclose his name, we are confident that after this 7-hour journey with "RFM," you will come away with an accurate depiction of the man behind some of the most informative and entertaining podcasts in the Mormon community.
Broadcasting behind Enemy lines, Radio Free Mormon tackles the difficult subjects in Mormonism like no one else. Dissecting things like a surgeon, RFM gets to the crux of the issue, exposing all the connections and subtleties that lie below the surface. His unique sense of humor, his knowledge of Mormonism, his displaying of the data. If you haven’t yet listened, you likely could use some Radio Free Mormon in your life.
While in Seattle, Washington this past week—we were excited to finally put a face to the voice that so many in the post- and progressive-Mormon world have come to know—by interviewing the host of the Radio Free Mormon podcast of the family of Mormon Discussions podcasts. While we still do not disclose his name, we are confident that after this 7-hour journey with "RFM," you will come away with an accurate depiction of the man behind some of the most informative and entertaining podcasts in the Mormon community.
Broadcasting behind Enemy lines, Radio Free Mormon tackles the difficult subjects in Mormonism like no one else. Dissecting things like a surgeon, RFM gets to the crux of the issue, exposing all the connections and subtleties that lie below the surface. His unique sense of humor, his knowledge of Mormonism, his displaying of the data. If you haven’t yet listened, you likely could use some Radio Free Mormon in your life.
While in Seattle, Washington this past week—we were excited to finally put a face to the voice that so many in the post- and progressive-Mormon world have come to know—by interviewing the host of the Radio Free Mormon podcast of the family of Mormon Discussions podcasts. While we still do not disclose his name, we are confident that after this 7-hour journey with "RFM," you will come away with an accurate depiction of the man behind some of the most informative and entertaining podcasts in the Mormon community.
Broadcasting behind Enemy lines, Radio Free Mormon tackles the difficult subjects in Mormonism like no one else. Dissecting things like a surgeon, RFM gets to the crux of the issue, exposing all the connections and subtleties that lie below the surface. His unique sense of humor, his knowledge of Mormonism, his displaying of the data. If you haven’t yet listened, you likely could use some Radio Free Mormon in your life.
Today we interview Mike Brown. Mike is interesting and important to Mormon Stories Podcast for a number of reasons.
1) Mike has a compelling story of how Mormon Truth claims deeply affected his relationship to the church.
2) Mike has studied Mormon Truth Claims more than most Mormons I know, and has authored 31 essays exploring Mormon Truth claims, which have been posted to the Mormon Stories Podcast website. Finally,
3) Mike was one of the original supporters of the Mormon Stories Podcast billboard campaign, which has been responsible for helping thousands of Mormons find support during their faith crisis.
Today Mike will share with us his story, and then we will go deep into his explorations and discoveries regarding Mormon Truth Claims.
Today we interview Mike Brown. Mike is interesting and important to Mormon Stories Podcast for a number of reasons.
1) Mike has a compelling story of how Mormon Truth claims deeply affected his relationship to the church.
2) Mike has studied Mormon Truth Claims more than most Mormons I know, and has authored 31 essays exploring Mormon Truth claims, which have been posted to the Mormon Stories Podcast website. Finally,
3) Mike was one of the original supporters of the Mormon Stories Podcast billboard campaign, which has been responsible for helping thousands of Mormons find support during their faith crisis.
Today Mike will share with us his story, and then we will go deep into his explorations and discoveries regarding Mormon Truth Claims.
Today we interview Mike Brown. Mike is interesting and important to Mormon Stories Podcast for a number of reasons.
1) Mike has a compelling story of how Mormon Truth claims deeply affected his relationship to the church.
2) Mike has studied Mormon Truth Claims more than most Mormons I know, and has authored 31 essays exploring Mormon Truth claims, which have been posted to the Mormon Stories Podcast website. Finally,
3) Mike was one of the original supporters of the Mormon Stories Podcast billboard campaign, which has been responsible for helping thousands of Mormons find support during their faith crisis.
Today Mike will share with us his story, and then we will go deep into his explorations and discoveries regarding Mormon Truth Claims.
Today we interview Mike Brown. Mike is interesting and important to Mormon Stories Podcast for a number of reasons.
1) Mike has a compelling story of how Mormon Truth claims deeply affected his relationship to the church.
2) Mike has studied Mormon Truth Claims more than most Mormons I know, and has authored 31 essays exploring Mormon Truth claims, which have been posted to the Mormon Stories Podcast website. Finally,
3) Mike was one of the original supporters of the Mormon Stories Podcast billboard campaign, which has been responsible for helping thousands of Mormons find support during their faith crisis.
Today Mike will share with us his story, and then we will go deep into his explorations and discoveries regarding Mormon Truth Claims.
On November 17th in Salt Lake City we will be holding the largest conference for post-Mormons ever assembled. The focus of THRIVEDAY will be healing, growth, and community for post-Mormons. This meeting will NOT be about criticizing or discussing the Mormon church. We are hopeful that everyone who attends will feel educated, uplifted, and empowered.
Speakers for the event include:
- Wayne Sermon - Lead Guitarist for Imagine Dragons
- Amber Scorah - Ex-Jehovah's Witness and Author of Leaving the Witness
- Dr. John Dehlin - MormonStories.org
- Stephenie Sorensen Larsen - Encircle
- Natasha Helfer Parker - Marriage and Sex Therapist
- Mindy Gledhill - Musician
- Christian Moore - Author of "The Resilience Breakthrough"
- Laci Green - Youtuber and Podcaster
- Hans H Mattsson - Former LDS Area Authority (Sweden)
- Julienna Viegas
- Elizabeth Paulson Dalton - Attorney and Marriage/Divorce Coach
- Lisa Swain Hacking - THRIVE Committee
- John Hamer - Community of Christ
- Sarah Newcomb - Lamanite Truth
- Book signings with Jeremy Runnells and more!
- Karaoke led by Allan Mount (Marriage on a Tightrope)
Register here! http://thrivebeyondmormonism.com
In today's episode of Mormon Stories Podcast we bring back Youtuber, Podcaster, Author, and Sex expert Laci Green to discuss her take on "10 Things You Should Know About Sexuality After Mormonism."
Laci Green is the author of the book: "Sex Plus: Learning, Loving, and Enjoying Your Body" - which we reference during the interview.
In today's episode of Mormon Stories Podcast we bring back Youtuber, Podcaster, Author, and Sex expert Laci Green to discuss her take on "10 Things You Should Know About Sexuality After Mormonism."
Laci Green is the author of the book: "Sex Plus: Learning, Loving, and Enjoying Your Body" - which we reference during the interview.
Laci Green is an internationally recognized YouTuber (1.4M subscribers), author, and podcaster. Prior to 2019, Laci's Youtube content and public activism primarily focused on sex education which culminated with Laci being named one of the 30 most influential people on the Internet by Time Magazine (2016).
Laci Green was born in Utah. Her mother is Mormon and her father is from Iran. As Laci she grew older she began to question the Mormon faith because of its strict gender roles and expectations of her as a woman. Growing up, Laci was interested in theater and was supported by her mother, who owns a theater company.
In 2018, Laci published her first book, Sex Plus: Learning, Loving and Enjoying Your Body.
In this interview, Laci also discusses the challenges of being a Youtuber, and what factors left her to leave her successful Youtube channel behind (with 1.4M subscribers).
On 3 September 2019, Laci launched a podcast, entitled "Indirect Message," which "explores how the internet is changing society."
https://www.youtube.com/user/lacigreen/
https://www.lacigreen.tv/podcast
Laci Green is an internationally recognized YouTuber (1.4M subscribers), author, and podcaster. Prior to 2019, Laci's Youtube content and public activism primarily focused on sex education which culminated with Laci being named one of the 30 most influential people on the Internet by Time Magazine (2016).
Laci Green was born in Utah. Her mother is Mormon and her father is from Iran. As Laci she grew older she began to question the Mormon faith because of its strict gender roles and expectations of her as a woman. Growing up, Laci was interested in theater and was supported by her mother, who owns a theater company.
In 2018, Laci published her first book, Sex Plus: Learning, Loving and Enjoying Your Body.
In this interview, Laci also discusses the challenges of being a Youtuber, and what factors left her to leave her successful Youtube channel behind (with 1.4M subscribers).
On 3 September 2019, Laci launched a podcast, entitled "Indirect Message," which "explores how the internet is changing society."
https://www.youtube.com/user/lacigreen/
https://www.lacigreen.tv/podcast
In today's episode of Mormon Stories Podcast we talk with Chris Shelton about the complexities of leaving Scientology, and how he became an ex-Scientology activist.
In today's episode of Mormon Stories Podcast we talk with Chris Shelton about the complexities of leaving Scientology, and how he became an ex-Scientology activist.
In today's episode of Mormon Stories Podcast we talk with Chris Shelton about the complexities of leaving Scientology, and how he became an ex-Scientology activist.
In today's episode of Mormon Stories Podcast we talk with Chris Shelton about the complexities of leaving Scientology, and how he became an ex-Scientology activist.
Join us today as we continue our multi-part series on Scientology with Chris Shelton - Critical Thinker. Chris is a former Scientologist and Sea Org member and is now a writer, consultant podcaster, YouTuber and advocate for critical thinking.
Today we will be focusing on:
-
Chris' life as a Scientologist, including his time as a member of the elite Sea Org.
-
The events that led to Chris leaving Scientology.
-
Chris' life as an ex-Scientologist activist.
As always, we will be exploring the similarities and differences between Scientology and Mormonism.
Join us today as we continue our multi-part series on Scientology with Chris Shelton - Critical Thinker. Chris is a former Scientologist and Sea Org member and is now a writer, consultant podcaster, YouTuber and advocate for critical thinking.
Today we will be focusing on:
-
Chris' life as a Scientologist, including his time as a member of the elite Sea Org.
-
The events that led to Chris leaving Scientology.
-
Chris' life as an ex-Scientologist activist.
As always, we will be exploring the similarities and differences between Scientology and Mormonism.
Join us today as we continue our multi-part series on Scientology with Chris Shelton - Critical Thinker. Chris is a former Scientologist and Sea Org member and is now a writer, consultant podcaster, YouTuber and advocate for critical thinking.
Today we will be focusing on:
-
Chris' life as a Scientologist, including his time as a member of the elite Sea Org.
-
The events that led to Chris leaving Scientology.
-
Chris' life as an ex-Scientologist activist.
As always, we will be exploring the similarities and differences between Scientology and Mormonism.
Join us today as we continue our multi-part series on Scientology with Chris Shelton - Critical Thinker. Chris is a former Scientologist and Sea Org member and is now a writer, consultant podcaster, YouTuber and advocate for critical thinking.
Today we will be focusing on:
-
Chris' life as a Scientologist, including his time as a member of the elite Sea Org.
-
The events that led to Chris leaving Scientology.
-
Chris' life as an ex-Scientologist activist.
As always, we will be exploring the similarities and differences between Scientology and Mormonism.
In today's episode we will continue our series on the parallels between Scientology/Mormonism - interviewing Chris Shelton - Critical Thinker -- a former Scientologist and Sea Org member, and current writer, consultant podcaster, YouTuber and advocate for critical thinking.
We will be begin by exploring the rise of modern Scientology after the death of founder L. Ron Hubbard - including an exploration of what it means to be a Scientologist in 2019.
In today's episode we will continue our series on the parallels between Scientology/Mormonism - interviewing Chris Shelton - Critical Thinker -- a former Scientologist and Sea Org member, and current writer, consultant podcaster, YouTuber and advocate for critical thinking.
We will be begin by exploring the rise of modern Scientology after the death of founder L. Ron Hubbard - including an exploration of what it means to be a Scientologist in 2019.
In today's episode we will continue our series on the parallels between Scientology/Mormonism - interviewing Chris Shelton - Critical Thinker -- a former Scientologist and Sea Org member, and current writer, consultant podcaster, YouTuber and advocate for critical thinking.
We will be begin by exploring the rise of modern Scientology after the death of founder L. Ron Hubbard - including an exploration of what it means to be a Scientologist in 2019.
Today we sit down with ex-Scientologist and Youtuber Chris Shelton to discuss a brief history of Scientology - with a focus on parallels between Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and Mormon church founder Joseph Smith.
Today we sit down with ex-Scientologist and Youtuber Chris Shelton to discuss a brief history of Scientology - with a focus on parallels between Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and Mormon church founder Joseph Smith.
Today we sit down with ex-Scientologist and Youtuber Chris Shelton to discuss a brief history of Scientology - with a focus on parallels between Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and Mormon church founder Joseph Smith.
Have you explored drinking alcohol after losing faith in Mormonism? Have you or a loved one struggled with alcohol abuse during or after your faith journey?
In this episode my dear friend Brittany Holley opens up about her journey with alcohol use and abuse after a Mormon faith crisis.
Have you explored drinking alcohol after losing faith in Mormonism? Have you or a loved one struggled with alcohol abuse during or after your faith journey?
In this episode my dear friend Brittany Holley opens up about her journey with alcohol use and abuse after a Mormon faith crisis.
Have you explored drinking alcohol after losing faith in Mormonism? Have you or a loved one struggled with alcohol abuse during or after your faith journey?
In this episode my dear friend Brittany Holley opens up about her journey with alcohol use and abuse after a Mormon faith crisis.
Mormon Stories had the real privilege of interviewing Daniel “Wayne” Sermon of Imagine Dragons, along with his wise and talented wife Alex Sermon, an accomplished professional ballerina, in their home in Las Vegas. In this interview the Sermons open up about their lives as Mormons, their life with Imagine Dragons, and their journey out of Mormonism.
Their interview is so inspiring....especially regarding their devoted partnership.
Mormon Stories had the real privilege of interviewing Daniel “Wayne” Sermon of Imagine Dragons, along with his wise and talented wife Alex Sermon, an accomplished professional ballerina, in their home in Las Vegas. In this interview the Sermons open up about their lives as Mormons, their life with Imagine Dragons, and their journey out of Mormonism.
Their interview is so inspiring....especially regarding their devoted partnership.
Mormon Stories had the real privilege of interviewing Daniel “Wayne” Sermon of Imagine Dragons, along with his wise and talented wife Alex Sermon, an accomplished professional ballerina, in their home in Las Vegas. In this interview the Sermons open up about their lives as Mormons, their life with Imagine Dragons, and their journey out of Mormonism.
Their interview is so inspiring....especially regarding their devoted partnership.
Mormon Stories had the real privilege of interviewing Daniel “Wayne” Sermon of Imagine Dragons, along with his wise and talented wife Alex Sermon, an accomplished professional ballerina, in their home in Las Vegas. In this interview the Sermons open up about their lives as Mormons, their life with Imagine Dragons, and their journey out of Mormonism.
Their interview is so inspiring....especially regarding their devoted partnership.
Mormon Stories had the real privilege of interviewing Daniel “Wayne” Sermon of Imagine Dragons, along with his wise and talented wife Alex Sermon, an accomplished professional ballerina, in their home in Las Vegas. In this interview the Sermons open up about their lives as Mormons, their life with Imagine Dragons, and their journey out of Mormonism.
Their interview is so inspiring....especially regarding their devoted partnership.
IMPORTANT! This Saturday morning (8:30am) in Salt Lake City we will be convening with Sam Young for The March to Save a Child (during LDS General Conference Weekend).
Attendance is free. Advance registration is encouraged, as it helps us gauge attendance for planning purposes.
Please spread the word far and wide on social media so that we can have thousands of people attend, and see here for more details:
https://protecteverychild.com/
Join us now as we interview the author of the new book “Bridges - Ministering to Those Who Question.” In Part 1 we will hear David’s story - focusing on how he came to write a book in support of disaffected Mormons. In Part 2 and 3 we will explore his book, digging into his suggestions for how to minister to Mormons who are struggling with their faith, and how the LDS church can become a more hospitable place for Mormons who question/doubt/disbelieve.
Join us now as we interview the author of the new book “Bridges - Ministering to Those Who Question.” In Part 1 we will hear David’s story - focusing on how he came to write a book in support of disaffected Mormons. In Part 2 and 3 we will explore his book, digging into his suggestions for how to minister to Mormons who are struggling with their faith, and how the LDS church can become a more hospitable place for Mormons who question/doubt/disbelieve.
Join us now as we interview the author of the new book “Bridges - Ministering to Those Who Question.” In Part 1 we will hear David’s story - focusing on how he came to write a book in support of disaffected Mormons. In Part 2 and 3 we will explore his book, digging into his suggestions for how to minister to Mormons who are struggling with their faith, and how the LDS church can become a more hospitable place for Mormons who question/doubt/disbelieve.
Marlena Smith’s parents joined the Mormon church as black converts after the priesthood ban was lifted (1978). After her parents moved to Utah, Marlena was born in 1989 in Provo, Utah. Marlena was raised as a devout Mormon in Lindon and Pleasant Grove - as the only black family in her ward and stake. Later Marlena attended BYU and married in the Payson temple.
This is Marlena’s story of growing up as a black Mormon woman in Utah
Marlena Smith’s parents joined the Mormon church as black converts after the priesthood ban was lifted (1978). After her parents moved to Utah, Marlena was born in 1989 in Provo, Utah. Marlena was raised as a devout Mormon in Lindon and Pleasant Grove - as the only black family in her ward and stake. Later Marlena attended BYU and married in the Payson temple.
This is Marlena’s story of growing up as a black Mormon woman in Utah
Marlena Smith’s parents joined the Mormon church as black converts after the priesthood ban was lifted (1978). After her parents moved to Utah, Marlena was born in 1989 in Provo, Utah. Marlena was raised as a devout Mormon in Lindon and Pleasant Grove - as the only black family in her ward and stake. Later Marlena attended BYU and married in the Payson temple.
This is Marlena’s story of growing up as a black Mormon woman in Utah
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we do an all-day, live-streamed series of interviews on "How to Survive BYU as an Unorthodox or Non-Believing Student." Please share your questions, comments, and stories here so we can use them in the show.
This segment focuses on the BYU Survival Guide, created by our panel of guests today.
And please share this info with anyone who you think might benefit from it, including any past, present, or future Brigham Young University-Provo or Brigham Young University–Idaho students. Thanks in advance.
Join us now for Part 4 of our Mormon Stories Podcast series on “How to Survive BYU as an Unorthodox or Non-Believing Student.” We will be interviewing Andrew, one of the co-founders of the “BYU Survival Guide” - a survival guide for unorthodox and non-believing BYU students.
http://www.byusurvivalguide.com
Please share your questions, comments, and stories here so we can use them in the show.
And please share this info with anyone who you think might benefit from it, including any past, present, or future BYU-Provo or Brigham Young University–Idaho students.
Join us now for Part 3 of our Mormon Stories Podcast series on “How to Survive BYU as an Unorthodox or Non-Believing Student.” We will be interviewing Jared Brinton, brother of dear friend and Mormon Stories Podcast listener Janelle Brinton.
Please share your questions, comments, and stories here so we can use them in the show.
And please share this info with anyone who you think might benefit from it, including any past, present, or future BYU-Provo or Brigham Young University–Idaho students. Thanks in advance.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we do an all-day, live-streamed series of interviews on "How to Survive BYU as an Unorthodox or Non-Believing Student." Please share your questions, comments, and stories here so we can use them in the show.
And please share this info with anyone who you think might benefit from it, including any past, present, or future Brigham Young University-Provo or Brigham Young University–Idaho students. Thanks in advance.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we do an all-day, live-streamed series of interviews on "How to Survive BYU as an Unorthodox or Non-Believing Student."
And please share this info with anyone who you think might benefit from it, including any past, present, or future Brigham Young University-Provo or Brigham Young University–Idaho students. Thanks in advance.
SUMMARY: While I am pleased to finally see extensive news coverage of Mormon Bishop/Stake High Councilman Steven Murdock’s voyeurism story, I feel strongly that the reporters are missing the most important part of this story: basically, that Mormon church leadership explicitly knew of Bishop Murdock’s history of sexual harassment as early as 2017, but chose to ignore the reports, kept him in as bishop for several months after the firing, and eventually “promoted” Steven Murdock to the Stake High Council in spite of at least three different direct reports regarding his pattern of behavior.
The following report comes from personal interviews with over 20 individuals who have personal relationships with Steven Murdock, either as friends, co-workers, neighbors, or ward/stake members.
Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.
On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:
What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis
....and so much more.
We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.
Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.
On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:
What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis
....and so much more.
We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.
Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.
On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:
What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis
....and so much more.
We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.
Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.
On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:
What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis
....and so much more.
We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.
Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.
On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:
What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis
....and so much more.
We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.
Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.
On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:
What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis
....and so much more.
We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.
Presented by John Dehlin at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah
http://thrivebeyondmormonism.org
Presented by Christian Moore at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah
http://thrivebeyondmormonism.org
Presented by Natasha Helfer Parker at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah
What could cause one of the Mormon church's "best and brightest" women to lose their faith in the church?
For part 2 of today’s interview with Donna Showalter, we will hear how an east bench, Provo, Utah Mormon mother, former Relief Society President, former Stake Young Women’s President, and BYU employee navigated her Mormon faith crisis.
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This story includes the gripping account of what happened when they asked Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to heal their son of his gayness.
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It also includes Donna's touching experiences as a Relief Society President.
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We also learn about the impact of the November 2015 LGBTQ policy on Donna, Michael and her family - along with the 2019 policy reversal.
What could cause one of the Mormon church's "best and brightest" women to lose their faith in the church?
For part 2 of today’s interview with Donna Showalter, we will hear how an east bench, Provo, Utah Mormon mother, former Relief Society President, former Stake Young Women’s President, and BYU employee navigated her Mormon faith crisis.
-
This story includes the gripping account of what happened when they asked Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to heal their son of his gayness.
-
It also includes Donna's touching experiences as a Relief Society President.
-
We also learn about the impact of the November 2015 LGBTQ policy on Donna, Michael and her family - along with the 2019 policy reversal.
What could cause one of the Mormon church's "best and brightest" women to lose their faith in the church?
For part 2 of today’s interview with Donna Showalter, we will hear how an east bench, Provo, Utah Mormon mother, former Relief Society President, former Stake Young Women’s President, and BYU employee navigated her Mormon faith crisis.
-
This story includes the gripping account of what happened when they asked Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to heal their son of his gayness.
-
It also includes Donna's touching experiences as a Relief Society President.
-
We also learn about the impact of the November 2015 LGBTQ policy on Donna, Michael and her family - along with the 2019 policy reversal.
What could cause one of the Mormon church's "best and brightest" women to lose their faith in the church?
For part 2 of today’s interview with Donna Showalter, we will hear how an east bench, Provo, Utah Mormon mother, former Relief Society President, former Stake Young Women’s President, and BYU employee navigated her Mormon faith crisis.
-
This story includes the gripping account of what happened when they asked Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to heal their son of his gayness.
-
It also includes Donna's touching experiences as a Relief Society President.
-
We also learn about the impact of the November 2015 LGBTQ policy on Donna, Michael and her family - along with the 2019 policy reversal.
What could cause one of the Mormon church's "best and brightest" women to lose their faith in the church?
For part 2 of today’s interview with Donna Showalter, we will hear how an east bench, Provo, Utah Mormon mother, former Relief Society President, former Stake Young Women’s President, and BYU employee navigated her Mormon faith crisis.
-
This story includes the gripping account of what happened when they asked Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to heal their son of his gayness.
-
It also includes Donna's touching experiences as a Relief Society President.
-
We also learn about the impact of the November 2015 LGBTQ policy on Donna, Michael and her family - along with the 2019 policy reversal.
For part 1 of today’s interview with Donna and Michael Showalter, we will hear the story of the Showalter family’s Mormon journey, which includes living in very conservative Provo, Utah, Michael coming out as gay, and Donna’s journey to fully accept/embrace/love/celebrate Michael.
For part 1 of today’s interview with Donna and Michael Showalter, we will hear the story of the Showalter family’s Mormon journey, which includes living in very conservative Provo, Utah, Michael coming out as gay, and Donna’s journey to fully accept/embrace/love/celebrate Michael.
Should the Mormon Church Conduct Worthiness Interviews for 8-11 Year Old Children?
Earlier this week The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a marketing research survey inquiring from members about the idea of lowering the age of youth interviews with clergy from age 12 to eight.
Today we have assembled an all-star panel to discuss whether or not this is a good idea. Panelists include:
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Natasha Helfer Parker (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Sex Therapist)
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Roger Hendrix (former Mormon Bishop, Stake Presidency Member, Mission President, and CES Director)
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Sam Young (founder of Protect LDS Children and Protect All Children)
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Joelle Casteix ( leading global expert, advocate and spokesperson for survivors of child sexual assault and institutional cover-up. Joelle has considerable experience fighting the Mormon church in state legislatures in support of sexual abuse victims )
In this episode of The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis licensed marriage and sex therapist and active Mormon Natasha Helfer Parker shares with us a more effective approach to masturbation and pornography for both teens and adults.
In this episode of The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis licensed marriage and sex therapist and active Mormon Natasha Helfer Parker shares with us a more effective approach to masturbation and pornography for both teens and adults.
In this episode of The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis licensed marriage and sex therapist and active Mormon Natasha Helfer Parker shares with us a more effective approach to masturbation and pornography for both teens and adults.
On 6/30/2019 Mormon Bishop Jared Lusk attended a Mormon church disciplinary council in the Farmington, New Mexico stake on the charges of apostasy. His "sins" included:
1) Losing his Mormon faith after reading the Mormon church's own Gospel Topics essays, which discussed topics such as : a) discrepancies in the multiple accounts of Joseph Smith's first vision, b) Joseph Smith's polygamy and polyandry, c) concerns about the authenticity of the Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham, etc.
2) Writing publicly about his loss of faith on Facebook, and
3) Supporting Mormon Bishop Sam Young's efforts to protect Mormon children from sexual abuse.
During the disciplinary council Jared's Mormon Stake President read the charges of apostasy, including several of Jared's Facebook statements. Then, Jared's wife, Gwen, along with two of their daughters (Taylor and Madison) testified on Jared's behalf. Then Jared provided his own response to the charges.
At the close of the disciplinary council, Jared's stake president twice asked Jared explicitly if he would agree to stop commenting on social media about his disbelief in fundamental Mormon truth claims. Both times Jared told his stake president that he would NOT stop expressing his disbelief on social media - explicitly defying the counsel of Jared's priesthood leadership (which in and of itself is ground for apostasy).
In a somewhat unexpected and heretofore unheard of act in the modern area, Jared was informed by his Stake President that he has been Disfellowshipped for Apostasy.
Join us today on Mormon Stories Podcast as Allan and Kattie Mount share with us their top tips for thriving as a Mormon mixed-faith couple. Allan and Kattie Mount co-host the “Marriage on a Tightrope” podcast which is focused on supporting Mormon mixed-faith couples. This presentation was first delivered in Salt Lake City at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference
Join us today on Mormon Stories Podcast as Allan and Kattie Mount share with us their top tips for thriving as a Mormon mixed-faith couple. Allan and Kattie Mount co-host the “Marriage on a Tightrope” podcast which is focused on supporting Mormon mixed-faith couples. This presentation was first delivered in Salt Lake City at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference
Join us today on Mormon Stories Podcast as Allan and Kattie Mount share with us their top tips for thriving as a Mormon mixed-faith couple. Allan and Kattie Mount co-host the “Marriage on a Tightrope” podcast which is focused on supporting Mormon mixed-faith couples. This presentation was first delivered in Salt Lake City at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference
For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we are interviewing Kattie and Allan Mount (co-hosts of Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast) about:
1) how they have navigated their mixed-faith Mormon marriage,
2) what it has been like to start a podcast to support others in a mixed-faith marriage, and
3) what tips they have for Mormon mixed-faith married couples.
For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we are interviewing Kattie and Allan Mount (co-hosts of Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast) about:
1) how they have navigated their mixed-faith Mormon marriage,
2) what it has been like to start a podcast to support others in a mixed-faith marriage, and
3) what tips they have for Mormon mixed-faith married couples.
For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we are interviewing Kattie and Allan Mount (co-hosts of Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast) about:
1) how they have navigated their mixed-faith Mormon marriage,
2) what it has been like to start a podcast to support others in a mixed-faith marriage, and
3) what tips they have for Mormon mixed-faith married couples.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).
The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.
Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.
After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.
This is their story.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).
The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.
Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.
After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.
This is their story.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).
The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.
Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.
After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.
This is their story.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).
The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.
Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.
After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.
This is their story.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).
The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.
Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.
After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.
This is their story.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).
The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.
Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.
After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.
This is their story.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Tonya Guest. Tonya will be sharing with us her story, which includes experiencing a Mormon faith crisis, expressing a public statement on social media - specifically regarding issues of women and the church - and then having her bishop question and shame her publicly for what she shared. We will also be discussing Tonya’s attempts to discuss the issue with her stake president, and we will read stories/experiences from others with similar experiences.
Join us now for today's Mormon Stories Podcast episode as we interview ex-Jehovah's Witness Amber Scorah about her new book: "Leaving the Witness: Exiting Religion and Finding a Life." Building off of our previous interview with former Jehovah's Witness, Lloyd Evans, we continue to discover the parallels between the JW Movement and Mormonism, particularly surrounding the struggle to form a new identity after leaving the religion. In this interview Amber shares her experience leaving her religion. From the book's abstract:
"Amber's loss of faith culminated in her own personal apocalypse, the only kind of ending possible for a Jehovah's Witness.
Shunned by family and friends as an apostate, Amber was alone in Shanghai and thrown into a world she had only known from the periphery--with no education or support system. A coming of age story of a woman already in her thirties, this unforgettable memoir examines what it's like to start one's life over again with an entirely new identity. It follows Scorah to New York City, where a personal tragedy forces her to look for new ways to find meaning in the absence of religion. With compelling, spare prose, Leaving the Witness traces the bittersweet process of starting over, when everything one's life was built around is gone."
In this episode, we talk with Crystal Escobar about her new book: My Life as a Wannabe Balanced Mom, specifically how she has navigated both motherhood and being a business entrepreneur. Those familiar with Mormon Stories Podcast will recall our earlier episodes with both Crystal and her husband Sean that detailed Sean's experience as a victim of sexual abuse and also detailing their journey out of Mormonism. Today's interview will expound on Crystal's experience as she learned to balance motherhood with her other life's interests, and how she rebuilt her idea of motherhood outside the paradigm of the Mormon Church.
We will also be joined by a few of her readers in the second part of the interview.
In this episode, we talk with Crystal Escobar about her new book: My Life as a Wannabe Balanced Mom, specifically how she has navigated both motherhood and being a business entrepreneur. Those familiar with Mormon Stories Podcast will recall our earlier episodes with both Crystal and her husband Sean that detailed Sean's experience as a victim of sexual abuse and also detailing their journey out of Mormonism. Today's interview will expound on Crystal's experience as she learned to balance motherhood with her other life's interests, and how she rebuilt her idea of motherhood outside the paradigm of the Mormon Church.
We will also be joined by a few of her readers in the second part of the interview.
Please join us now for our Mormon Stories Podcast interview with Spencer Nugent. Spencer, along with his parents and sibling, were the first Jamaicans baptized on the island into the Mormon church. Later Spencer’s family moved to Orem, Utah. Spencer attended UVSC and BYU, served a mission to San Antonio, Texas, and became an Industrial Designer. Spencer is a renaissance man of sorts. His many talents/interests include karaoke/music, art, travel, design, drawing, landscape architecture, teaching, etc.
After Spencer was married in the Salt Lake City temple and had two sons, he and his ex-wife eventually experienced a Mormon faith crisis and divorced.
Today’s episode will cover numerous topics, including Mormon cultural imperialism/whitewashing, being black in the Mormon church, Spencer’s mission, male eating disorders, parenting, divorce, faith crises, and finding identity, morality, and community as a black ex-Mormon man in Utah.
Please join us now for our Mormon Stories Podcast interview with Spencer Nugent. Spencer, along with his parents and sibling, were the first Jamaicans baptized on the island into the Mormon church. Later Spencer’s family moved to Orem, Utah. Spencer attended UVSC and BYU, served a mission to San Antonio, Texas, and became an Industrial Designer. Spencer is a renaissance man of sorts. His many talents/interests include karaoke/music, art, travel, design, drawing, landscape architecture, teaching, etc.
After Spencer was married in the Salt Lake City temple and had two sons, he and his ex-wife eventually experienced a Mormon faith crisis and divorced.
Today’s episode will cover numerous topics, including Mormon cultural imperialism/whitewashing, being black in the Mormon church, Spencer’s mission, male eating disorders, parenting, divorce, faith crises, and finding identity, morality, and community as a black ex-Mormon man in Utah.
Please join us now for our Mormon Stories Podcast interview with Spencer Nugent. Spencer, along with his parents and sibling, were the first Jamaicans baptized on the island into the Mormon church. Later Spencer’s family moved to Orem, Utah. Spencer attended UVSC and BYU, served a mission to San Antonio, Texas, and became an Industrial Designer. Spencer is a renaissance man of sorts. His many talents/interests include karaoke/music, art, travel, design, drawing, landscape architecture, teaching, etc.
After Spencer was married in the Salt Lake City temple and had two sons, he and his ex-wife eventually experienced a Mormon faith crisis and divorced.
Today’s episode will cover numerous topics, including Mormon cultural imperialism/whitewashing, being black in the Mormon church, Spencer’s mission, male eating disorders, parenting, divorce, faith crises, and finding identity, morality, and community as a black ex-Mormon man in Utah.
On this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we travel to Davis, California to visit with the Purves family as they share their unique experience with a Mormon Faith Crisis.
In this interview we cover:
- The goodness that Mormonism brought Scott and Joanna as youth, including a nurturing community and a sense of purpose
- Scott and Joanna's decision to raise their family in Mormonism, culminating in the calling of Scott as Bishop
- The rewards and challenges of serving as a Bishop, and how the demanding service impacted Joanna and the rest of the family
- What made a Mormon Bishop question and then lose his testimony?
- What happens when a Mormon Bishop's daughter comes out as lesbian and how does the family handle that?
- How does the Purves family rebuild and regroup to find joy and fulfillment outside of Mormon orthodoxy?
- And so much more...
Join us as this amazing and loving family becomes both strong and vulnerable to share the joys and challenges of their Mormon Faith Crisis!
On this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we travel to Davis, California to visit with the Purves family as they share their unique experience with a Mormon Faith Crisis.
In this interview we cover:
- The goodness that Mormonism brought Scott and Joanna as youth, including a nurturing community and a sense of purpose
- Scott and Joanna's decision to raise their family in Mormonism, culminating in the calling of Scott as Bishop
- The rewards and challenges of serving as a Bishop, and how the demanding service impacted Joanna and the rest of the family
- What made a Mormon Bishop question and then lose his testimony?
- What happens when a Mormon Bishop's daughter comes out as lesbian and how does the family handle that?
- How does the Purves family rebuild and regroup to find joy and fulfillment outside of Mormon orthodoxy?
- And so much more...
Join us as this amazing and loving family becomes both strong and vulnerable to share the joys and challenges of their Mormon Faith Crisis!
On this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we travel to Davis, California to visit with the Purves family as they share their unique experience with a Mormon Faith Crisis.
In this interview we cover:
- The goodness that Mormonism brought Scott and Joanna as youth, including a nurturing community and a sense of purpose
- Scott and Joanna's decision to raise their family in Mormonism, culminating in the calling of Scott as Bishop
- The rewards and challenges of serving as a Bishop, and how the demanding service impacted Joanna and the rest of the family
- What made a Mormon Bishop question and then lose his testimony?
- What happens when a Mormon Bishop's daughter comes out as lesbian and how does the family handle that?
- How does the Purves family rebuild and regroup to find joy and fulfillment outside of Mormon orthodoxy?
- And so much more...
Join us as this amazing and loving family becomes both strong and vulnerable to share the joys and challenges of their Mormon Faith Crisis!
On this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we travel to Davis, California to visit with the Purves family as they share their unique experience with a Mormon Faith Crisis.
In this interview we cover:
- The goodness that Mormonism brought Scott and Joanna as youth, including a nurturing community and a sense of purpose
- Scott and Joanna's decision to raise their family in Mormonism, culminating in the calling of Scott as Bishop
- The rewards and challenges of serving as a Bishop, and how the demanding service impacted Joanna and the rest of the family
- What made a Mormon Bishop question and then lose his testimony?
- What happens when a Mormon Bishop's daughter comes out as lesbian and how does the family handle that?
- How does the Purves family rebuild and regroup to find joy and fulfillment outside of Mormon orthodoxy?
- And so much more...
Join us as this amazing and loving family becomes both strong and vulnerable to share the joys and challenges of their Mormon Faith Crisis!
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Liz Layton. Liz has experienced much accomplishment and tragedy in her life as a millennial post-Mormon. This includes becoming a professional dancer for the Utah Jazz, but also includes the loss of her orthodox Mormon faith, two divorces, and the death of two of her siblings due to suicide.
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Liz Layton. Liz has experienced much accomplishment and tragedy in her life as a millennial post-Mormon. This includes becoming a professional dancer for the Utah Jazz, but also includes the loss of her orthodox Mormon faith, two divorces, and the death of two of her siblings due to suicide.
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Liz Layton. Liz has experienced much accomplishment and tragedy in her life as a millennial post-Mormon. This includes becoming a professional dancer for the Utah Jazz, but also includes the loss of her orthodox Mormon faith, two divorces, and the death of two of her siblings due to suicide.
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Liz Layton. Liz has experienced much accomplishment and tragedy in her life as a millennial post-Mormon. This includes becoming a professional dancer for the Utah Jazz, but also includes the loss of her orthodox Mormon faith, two divorces, and the death of two of her siblings due to suicide.
Join us now as we discuss Part 2 in our series of parenting after a Mormon Faith Crisis.
In this episode Natasha Helfer Parker, Margi and John Dehlin provide some overarching principles to guide post-Orthodox parenting. We also take your questions and comments to guide the flow of the episode.
Join us now as we discuss Part 2 in our series of parenting after a Mormon Faith Crisis.
In this episode Natasha Helfer Parker, Margi and John Dehlin provide some overarching principles to guide post-Orthodox parenting. We also take your questions and comments to guide the flow of the episode.
Join us now as we discuss Part 1 in our series of parenting after a Mormon Faith Crisis.
In this episode Natasha Helfer Parker, Margi Dehlin, and John Dehlin provide some overarching principles to guide post-Orthodox parenting. We also take your questions and comments.
Join us now as we discuss Part 1 in our series of parenting after a Mormon Faith Crisis.
In this episode Natasha Helfer Parker, Margi Dehlin, and John Dehlin provide some overarching principles to guide post-Orthodox parenting. We also take your questions and comments.
In February of this year, the Truth & Transparency Foundationreleased an audio recording made by Sean Escobar as he confronted his abuser as a child, Sterling Van Wagenen—co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival and director of many LDS Church-produced films, including the films shown in LDS temples. The story of the abuse and its impact has now made national news, spurred by the continuing coverage of The Truth and Transparency Foundationas it was revealed that even though the abuse was reported to LDS Church authorities, Sterling was not excommunicated, but went on to work as a professor at Brigham Young University and produce many LDS Church films.
Since the release of the audio recording by TTF, Sterling has since pled guilty to separate charges of child sex abuse in Utahand is currently awaiting sentencing.
In this interview, we share the complete audio recording of Sean's confrontation with Sterling, and then we process how the abuse affected Sean's life, including the fallout related to sharing the audio recording with The Truth and Transparency Foundation including the discovery of more victims.
In February of this year, the Truth & Transparency Foundationreleased an audio recording made by Sean Escobar as he confronted his abuser as a child, Sterling Van Wagenen—co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival and director of many LDS Church-produced films, including the films shown in LDS temples. The story of the abuse and its impact has now made national news, spurred by the continuing coverage of The Truth and Transparency Foundationas it was revealed that even though the abuse was reported to LDS Church authorities, Sterling was not excommunicated, but went on to work as a professor at Brigham Young University and produce many LDS Church films.
Since the release of the audio recording by TTF, Sterling has since pled guilty to separate charges of child sex abuse in Utahand is currently awaiting sentencing.
In this interview, we share the complete audio recording of Sean's confrontation with Sterling, and then we process how the abuse affected Sean's life, including the fallout related to sharing the audio recording with The Truth and Transparency Foundation including the discovery of more victims.
Join us today on Mormon Stories as we interview both Sean and Crystal Escobar to learn about their faith journey out of Mormonism. Sean recently made national newswhen he revealed a recording he made as he confronted his abuser as a child, Sterling Van Wagenen—co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival and director of many LDS Church-produced films, including the films shown in LDS temples.
This portion of the interview focuses on Sean and Crystal's faith journey and will include themes such as:
- Their Mormon background including their experiences in the church as youth and as missionaries
- How guilt and shame from transgressions as a youth impacted Sean's mission and outlook on life
- Sean and Crystal's difficult experiences with the repentance process affected their early marriage
- How discovering a calling Sean had received was uninspired by his priesthood leader greatly shook his faith
- How Crystal's experience with Mormon Stories helped her be more empathetic towards Sean's struggles with his faith and church leadership
- How leaving the LDS Church has caused a new awakening in their marriage and family as they reevaluate their relationship, their parenting, and their new moral code for living
...and so much more.
Join us today on Mormon Stories as we interview both Sean and Crystal Escobar to learn about their faith journey out of Mormonism. Sean recently made national newswhen he revealed a recording he made as he confronted his abuser as a child, Sterling Van Wagenen—co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival and director of many LDS Church-produced films, including the films shown in LDS temples.
This portion of the interview focuses on Sean and Crystal's faith journey and will include themes such as:
- Their Mormon background including their experiences in the church as youth and as missionaries
- How guilt and shame from transgressions as a youth impacted Sean's mission and outlook on life
- Sean and Crystal's difficult experiences with the repentance process affected their early marriage
- How discovering a calling Sean had received was uninspired by his priesthood leader greatly shook his faith
- How Crystal's experience with Mormon Stories helped her be more empathetic towards Sean's struggles with his faith and church leadership
- How leaving the LDS Church has caused a new awakening in their marriage and family as they reevaluate their relationship, their parenting, and their new moral code for living
...and so much more.
Join us today on Mormon Stories as we interview both Sean and Crystal Escobar to learn about their faith journey out of Mormonism. Sean recently made national newswhen he revealed a recording he made as he confronted his abuser as a child, Sterling Van Wagenen—co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival and director of many LDS Church-produced films, including the films shown in LDS temples.
This portion of the interview focuses on Sean and Crystal's faith journey and will include themes such as:
- Their Mormon background including their experiences in the church as youth and as missionaries
- How guilt and shame from transgressions as a youth impacted Sean's mission and outlook on life
- Sean and Crystal's difficult experiences with the repentance process affected their early marriage
- How discovering a calling Sean had received was uninspired by his priesthood leader greatly shook his faith
- How Crystal's experience with Mormon Stories helped her be more empathetic towards Sean's struggles with his faith and church leadership
- How leaving the LDS Church has caused a new awakening in their marriage and family as they reevaluate their relationship, their parenting, and their new moral code for living
...and so much more.
Join us today on Mormon Stories as we interview both Sean and Crystal Escobar to learn about their faith journey out of Mormonism. Sean recently made national newswhen he revealed a recording he made as he confronted his abuser as a child, Sterling Van Wagenen—co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival and director of many LDS Church-produced films, including the films shown in LDS temples.
This portion of the interview focuses on Sean and Crystal's faith journey and will include themes such as:
- Their Mormon background including their experiences in the church as youth and as missionaries
- How guilt and shame from transgressions as a youth impacted Sean's mission and outlook on life
- Sean and Crystal's difficult experiences with the repentance process affected their early marriage
- How discovering a calling Sean had received was uninspired by his priesthood leader greatly shook his faith
- How Crystal's experience with Mormon Stories helped her be more empathetic towards Sean's struggles with his faith and church leadership
- How leaving the LDS Church has caused a new awakening in their marriage and family as they reevaluate their relationship, their parenting, and their new moral code for living
...and so much more.
We're excited to finally bring on Bryce Blankenagel of the Naked Mormonism Podcast to Mormon Stories! His preparation, thorough research, and absolute brilliance are on display as Bryce gives us the context surrounding the Solomon Spaulding Manuscript Theory of The Book of Mormon—even including some of the apologetic arguments against the theory. Bryce concludes the interview with his personal take on the veracity of the theory. Tune in!
We're excited to finally bring on Bryce Blankenagel of the Naked Mormonism Podcast to Mormon Stories! His preparation, thorough research, and absolute brilliance are on display as Bryce gives us the context surrounding the Solomon Spaulding Manuscript Theory of The Book of Mormon—even including some of the apologetic arguments against the theory. Bryce concludes the interview with his personal take on the veracity of the theory. Tune in!
John provides a monologue, giving commentary on the excommunication of the Young family and what it means for questioning Mormons in the modern Church
Leah and Cody describe their feelings after learning they have been excommunicated for running an online support group for questioning Mormons, and for speaking openly about their doubts
Leah and Cody are told by their Stake President to cease providing an online support group for questioning Mormons
Leah and Cody meet with their Stake President to express frustration over a lack of resources for questioning Mormons
John Larsen and John Dehlin spent years publicly deconstructing the LDS Church. But now they’re wondering, what can they build “from the ashes?” What is their role in the post-Mormon community beyond the “addiction to anger” and toward doing the difficult work of community building? Join us for this joint release with the Sunstone Podcast!
In this edition of Mormon Stories Podcast, Margi Dehlin turns the tables and asks John all the questions—focusing on what surprised John about his excommunication process, what the best and most difficult parts of running Mormon Stories and The Open Stories Foundation are, what are some regrets he has, what keeps him up at night, what his motivations are behind his parenting and relationships, along with much more!
In this edition of Mormon Stories Podcast, Margi Dehlin turns the tables and asks John all the questions—focusing on what surprised John about his excommunication process, what the best and most difficult parts of running Mormon Stories and The Open Stories Foundation are, what are some regrets he has, what keeps him up at night, what his motivations are behind his parenting and relationships, along with much more!
On 4/4/2019 at 9:00AM MST, the Mormon Church officially reversed its November 2015 LGBTQ policy - which declared same-sex marriage an act of apostasy, and which excluded the children of LGBTQ Mormon couples from baby blessings and baptism. These changes came in spite of Russell M. Nelson declaring the November Policy to be "revelation" in early 2016. Today we will be discussing what the changes mean to Mormons and post-Mormons.
On 4/4/2019 at 9:00AM MST, the Mormon Church officially reversed its November 2015 LGBTQ policy - which declared same-sex marriage an act of apostasy, and which excluded the children of LGBTQ Mormon couples from baby blessings and baptism. These changes came in spite of Russell M. Nelson declaring the November Policy to be "revelation" in early 2016. Today we will be discussing what the changes mean to Mormons and post-Mormons.
On 4/4/2019 at 9:00AM MST, the Mormon Church officially reversed its November 2015 LGBTQ policy - which declared same-sex marriage an act of apostasy, and which excluded the children of LGBTQ Mormon couples from baby blessings and baptism. These changes came in spite of Russell M. Nelson declaring the November Policy to be "revelation" in early 2016. Today we will be discussing what the changes mean to Mormons and post-Mormons.
On 4/4/2019 at 9:00AM MST, the Mormon Church officially reversed its November 2015 LGBTQ policy - which declared same-sex marriage an act of apostasy, and which excluded the children of LGBTQ Mormon couples from baby blessings and baptism. These changes came in spite of Russell M. Nelson declaring the November Policy to be "revelation" in early 2016. Today we will be discussing what the changes mean to Mormons and post-Mormons.
On March 24, 2019, we held an evening to honor and celebrate Dan Wotherspoon, host of Mormon Matters Podcast. As a part of this event, John interviewed Dan for a joint Mormon Stories/Mormon Matters Podcast release. Topics discussed in the interview included:
An update from Dan on his experiences and insight as a mentor for progressive Mormons attempting to stay faithfully engaged in Mormonism
Dan’s insight on the latest changes/improvements made by the LDS church
Dan's announcement of a few exciting and important new projects
Questions from our live audience as well as expressions of gratitude for what his work has meant to many listeners over the years
On March 24, 2019, we held an evening to honor and celebrate Dan Wotherspoon, host of Mormon Matters Podcast. As a part of this event, John interviewed Dan for a joint Mormon Stories/Mormon Matters Podcast release. Topics discussed in the interview included:
An update from Dan on his experiences and insight as a mentor for progressive Mormons attempting to stay faithfully engaged in Mormonism
Dan’s insight on the latest changes/improvements made by the LDS church
Dan's announcement of a few exciting and important new projects
Questions from our live audience as well as expressions of gratitude for what his work has meant to many listeners over the years
On March 24, 2019, we held an evening to honor and celebrate Dan Wotherspoon, host of Mormon Matters Podcast. As a part of this event, John interviewed Dan for a joint Mormon Stories/Mormon Matters Podcast release. Topics discussed in the interview included:
An update from Dan on his experiences and insight as a mentor for progressive Mormons attempting to stay faithfully engaged in Mormonism
Dan’s insight on the latest changes/improvements made by the LDS church
Dan's announcement of a few exciting and important new projects
Questions from our live audience as well as expressions of gratitude for what his work has meant to many listeners over the years
Concluding our interview with Lloyd Evans, we focus on his journey from devout Witness youth to outspoken ex-Witness activist and atheist. Lloyd shares the circumstances leading to his "awakening" with startling honesty and reveals how the heartbreaking loss of his mother played a profound role in keeping long-held doubts suppressed.
Lloyd is the founder and senior editor of JWsurvey.org—a website that promotes freeness of thought among Jehovah’s Witnesses. He is also author of “The Reluctant Apostate,” a book that chronicles his experiences growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness and his journey to freedom from Watchtower indoctrination. His wildly popular Youtube channel “John Cedars” hosts a range of videos aimed at dissecting the various teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as new developments in the religion.
Concluding our interview with Lloyd Evans, we focus on his journey from devout Witness youth to outspoken ex-Witness activist and atheist. Lloyd shares the circumstances leading to his "awakening" with startling honesty and reveals how the heartbreaking loss of his mother played a profound role in keeping long-held doubts suppressed.
Lloyd is the founder and senior editor of JWsurvey.org—a website that promotes freeness of thought among Jehovah’s Witnesses. He is also author of “The Reluctant Apostate,” a book that chronicles his experiences growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness and his journey to freedom from Watchtower indoctrination. His wildly popular Youtube channel “John Cedars” hosts a range of videos aimed at dissecting the various teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as new developments in the religion.
Continuing our interview with Lloyd Evans, we focus this portion of the interview on Lloyd’s experience living as a Jehovah’s Witness—drawing occasional parallels between those living life as Mormons and those who are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Lloyd is the founder and senior editor of JWsurvey.org—a website that promotes freeness of thought among Jehovah’s Witnesses. He is also author of “The Reluctant Apostate,” a book that chronicles his experiences growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness and his journey to freedom from Watchtower indoctrination. His wildly popular Youtube channel “John Cedars” hosts a range of videos aimed at dissecting the various teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as new developments in the religion.
Mormon Stories Podcast is excited to interview Lloyd Evans—founder and senior editor of JWsurvey.org—a website that promotes freeness of thought among Jehovah’s Witnesses. He is also author of “The Reluctant Apostate,” a book that chronicles his experiences growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness and his journey to freedom from Watchtower indoctrination. His wildly popular Youtube channel “John Cedars” hosts a range of videos aimed at dissecting the various teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as new developments in the religion.
In this portion of our time with Lloyd, we focus on the history of the Jehovah Witness movement to provide a foundation for our future discussion on what it is like to be a Jehovah’s Witness as well as his experience leaving the religion behind.
Join us now for this Mormon Stories Podcast episode, wherein John Hamer offers his theory as to how the Book of Mormon was created.
Join us now for this Mormon Stories Podcast episode, wherein John Hamer offers his theory as to how the Book of Mormon was created.
After over 1,000 hours of interviews, it is fitting to finally feature the story of Nan Parkinson McCulloch—John’s Mom.
In Part 1 of our time with Nan, we learn about her mother’s experience growing up as the daughter in a polygamous family, and we discover the Mormon Church of her youth and her life growing up in Preston and Franklin, Idaho. We also reminisce on her love of the culture and arts that her Mormon community brought into her life, including and especially road shows and plays that she wrote and directed for her local community.
In Parts 2 and 3 of this interview with Nan, John and Nan discuss her eventual divorce and remarriage, her faith evolution, her reflections on John’s podcast and on his excommunication, and on her beliefs about life after death.
After over 1,000 hours of interviews, it is fitting to finally feature the story of Nan Parkinson McCulloch—John’s Mom.
In Part 1 of our time with Nan, we learn about her mother’s experience growing up as the daughter in a polygamous family, and we discover the Mormon Church of her youth and her life growing up in Preston and Franklin, Idaho. We also reminisce on her love of the culture and arts that her Mormon community brought into her life, including and especially road shows and plays that she wrote and directed for her local community.
In Parts 2 and 3 of this interview with Nan, John and Nan discuss her eventual divorce and remarriage, her faith evolution, her reflections on John’s podcast and on his excommunication, and on her beliefs about life after death.
After over 1,000 hours of interviews, it is fitting to finally feature the story of Nan Parkinson McCulloch—John’s Mom.
In Part 1 of our time with Nan, we learn about her mother’s experience growing up as the daughter in a polygamous family, and we discover the Mormon Church of her youth and her life growing up in Preston and Franklin, Idaho. We also reminisce on her love of the culture and arts that her Mormon community brought into her life, including and especially road shows and plays that she wrote and directed for her local community.
In Parts 2 and 3 of this interview with Nan, John and Nan discuss her eventual divorce and remarriage, her faith evolution, her reflections on John’s podcast and on his excommunication, and on her beliefs about life after death.
In this episode we will interview Don Casias Anderson regarding the 12+ years he worked as Sr Vice President of Patron & Partner Services for FamilySearch for the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Topics we will discuss today include:
-
The process for name extraction, and the challenge to find enough names for temple work.
-
The use and occasional re-use of ordinance names for temple work.
-
The tendency to harvest names of famous people to do their temple work. - The controversy around the performance of ordinances for holocaust victims.
-
Concerns around the ability to prevent temple work from being done for those who do not desire the work.
-
The Mormon genealogy industry. - How FamilySearch handles the history of deceased church leaders.
-
His interactions with LDS apostles during his work there.
-
His own story/faith journey.
-
And much, much more!
In this episode we will interview Don Casias Anderson regarding the 12+ years he worked as Sr Vice President of Patron & Partner Services for FamilySearch for the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Topics we will discuss today include:
-
The process for name extraction, and the challenge to find enough names for temple work.
-
The use and occasional re-use of ordinance names for temple work.
-
The tendency to harvest names of famous people to do their temple work. - The controversy around the performance of ordinances for holocaust victims.
-
Concerns around the ability to prevent temple work from being done for those who do not desire the work.
-
The Mormon genealogy industry. - How FamilySearch handles the history of deceased church leaders.
-
His interactions with LDS apostles during his work there.
-
His own story/faith journey.
-
And much, much more!
In this episode we will interview Don Casias Anderson regarding the 12+ years he worked as Sr Vice President of Patron & Partner Services for FamilySearch for the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Topics we will discuss today include:
-
The process for name extraction, and the challenge to find enough names for temple work.
-
The use and occasional re-use of ordinance names for temple work.
-
The tendency to harvest names of famous people to do their temple work. - The controversy around the performance of ordinances for holocaust victims.
-
Concerns around the ability to prevent temple work from being done for those who do not desire the work.
-
The Mormon genealogy industry. - How FamilySearch handles the history of deceased church leaders.
-
His interactions with LDS apostles during his work there.
-
His own story/faith journey.
-
And much, much more!
In this episode we will interview Don Casias Anderson regarding the 12+ years he worked as Sr Vice President of Patron & Partner Services for FamilySearch for the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Topics we will discuss today include:
-
The process for name extraction, and the challenge to find enough names for temple work.
-
The use and occasional re-use of ordinance names for temple work.
-
The tendency to harvest names of famous people to do their temple work. - The controversy around the performance of ordinances for holocaust victims.
-
Concerns around the ability to prevent temple work from being done for those who do not desire the work.
-
The Mormon genealogy industry. - How FamilySearch handles the history of deceased church leaders.
-
His interactions with LDS apostles during his work there.
-
His own story/faith journey.
-
And much, much more!
As part of the Mormon Stories "Truth Claims" initiative, today I will be reading the essay on Joseph Smith's involvement in Folk Magic and Treasure digging.
This is the first of several essays we will be releasing, with an accompanying billboard and series of interviews with historians.
We recently visited Provo, Utah and were treated with a live interview and performance featuring Mindy Gledhill, including acoustic renditions of many songs from her brand new album "Rabbit Hole." Listeners of Mormon Stories Podcast may remember our earlier interviews with Mindy and we were very excited to get an update on her faith journey, and to hear the inspiration behind her latest project.
Her new album, appropriately entitled "Rabbit Hole", is the breathy confessional of a rapt soul who slipped down the curious tunnel of experience, landed in a hall of locked doors, and refused to be contained. In "Rabbit Hole," Mindy confronts the challenges of life—all its unfulfilled expectations, sudden detours, and existential wounds—and presents us with a silver lining through bouncy rhythms and ballads of unabashed optimism. In spite of life’s crucibles and crises, she reassures us that everything is going to be alright, and that “To be upside down is a fine way to be.”
We recently visited Provo, Utah and were treated with a live interview and performance featuring Mindy Gledhill, including acoustic renditions of many songs from her brand new album "Rabbit Hole." Listeners of Mormon Stories Podcast may remember our earlier interviews with Mindy and we were very excited to get an update on her faith journey, and to hear the inspiration behind her latest project.
Her new album, appropriately entitled "Rabbit Hole", is the breathy confessional of a rapt soul who slipped down the curious tunnel of experience, landed in a hall of locked doors, and refused to be contained. In "Rabbit Hole," Mindy confronts the challenges of life—all its unfulfilled expectations, sudden detours, and existential wounds—and presents us with a silver lining through bouncy rhythms and ballads of unabashed optimism. In spite of life’s crucibles and crises, she reassures us that everything is going to be alright, and that “To be upside down is a fine way to be.”
Continuing our discussion with preeminent Joseph Smith historian Dan Vogel, we dive deep into explaining the authorship of the Book of Mormon including these topics:
- The credibility of the Book of Mormon Witnesses
- Theories around Entheogens (Hallucinogenic substances) and the founding of Mormonism
- Kinderhook Plates
Continuing our discussion with preeminent Joseph Smith historian Dan Vogel, we dive deep into explaining the authorship of the Book of Mormon including these topics:
- The credibility of the Book of Mormon Witnesses
- Theories around Entheogens (Hallucinogenic substances) and the founding of Mormonism
- Kinderhook Plates
Continuing our discussion with preeminent Joseph Smith historian Dan Vogel, we dive deep into explaining the authorship of the Book of Mormon including these topics:
- Nephi/Moroni confusion
- Book of Mormon Geography and the Hill Cumorah
- Limited Geography Theory
- The Nahom apologetic defense of The Book of Mormon
- Instances of Chiasmus
- Blake Ostler’s “Loose Translation” or Expansion Theory
- The Movement of the modern Mormon church in 2019 to refer to The Book of Mormon as a “revelation” instead of a “translation”
- Joseph’s motivations and pious fraud theory
- Dan's theory on Joseph Smith’s polygamy
Continuing our discussion with preeminent Joseph Smith historian Dan Vogel, we dive deep into explaining the authorship of the Book of Mormon including these topics:
- Nephi/Moroni confusion
- Book of Mormon Geography and the Hill Cumorah
- Limited Geography Theory
- The Nahom apologetic defense of The Book of Mormon
- Instances of Chiasmus
- Blake Ostler’s “Loose Translation” or Expansion Theory
- The Movement of the modern Mormon church in 2019 to refer to The Book of Mormon as a “revelation” instead of a “translation”
- Joseph’s motivations and pious fraud theory
- Dan's theory on Joseph Smith’s polygamy
We are excited to welcome back preeminent Joseph Smith historian Dan Vogel to Mormon Stories Podcast. In these episodes, we continue our deep dive into explaining the authorship of the Book of Mormon including these topics:
- The Solomon Spaulding manuscript theory of Book of Mormon authorship
- The Dartmouth university connections to The Book of Mormon
- The View of the Hebrews theory of Book of Mormon authorship
- The Sidney Rigdon theory of Book of Mormon authorship.
- Timeline and mechanics for dictating The Book of Mormon
We are excited to welcome back preeminent Joseph Smith historian Dan Vogel to Mormon Stories Podcast. In these episodes, we continue our deep dive into explaining the authorship of the Book of Mormon including these topics:
- The Solomon Spaulding manuscript theory of Book of Mormon authorship
- The Dartmouth university connections to The Book of Mormon
- The View of the Hebrews theory of Book of Mormon authorship
- The Sidney Rigdon theory of Book of Mormon authorship.
- Timeline and mechanics for dictating The Book of Mormon
Friends - If you or someone you love is in need of support during a Mormon Faith Crisis, I am SUPER excited to announce our Mormon Faith Crisis event calendar for the first part of 2019. Dates/locations are:
- 2/13: Salt Lake City (Free!)
- 2/15-2/16: Orem, UT
- 2/22-2/23: Las Vegas, NV
- 3/8-3/9: Ogden/Davis County, UT
- 4/12-4/13: Mixed Faith Marriage (SLC)
- 5/3-5/5: Gilbert, AZ
- 6/7-6/9: Salt Lake City Conference
- 6/21-6/23: Europe/Switzerland
- 8/9-8/11: Ft. Collins, Colorado
- 9/20-9/22: Orange County, CA
- 10/4-10/6: TBD
- 11/1-11/2: Mixed Faith Marriage (SLC)
To register for any of these events, go to: http://mormonfaithcrisis.com/events
If you cannot afford to pay the registration fee for these events but want to attend, please fill out our scholarship application form and we will do our best to find a donor to fund your attendance. PLEASE don't let $$$ keep you from attending these events!
Hope to see you all soon!
John Dehlin
In this Mormon Stories episode, historian John Hamer discusses the 19th century historical and cultural context -- largely forgotten today -- that informed the composition of the Book of Mormon.
In this Mormon Stories episode, historian John Hamer discusses the 19th century historical and cultural context -- largely forgotten today -- that informed the composition of the Book of Mormon.
In this Mormon Stories episode, historian John Hamer discusses the 19th century historical and cultural context -- largely forgotten today -- that informed the composition of the Book of Mormon.
Lindsey Johnson Snider was raised LDS and attended BYU-Idaho from 2012-2016. She experienced a shift towards progressive/liberal Mormonism in 2013, which coincided with a faith crisis. Later, Lindsey became the editor in chief of the BYU-Idaho student newspaper called "The Scroll," and worked for the paper until the end of 2015. During her time with "The Scroll" Lindsey wrote many controversial editorial and opinion columns, which both changed some hearts and minds on progressive issues, and also upset/angered some orthodox Mormons. Lindsey's tenure with the paper included a meeting with the dean of the BYU-Idaho religion department, wherein all BYU-Idaho religion professors were told to be more respectful of those in their classrooms who may be part of the LGBTQ community.
After leaving BYU-Idaho, Lindsey and her husband lost their first baby girl at 23 weeks due to premature labor. This experience caused much grief for Lindsey and her husband, and ultimately brought her 5 year faith crisis to a head.
Today we will be discussing Lindsey's story, going into depth on the good/bad/ugly of attending BYU-Idaho, along with Lindsey's faith journey and her experiences with grief.
Lindsey Johnson Snider was raised LDS and attended BYU-Idaho from 2012-2016. She experienced a shift towards progressive/liberal Mormonism in 2013, which coincided with a faith crisis. Later, Lindsey became the editor in chief of the BYU-Idaho student newspaper called "The Scroll," and worked for the paper until the end of 2015. During her time with "The Scroll" Lindsey wrote many controversial editorial and opinion columns, which both changed some hearts and minds on progressive issues, and also upset/angered some orthodox Mormons. Lindsey's tenure with the paper included a meeting with the dean of the BYU-Idaho religion department, wherein all BYU-Idaho religion professors were told to be more respectful of those in their classrooms who may be part of the LGBTQ community.
After leaving BYU-Idaho, Lindsey and her husband lost their first baby girl at 23 weeks due to premature labor. This experience caused much grief for Lindsey and her husband, and ultimately brought her 5 year faith crisis to a head.
Today we will be discussing Lindsey's story, going into depth on the good/bad/ugly of attending BYU-Idaho, along with Lindsey's faith journey and her experiences with grief.
Lindsey Johnson Snider was raised LDS and attended BYU-Idaho from 2012-2016. She experienced a shift towards progressive/liberal Mormonism in 2013, which coincided with a faith crisis. Later, Lindsey became the editor in chief of the BYU-Idaho student newspaper called "The Scroll," and worked for the paper until the end of 2015. During her time with "The Scroll" Lindsey wrote many controversial editorial and opinion columns, which both changed some hearts and minds on progressive issues, and also upset/angered some orthodox Mormons. Lindsey's tenure with the paper included a meeting with the dean of the BYU-Idaho religion department, wherein all BYU-Idaho religion professors were told to be more respectful of those in their classrooms who may be part of the LGBTQ community.
After leaving BYU-Idaho, Lindsey and her husband lost their first baby girl at 23 weeks due to premature labor. This experience caused much grief for Lindsey and her husband, and ultimately brought her 5 year faith crisis to a head.
Today we will be discussing Lindsey's story, going into depth on the good/bad/ugly of attending BYU-Idaho, along with Lindsey's faith journey and her experiences with grief.
Lindsey Johnson Snider was raised LDS and attended BYU-Idaho from 2012-2016. She experienced a shift towards progressive/liberal Mormonism in 2013, which coincided with a faith crisis. Later, Lindsey became the editor in chief of the BYU-Idaho student newspaper called "The Scroll," and worked for the paper until the end of 2015. During her time with "The Scroll" Lindsey wrote many controversial editorial and opinion columns, which both changed some hearts and minds on progressive issues, and also upset/angered some orthodox Mormons. Lindsey's tenure with the paper included a meeting with the dean of the BYU-Idaho religion department, wherein all BYU-Idaho religion professors were told to be more respectful of those in their classrooms who may be part of the LGBTQ community.
After leaving BYU-Idaho, Lindsey and her husband lost their first baby girl at 23 weeks due to premature labor. This experience caused much grief for Lindsey and her husband, and ultimately brought her 5 year faith crisis to a head.
Today we will be discussing Lindsey's story, going into depth on the good/bad/ugly of attending BYU-Idaho, along with Lindsey's faith journey and her experiences with grief.
In our final segments with renowned Joseph Smith historian Dan Vogel, we focus our attention on the creation of the Book of Mormon.
Through his extensive research, Dan theorizes that the Book of Mormon is a tangible artifact giving insight into Joseph Smith's state of mind, and commentary on the cultural and spiritual influences that surrounded him in his early life. In this interview, we focus our attention on the role of the golden plates in the creation of the Book of Mormon, the 116 "lost" pages of the original Book of Mormon and how this event influenced the final product, and we discuss the different events that may have influenced the timeline in which the Book of Mormon was created.
In our final segments with renowned Joseph Smith historian Dan Vogel, we focus our attention on the creation of the Book of Mormon.
Through his extensive research, Dan theorizes that the Book of Mormon is a tangible artifact giving insight into Joseph Smith's state of mind, and commentary on the cultural and spiritual influences that surrounded him in his early life. In this interview, we focus our attention on the role of the golden plates in the creation of the Book of Mormon, the 116 "lost" pages of the original Book of Mormon and how this event influenced the final product, and we discuss the different events that may have influenced the timeline in which the Book of Mormon was created.
In our final segments with renowned Joseph Smith historian Dan Vogel, we focus our attention on the creation of the Book of Mormon.
Through his extensive research, Dan theorizes that the Book of Mormon is a tangible artifact giving insight into Joseph Smith's state of mind, and commentary on the cultural and spiritual influences that surrounded him in his early life. In this interview, we focus our attention on the role of the golden plates in the creation of the Book of Mormon, the 116 "lost" pages of the original Book of Mormon and how this event influenced the final product, and we discuss the different events that may have influenced the timeline in which the Book of Mormon was created.
After exploring historian Dan Vogel’s motivations behind his studies of the life of Joseph Smith in our first segments, we now delve deeper into Joseph’s treasure digging activities.
Dan devoted a portion of his book Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet to understanding not only the financial motivations for Joseph’s treasure digging practice, but also to explain how this practice possibly became the start of a chain of events leading to the creation of the LDS Church, best explained by a portion of the abstract in Dan’s book:
“Over time, Joseph became aware that people trusted him and that he could be an influence for good or ill, that even through nefarious means, God worked through him when his heart was right. He realized this when he led groups in search of Spanish treasure in New York and Pennsylvania. Although no treasure was found, the men sincerely believed that Smith had a spiritual gift and could see where casks of gold were hidden in the earth. This training ground in spiritual leadership was invaluable because the prophet learned how to create an environment for belief—one in which people could exercise faith and be converted to Christ through the sensible influence of the Spirit, all prior to the overarching work of restoring primitive Christianity.”
After exploring historian Dan Vogel’s motivations behind his studies of the life of Joseph Smith in our first segments, we now delve deeper into Joseph’s treasure digging activities.
Dan devoted a portion of his book Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet to understanding not only the financial motivations for Joseph’s treasure digging practice, but also to explain how this practice possibly became the start of a chain of events leading to the creation of the LDS Church, best explained by a portion of the abstract in Dan’s book:
“Over time, Joseph became aware that people trusted him and that he could be an influence for good or ill, that even through nefarious means, God worked through him when his heart was right. He realized this when he led groups in search of Spanish treasure in New York and Pennsylvania. Although no treasure was found, the men sincerely believed that Smith had a spiritual gift and could see where casks of gold were hidden in the earth. This training ground in spiritual leadership was invaluable because the prophet learned how to create an environment for belief—one in which people could exercise faith and be converted to Christ through the sensible influence of the Spirit, all prior to the overarching work of restoring primitive Christianity.”
Dan Vogel is a sixth-generation Mormon most well known for his biography, Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet—the product of decades of research into the life of Joseph Smith. In these Mormon Stories interviews, we are excited to delve into Dan’s own personal Mormon background and to begin to understand the motivations behind his ground-breaking work into the life of Joseph Smith.
What motivated Dan to deeply study the Smith family’s spiritual dynamics and financial circumstances, as well as Joseph’s history of learning to create an environment for belief through his treasure seeking activities?
With these 3 episodes, we hope to set the stage to delve deeper into Dan’s studies on Joseph Smith’s treasure digging and the creation of the Book of Mormon.
Dan Vogel is a sixth-generation Mormon most well known for his biography, Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet—the product of decades of research into the life of Joseph Smith. In these Mormon Stories interviews, we are excited to delve into Dan’s own personal Mormon background and to begin to understand the motivations behind his ground-breaking work into the life of Joseph Smith.
What motivated Dan to deeply study the Smith family’s spiritual dynamics and financial circumstances, as well as Joseph’s history of learning to create an environment for belief through his treasure seeking activities?
With these 3 episodes, we hope to set the stage to delve deeper into Dan’s studies on Joseph Smith’s treasure digging and the creation of the Book of Mormon.
Dan Vogel is a sixth-generation Mormon most well known for his biography, Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet—the product of decades of research into the life of Joseph Smith. In these Mormon Stories interviews, we are excited to delve into Dan’s own personal Mormon background and to begin to understand the motivations behind his ground-breaking work into the life of Joseph Smith.
What motivated Dan to deeply study the Smith family’s spiritual dynamics and financial circumstances, as well as Joseph’s history of learning to create an environment for belief through his treasure seeking activities?
With these 3 episodes, we hope to set the stage to delve deeper into Dan’s studies on Joseph Smith’s treasure digging and the creation of the Book of Mormon.
Join us now for part 2 of our interview with Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young. In this segment, and for the first time on Mormon Stories Podcast, a Mormon teenager (Brinley) will discuss her perspective on her family’s faith crisis. We will conclude by discussing how the Young family has moved from fear to joy in their Mormon faith transition, including how they have managed relationships with believing family/friends/co-workers, their interaction with a high-level Mormon apologist, and their recent interactions with their bishop/stake president in response to their formation of a support group for transitioning/post-Mormons in Columbus, Ohio.
Join us now for part 2 of our interview with Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young. In this segment, and for the first time on Mormon Stories Podcast, a Mormon teenager (Brinley) will discuss her perspective on her family’s faith crisis. We will conclude by discussing how the Young family has moved from fear to joy in their Mormon faith transition, including how they have managed relationships with believing family/friends/co-workers, their interaction with a high-level Mormon apologist, and their recent interactions with their bishop/stake president in response to their formation of a support group for transitioning/post-Mormons in Columbus, Ohio.
Join us now for part 2 of our interview with Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young. In this segment, and for the first time on Mormon Stories Podcast, a Mormon teenager (Brinley) will discuss her perspective on her family’s faith crisis. We will conclude by discussing how the Young family has moved from fear to joy in their Mormon faith transition, including how they have managed relationships with believing family/friends/co-workers, their interaction with a high-level Mormon apologist, and their recent interactions with their bishop/stake president in response to their formation of a support group for transitioning/post-Mormons in Columbus, Ohio.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast for part 1 of our interview with Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young. In this portion Leah and Cody will discuss their lives growing up devout LDS, getting married, Cody attending medical school, serving in the church, starting their young family and Leah starting her own business - and how all of this culminated in a Mormon faith crisis. Later, Brinley (15) will join us to discuss her family’s Mormon journey from a teen perspective.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast for part 1 of our interview with Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young. In this portion Leah and Cody will discuss their lives growing up devout LDS, getting married, Cody attending medical school, serving in the church, starting their young family and Leah starting her own business - and how all of this culminated in a Mormon faith crisis. Later, Brinley (15) will join us to discuss her family’s Mormon journey from a teen perspective.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast for part 1 of our interview with Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young. In this portion Leah and Cody will discuss their lives growing up devout LDS, getting married, Cody attending medical school, serving in the church, starting their young family and Leah starting her own business - and how all of this culminated in a Mormon faith crisis. Later, Brinley (15) will join us to discuss her family’s Mormon journey from a teen perspective.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast for part 1 of our interview with Leah, Cody, and Brinley Young. In this portion Leah and Cody will discuss their lives growing up devout LDS, getting married, Cody attending medical school, serving in the church, starting their young family and Leah starting her own business - and how all of this culminated in a Mormon faith crisis. Later, Brinley (15) will join us to discuss her family’s Mormon journey from a teen perspective.
Ana Reading is one of the most intelligent, thoughtful, and inspiring Mormons I've ever met. Born to a semi-functional family in Switzerland, Ana clung to Mormonism as a source of strength and comfort. Ana served an LDS mission in Ireland, went to BYU, married a devout American Mormon in the temple (Bill Reading), had four children, sacrificed her career to live the Mormon dream, and served in high-level ward callings (while Bill served twice as branch president/bishop).
Ana's Mormon dream was disrupted when she began feeling unfulfilled and overwhelmed at church, and then ultimately learned about the church's troubling historical past. Ana's story concludes with struggles to survive a mixed faith marriage (facing Bill's sadness and disappointment), reconstruct a relationship with her faithful children, and pursue a happy, healthy life outside of the church.
“Alright to Be You” is a collaboration song by electronic musician, Milocraft, and singer-songwriter, Angela Soffe. Raised in the LDS Church, both are returned missionaries, and each chose to leave the Church when faced with a faith crisis. In 2018 they founded the “Be Moved Project” to create music that helps people feel happy and connected. To hear more music or support the project by becoming a patron, please visit: www.angelasoffe.com
Ana Reading is one of the most intelligent, thoughtful, and inspiring Mormons I've ever met. Born to a semi-functional family in Switzerland, Ana clung to Mormonism as a source of strength and comfort. Ana served an LDS mission in Ireland, went to BYU, married a devout American Mormon in the temple (Bill Reading), had four children, sacrificed her career to live the Mormon dream, and served in high-level ward callings (while Bill served twice as branch president/bishop).
Ana's Mormon dream was disrupted when she began feeling unfulfilled and overwhelmed at church, and then ultimately learned about the church's troubling historical past. Ana's story concludes with struggles to survive a mixed faith marriage (facing Bill's sadness and disappointment), reconstruct a relationship with her faithful children, and pursue a happy, healthy life outside of the church.
“Alright to Be You” is a collaboration song by electronic musician, Milocraft, and singer-songwriter, Angela Soffe. Raised in the LDS Church, both are returned missionaries, and each chose to leave the Church when faced with a faith crisis. In 2018 they founded the “Be Moved Project” to create music that helps people feel happy and connected. To hear more music or support the project by becoming a patron, please visit: www.angelasoffe.com
Ana Reading is one of the most intelligent, thoughtful, and inspiring Mormons I've ever met. Born to a semi-functional family in Switzerland, Ana clung to Mormonism as a source of strength and comfort. Ana served an LDS mission in Ireland, went to BYU, married a devout American Mormon in the temple (Bill Reading), had four children, sacrificed her career to live the Mormon dream, and served in high-level ward callings (while Bill served twice as branch president/bishop).
Ana's Mormon dream was disrupted when she began feeling unfulfilled and overwhelmed at church, and then ultimately learned about the church's troubling historical past. Ana's story concludes with struggles to survive a mixed faith marriage (facing Bill's sadness and disappointment), reconstruct a relationship with her faithful children, and pursue a happy, healthy life outside of the church.
“Alright to Be You” is a collaboration song by electronic musician, Milocraft, and singer-songwriter, Angela Soffe. Raised in the LDS Church, both are returned missionaries, and each chose to leave the Church when faced with a faith crisis. In 2018 they founded the “Be Moved Project” to create music that helps people feel happy and connected. To hear more music or support the project by becoming a patron, please visit: www.angelasoffe.com
Ana Reading is one of the most intelligent, thoughtful, and inspiring Mormons I've ever met. Born to a semi-functional family in Switzerland, Ana clung to Mormonism as a source of strength and comfort. Ana served an LDS mission in Ireland, went to BYU, married a devout American Mormon in the temple (Bill Reading), had four children, sacrificed her career to live the Mormon dream, and served in high-level ward callings (while Bill served twice as branch president/bishop).
Ana's Mormon dream was disrupted when she began feeling unfulfilled and overwhelmed at church, and then ultimately learned about the church's troubling historical past. Ana's story concludes with struggles to survive a mixed faith marriage (facing Bill's sadness and disappointment), reconstruct a relationship with her faithful children, and pursue a happy, healthy life outside of the church.
“Alright to Be You” is a collaboration song by electronic musician, Milocraft, and singer-songwriter, Angela Soffe. Raised in the LDS Church, both are returned missionaries, and each chose to leave the Church when faced with a faith crisis. In 2018 they founded the “Be Moved Project” to create music that helps people feel happy and connected. To hear more music or support the project by becoming a patron, please visit: www.angelasoffe.com
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend the same Mormon ward as accused rapist/sexual predator Joseph Bishop?
Todd and Sarah Gale attend the same Mormon ward as Joseph Bishop (in Chandler, Arizona). Last year McKenna Denson shared a recording of her confrontation with Joseph Bishop, who was serving as president of the Provo, Utah Mission Training Center at the time he is accused of sexually assaulting McKenna in the 1980s.
Both share their thoughts and feelings of sharing a ward with Joseph Bishop, and discuss precautions and actions they take to protect their family.
“Alright to Be You” is a collaboration song by electronic musician, Milocraft, and singer-songwriter, Angela Soffe. Raised in the LDS Church, both are returned missionaries, and each chose to leave the Church when faced with a faith crisis. In 2018 they founded the “Be Moved Project” to create music that helps people feel happy and connected. To hear more music or support the project by becoming a patron, please visit: www.angelasoffe.com
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend the same Mormon ward as accused rapist/sexual predator Joseph Bishop?
Todd and Sarah Gale attend the same Mormon ward as Joseph Bishop (in Chandler, Arizona). Last year McKenna Denson shared a recording of her confrontation with Joseph Bishop, who was serving as president of the Provo, Utah Mission Training Center at the time he is accused of sexually assaulting McKenna in the 1980s.
Both share their thoughts and feelings of sharing a ward with Joseph Bishop, and discuss precautions and actions they take to protect their family.
“Alright to Be You” is a collaboration song by electronic musician, Milocraft, and singer-songwriter, Angela Soffe. Raised in the LDS Church, both are returned missionaries, and each chose to leave the Church when faced with a faith crisis. In 2018 they founded the “Be Moved Project” to create music that helps people feel happy and connected. To hear more music or support the project by becoming a patron, please visit: www.angelasoffe.com
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend the same Mormon ward as accused rapist/sexual predator Joseph Bishop?
Todd and Sarah Gale attend the same Mormon ward as Joseph Bishop (in Chandler, Arizona). Last year McKenna Denson shared a recording of her confrontation with Joseph Bishop, who was serving as president of the Provo, Utah Mission Training Center at the time he is accused of sexually assaulting McKenna in the 1980s.
Both share their thoughts and feelings of sharing a ward with Joseph Bishop, and discuss precautions and actions they take to protect their family.
“Alright to Be You” is a collaboration song by electronic musician, Milocraft, and singer-songwriter, Angela Soffe. Raised in the LDS Church, both are returned missionaries, and each chose to leave the Church when faced with a faith crisis. In 2018 they founded the “Be Moved Project” to create music that helps people feel happy and connected. To hear more music or support the project by becoming a patron, please visit: www.angelasoffe.com
Join us as we interview New Zealander Dr. Nathan McCluskey. Among the topics we discuss will include Nathan's upbringing as a Mormon in New Zealand, how his Mormon faith has changed/progressed over his lifetime, how he and Dr. Gina Colvin manage their mixed faith marriage, and his reactions to Gina's recent disciplinary council, which resulted in a "No Action" decision.
Join us as we interview New Zealander Dr. Nathan McCluskey. Among the topics we discuss will include Nathan's upbringing as a Mormon in New Zealand, how his Mormon faith has changed/progressed over his lifetime, how he and Dr. Gina Colvin manage their mixed faith marriage, and his reactions to Gina's recent disciplinary council, which resulted in a "No Action" decision.
Join us as we interview New Zealander Dr. Nathan McCluskey. Among the topics we discuss will include Nathan's upbringing as a Mormon in New Zealand, how his Mormon faith has changed/progressed over his lifetime, how he and Dr. Gina Colvin manage their mixed faith marriage, and his reactions to Gina's recent disciplinary council, which resulted in a "No Action" decision.
Join us as we interview New Zealander Dr. Nathan McCluskey. Among the topics we discuss will include Nathan's upbringing as a Mormon in New Zealand, how his Mormon faith has changed/progressed over his lifetime, how he and Dr. Gina Colvin manage their mixed faith marriage, and his reactions to Gina's recent disciplinary council, which resulted in a "No Action" decision.
Friends who are: 1) struggling with a Mormon faith crisis, 2) in a Mormon mixed-faith marriage, or 3) struggling with marriage/family issues relating to a Mormon faith crisis
As my time is super limited (working on a book!), and my individual faith crisis coaching practice is filled to the brim, AND as I realize that for some people hourly coaching can be pricey - I would like to experiment with a format of doing faith crisis mini-workshops in the Utah/Idaho/Arizona/Colorado areas (or others if interested). This would allow me to support more people, and would allow people within a specific area to make friends and build deeper connections who are close by (thus fostering community).
The format would be as follows:
- Size of group: 10-12 people, couples and/or individuals welcome.
- Date/Time: Any 6 hour block, weekday, weeknight, or weekend.
- Possible Topics: Navigating a Mormon faith transition, tips for positive Mental Health, healthy marriages/relationships, communicating with believing family and friends, finding community and/or spirituality during and after a faith crisis, etc. (Basically whatever the group wants to cover)
- Location: I could travel to where the group is, or we could find a central location.
- Cost: $250/person (6 hours of coaching for around the cost of 1 hour of coaching).
It would be particularly meaningful to target specific areas and bring people together who live close to each other (e.g., Alpine, S. Jordan, Provo, Orem, Logan, Ogden, Davis County, SLC, Boise, St. George, Cedar City, Spanish Fork, Park City, Heber/Midway, etc.)
If any of you are interested in hosting/organizing such an event, please message me. I would love to support you in this way, and help build local friendships/community at the same time.
Thanks in advance!
John Dehlin, Ph.D.
Dr. Gina Colvin, host of A Thoughtful Faith Podcast, is set to be excommunicated by the Mormon Church for apostasy on 12/20/2018 in her New Zealand ward by her bishop. The accusations against Gina include the following:
(a) Being baptized into the Anglican faith.
(b) Her continued profession of membership in the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints;
(c) Active criticism of the Church and its leaders in public forums; and
(d) Public advocacy for positions which are contrary to core doctrines of the Church.
This is Gina’s pre-excommunication interview.
Dr. Gina Colvin, host of A Thoughtful Faith Podcast, is set to be excommunicated by the Mormon Church for apostasy on 12/20/2018 in her New Zealand ward by her bishop. The accusations against Gina include the following:
(a) Being baptized into the Anglican faith.
(b) Her continued profession of membership in the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints;
(c) Active criticism of the Church and its leaders in public forums; and
(d) Public advocacy for positions which are contrary to core doctrines of the Church.
This is Gina’s pre-excommunication interview.
Dr. Gina Colvin, host of A Thoughtful Faith Podcast, is set to be excommunicated by the Mormon Church for apostasy on 12/20/2018 in her New Zealand ward by her bishop. The accusations against Gina include the following:
(a) Being baptized into the Anglican faith.
(b) Her continued profession of membership in the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints;
(c) Active criticism of the Church and its leaders in public forums; and
(d) Public advocacy for positions which are contrary to core doctrines of the Church.
This is Gina’s pre-excommunication interview.
Dr. Gina Colvin, host of A Thoughtful Faith Podcast, is set to be excommunicated by the Mormon Church for apostasy on 12/20/2018 in her New Zealand ward by her bishop. The accusations against Gina include the following:
(a) Being baptized into the Anglican faith.
(b) Her continued profession of membership in the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints;
(c) Active criticism of the Church and its leaders in public forums; and
(d) Public advocacy for positions which are contrary to core doctrines of the Church.
This is Gina’s pre-excommunication interview.
On December 2, 2018, Mormon Bishop and podcaster Bill Reel was excommunicated from the Mormon church for apostasy. In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode we speak with Bill about the disciplinary council. We will play the recording of his disciplinary council defense, and allow Bill to offer a play-by-play commentary. We will conclude by discussing Bill's reactions to the verdict, and talk about what comes next for Bill and Mormon Discussions.
Hat tip to Miles Germer for editing the disciplinary council audio.
On December 2, 2018, Mormon Bishop and podcaster Bill Reel was excommunicated from the Mormon church for apostasy. In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode we speak with Bill about the disciplinary council. We will play the recording of his disciplinary council defense, and allow Bill to offer a play-by-play commentary. We will conclude by discussing Bill's reactions to the verdict, and talk about what comes next for Bill and Mormon Discussions.
Hat tip to Miles Germer for editing the disciplinary council audio.
On December 2, 2018, Mormon Bishop and podcaster Bill Reel was excommunicated from the Mormon church for apostasy. In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode we speak with Bill about the disciplinary council. We will play the recording of his disciplinary council defense, and allow Bill to offer a play-by-play commentary. We will conclude by discussing Bill's reactions to the verdict, and talk about what comes next for Bill and Mormon Discussions.
Hat tip to Miles Germer for editing the disciplinary council audio.
On December 2, 2018, Mormon Bishop and podcaster Bill Reel was excommunicated from the Mormon church for apostasy. In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode we speak with Bill about the disciplinary council. We will play the recording of his disciplinary council defense, and allow Bill to offer a play-by-play commentary. We will conclude by discussing Bill's reactions to the verdict, and talk about what comes next for Bill and Mormon Discussions.
Hat tip to Miles Germer for editing the disciplinary council audio.
John gives a "Mormon State of the Union" presentation to a group of Davis County, Utah post/ex-Mormons. These episodes focus on the cultural and doctrinal LDS Church of the past, and the LDS Church of today
John gives a "Mormon State of the Union" presentation to a group of Davis County, Utah post/ex-Mormons. These episodes focus on the cultural and doctrinal LDS Church of the past, and the LDS Church of today
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Bible scholar David Bokovoy on Applying Higher Criticism to Mormon Scripture, which includes the Old Testament, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, the New Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Bible scholar David Bokovoy on Applying Higher Criticism to Mormon Scripture, which includes the Old Testament, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, the New Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Bible scholar David Bokovoy on Applying Higher Criticism to Mormon Scripture, which includes the Old Testament, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, the New Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Bible scholar David Bokovoy on Applying Higher Criticism to Mormon Scripture, which includes the Old Testament, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, the New Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Please join us now as we interview Former Mormon Bishop and Podcaster Bill Reel. Bill is set to be excommunicated from the Mormon Church on 11/27/18 at 8:30pm. This is his pre-excommunication interview.
Please join us now as we interview Former Mormon Bishop and Podcaster Bill Reel. Bill is set to be excommunicated from the Mormon Church on 11/27/18 at 8:30pm. This is his pre-excommunication interview.
Join us now as we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard university, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. Author of 2 books, dozens of articles, and a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson.
Join us now as we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard university, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. Author of 2 books, dozens of articles, and a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson.
Join us now as we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard university, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. Author of 2 books, dozens of articles, and a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson.
Join us now as we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard university, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. Author of 2 books, dozens of articles, and a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson.
In this episode we interview Angelo Baca, Sarah Newcomb, Cam Lebbon, Hyrum Joe, and Sheldon Spotted Elk about their experiences as Native Americans within Mormonism. As a framing, we utilize Angelo Baca's chapter in the new book "Decolonizing Mormonism" edited by Dr. Gina Colvin and Dr. Joanna Brooks The essay is entitled: "Porter Rockwell and Samuel the Lamanite Fistfight in Heaven."
In this episode we interview Angelo Baca, Sarah Newcomb, Cam Lebbon, Hyrum Joe, and Sheldon Spotted Elk about their experiences as Native Americans within Mormonism. As a framing, we utilize Angelo Baca's chapter in the new book "Decolonizing Mormonism" edited by Dr. Gina Colvin and Dr. Joanna Brooks The essay is entitled: "Porter Rockwell and Samuel the Lamanite Fistfight in Heaven."
In this episode we interview Angelo Baca, Sarah Newcomb, Cam Lebbon, Hyrum Joe, and Sheldon Spotted Elk about their experiences as Native Americans within Mormonism. As a framing, we utilize Angelo Baca's chapter in the new book "Decolonizing Mormonism" edited by Dr. Gina Colvin and Dr. Joanna Brooks The essay is entitled: "Porter Rockwell and Samuel the Lamanite Fistfight in Heaven."
Join us as we sit down with John Hamer, historian of the Latter-day Saint movement and a Seventy in the Community of Christ to try to understand some of the basics of Mormon Origins. In this first episode of the series, we will look at the Smith family's folk magic and folk religious background in context.
Join us as we sit down with John Hamer, historian of the Latter-day Saint movement and a Seventy in the Community of Christ to try to understand some of the basics of Mormon Origins. In this first episode of the series, we will look at the Smith family's folk magic and folk religious background in context.
In this jointly-released production of Mormon Mental Health Podcast, Mormon Sex Info Podcast, and Mormon Stories Podcast, Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dr. John Dehlin about his research regarding LGBT Reparative Therapy in a Mormon context.
During this conversation, John discusses why he decided to pursue his studies on this topic with his colleague Dr. William Bradshaw—to cut through the talk, rumor, and debate on the success rates of reparative therapy by compiling actual data on the subject.
Join us as we learn important insights from the study, including:
- Are attempts to change sexual orientation effective and/or damaging?
- How do LGBTQ Mormons navigate their identity?
- What decisions lead to optimal health/well-being for LGBTQ Mormons and former Mormons?
On this edition of Mormon Stories Podcast, we are honored to interview award-winning documentary filmmaker Helen Whitney about her life as a documentary filmmaker, her work on the 2007 PBS documentary "The Mormons," and her new film about mortality entitled "I*nto the Night*."
In Part 1, we discover that throughout her career, she has maintained a deep interest in spiritual journeys, which she first explored with her documentary The Monastery, a 90-minute ABC special, about the oldest Trappist community in the Americas. Helen followed this film with a three-hour Frontline documentary for PBS, John Paul II: The Millennial Pope, and in 2007 she produced The Mormons, a four-hour PBS series that explored the richness, complexities and controversies surrounding the Mormon faith. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, she produced Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero, a two-hour documentary that examined how religious belief – and unbelief – of Americans was challenged and altered by the spiritual aftershocks of 9/11.
In Part 2, Helen shares intimate details about the making of the highly-impactful documentary "The Mormons." She also provides her non-Mormon perspective of the faith and many anecdotal interactions with LDS General Authorities including Boyd K. Packer, Jeffrey R. Holland, and Gordon B. Hinckley that our listeners will find very intriguing.
In Part 3 we learn about her new project, Into the Night: Portraits of Life and Death, a two-hour feature documentary, featuring fascinating, unexpected voices from various walks of life: old and young, believers and nonbelievers, the dying and the healthy, well known and obscure. However varied their backgrounds, all are unified by their uncommon eloquence and intelligence, and most important by their dramatic experience of death. Into the Nightis a two-part documentary, with Part 1 available now for streaming on Hulu and for rent on Youtube.
On this edition of Mormon Stories Podcast, we are honored to interview award-winning documentary filmmaker Helen Whitney about her life as a documentary filmmaker, her work on the 2007 PBS documentary "The Mormons," and her new film about mortality entitled "I*nto the Night*."
In Part 1, we discover that throughout her career, she has maintained a deep interest in spiritual journeys, which she first explored with her documentary The Monastery, a 90-minute ABC special, about the oldest Trappist community in the Americas. Helen followed this film with a three-hour Frontline documentary for PBS, John Paul II: The Millennial Pope, and in 2007 she produced The Mormons, a four-hour PBS series that explored the richness, complexities and controversies surrounding the Mormon faith. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, she produced Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero, a two-hour documentary that examined how religious belief – and unbelief – of Americans was challenged and altered by the spiritual aftershocks of 9/11.
In Part 2, Helen shares intimate details about the making of the highly-impactful documentary "The Mormons." She also provides her non-Mormon perspective of the faith and many anecdotal interactions with LDS General Authorities including Boyd K. Packer, Jeffrey R. Holland, and Gordon B. Hinckley that our listeners will find very intriguing.
In Part 3 we learn about her new project, Into the Night: Portraits of Life and Death, a two-hour feature documentary, featuring fascinating, unexpected voices from various walks of life: old and young, believers and nonbelievers, the dying and the healthy, well known and obscure. However varied their backgrounds, all are unified by their uncommon eloquence and intelligence, and most important by their dramatic experience of death. Into the Nightis a two-part documentary, with Part 1 available now for streaming on Hulu and for rent on Youtube.
On this edition of Mormon Stories Podcast, we are honored to interview award-winning documentary filmmaker Helen Whitney about her life as a documentary filmmaker, her work on the 2007 PBS documentary "The Mormons," and her new film about mortality entitled "I*nto the Night*."
In Part 1, we discover that throughout her career, she has maintained a deep interest in spiritual journeys, which she first explored with her documentary The Monastery, a 90-minute ABC special, about the oldest Trappist community in the Americas. Helen followed this film with a three-hour Frontline documentary for PBS, John Paul II: The Millennial Pope, and in 2007 she produced The Mormons, a four-hour PBS series that explored the richness, complexities and controversies surrounding the Mormon faith. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, she produced Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero, a two-hour documentary that examined how religious belief – and unbelief – of Americans was challenged and altered by the spiritual aftershocks of 9/11.
In Part 2, Helen shares intimate details about the making of the highly-impactful documentary "The Mormons." She also provides her non-Mormon perspective of the faith and many anecdotal interactions with LDS General Authorities including Boyd K. Packer, Jeffrey R. Holland, and Gordon B. Hinckley that our listeners will find very intriguing.
In Part 3 we learn about her new project, Into the Night: Portraits of Life and Death, a two-hour feature documentary, featuring fascinating, unexpected voices from various walks of life: old and young, believers and nonbelievers, the dying and the healthy, well known and obscure. However varied their backgrounds, all are unified by their uncommon eloquence and intelligence, and most important by their dramatic experience of death. Into the Nightis a two-part documentary, with Part 1 available now for streaming on Hulu and for rent on Youtube.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we are interviewing Dr. Frank Turek—a Christian apologist, author, and speaker with Cross Examined and Dr. Mike Licona—a New Testament professor/scholar at Houston Baptist University. Both are highly sought after around the world for their efforts to provide scholarly and intellectual evidence that the Bible is true.
Today's episode will focus on making a scholarly case for belief in Christianity, including a response to our previous interview with Dr. Bart D. Ehrman. In this interview, we will attempt to address some of the same questions as we did with Dr. Ehrman, including:
- Did the historical figure we know as Jesus actually exist?
- How did the historical figure Jesus come to be viewed as divine/the Son of God?
- Who wrote the New Testament?
- Do important contradictions exist between the four gospels of the New Testament, and what does that tell us?
- How was the New Testament assembled?
- What are their thoughts on the historicity of the Book of Mormon and Mormonism as an authentic Christian denomination?
...and more.
Today on Mormon Stories Podcast we are interviewing Dr. Frank Turek—a Christian apologist, author, and speaker with Cross Examined and Dr. Mike Licona—a New Testament professor/scholar at Houston Baptist University. Both are highly sought after around the world for their efforts to provide scholarly and intellectual evidence that the Bible is true.
Today's episode will focus on making a scholarly case for belief in Christianity, including a response to our previous interview with Dr. Bart D. Ehrman. In this interview, we will attempt to address some of the same questions as we did with Dr. Ehrman, including:
- Did the historical figure we know as Jesus actually exist?
- How did the historical figure Jesus come to be viewed as divine/the Son of God?
- Who wrote the New Testament?
- Do important contradictions exist between the four gospels of the New Testament, and what does that tell us?
- How was the New Testament assembled?
- What are their thoughts on the historicity of the Book of Mormon and Mormonism as an authentic Christian denomination?
...and more.
Here it is! Episode 1,000 of Mormon Stories Podcast!! Today we re-interview professional dancer, choreographer, and actor Benji Schwimmer - 13-time undefeated US Open Swing Dance Champion. This episode is jam-packed with good stuff, including:
1) Benji’s professional life since winning Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance, which includes appearing on Dancing with the Stars, dancing with Paula Abdul and Christina Aguilera, choreographing Olympic figure skaters, and appearing in the upcoming Quentin Tarantino movie entitled “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” starring Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, and Al Pacino.
2) Benji’s journey to find love, health, and happiness including very candid discussions about navigating sexuality, “masculinity,” and his struggles with heterosexism/body image issues as a gay ex-Mormon man.
3) A deeply moving story about Benji’s return to the site of his LDS mission in Oaxaca, Mexico.
4) Benji’s sharp criticism of how the Mormon church has handled LGBTQ issues since his previous Mormon Stories interview, as they continue to advocate for celibacy and mixed-orientation marriages for LGBTQ members. He also discusses the hypocrisy, deceit, and damage he has witnessed in the LDS NorthStar community, and with the spokespeople the Mormon church uses on the mormonandgay website.
5) We conclude with Benji’s current philosophy for living a healthy, happy life, including his thoughts/feelings about facing the mortality of his beloved father.
Please join us for a funny, fascinating, and deeply moving interview.
WARNING: Adult language and sexually explicit language - viewer/listener discretion is advised.
https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/benji-schwimmer-life-after/
Here it is! Episode 1,000 of Mormon Stories Podcast!! Today we re-interview professional dancer, choreographer, and actor Benji Schwimmer - 13-time undefeated US Open Swing Dance Champion. This episode is jam-packed with good stuff, including:
1) Benji’s professional life since winning Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance, which includes appearing on Dancing with the Stars, dancing with Paula Abdul and Christina Aguilera, choreographing Olympic figure skaters, and appearing in the upcoming Quentin Tarantino movie entitled “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” starring Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, and Al Pacino.
2) Benji’s journey to find love, health, and happiness including very candid discussions about navigating sexuality, “masculinity,” and his struggles with heterosexism/body image issues as a gay ex-Mormon man.
3) A deeply moving story about Benji’s return to the site of his LDS mission in Oaxaca, Mexico.
4) Benji’s sharp criticism of how the Mormon church has handled LGBTQ issues since his previous Mormon Stories interview, as they continue to advocate for celibacy and mixed-orientation marriages for LGBTQ members. He also discusses the hypocrisy, deceit, and damage he has witnessed in the LDS NorthStar community, and with the spokespeople the Mormon church uses on the mormonandgay website.
5) We conclude with Benji’s current philosophy for living a healthy, happy life, including his thoughts/feelings about facing the mortality of his beloved father.
Please join us for a funny, fascinating, and deeply moving interview.
WARNING: Adult language and sexually explicit language - viewer/listener discretion is advised.
https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/benji-schwimmer-life-after/
Join us for this important and time-sensitive edition of Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Idahoan, Dusty Johns. In Part 1 of this interview, Dusty shares his experience growing up as a gay and closeted Mormon and at times being the only active member of his family. Before becoming a missionary, he covenanted with God that if he served an honorable full-time mission that his sexual orientation would change. Upon returning from his mission to England and quickly marrying, a few months into his marriage he realized that he was unable to connect with his wife in a manner that a man and woman should. Though the marriage did not last, it did produce two boys who Dusty treasures and shares parenting responsibilities with their mother. Dusty began to be involved with LDS-affiliated groups that attempt to diminish "same-sex attraction" and overcome homosexual behavior, but quickly saw that many program attendees were either acting hypocritically or living seemingly miserable lives as celibate Mormons. After experiencing medical complications that almost ended his life, his devotion to the LDS Church and God became cemented and he decided that he could be both an active Mormon, and create a family with someone that he truly loved.
In Part 2 of this interview, we learn how Dusty met his husband and how the two have formed a loving family unit with Dusty's two boys. The family was quickly accepted by their local Idahoan ward, including their ward and stake leadership. Dusty tells us that recently his local leadership was directed by LDS Church authorities in Salt Lake City to initiate disciplinary proceedings because of his same-sex marriage. After receiving a letter in the mail indicating such, Dusty forwarded the letter to Mormon Stories Podcast and 6 hours after the letter was posted publicly, his stake leadership was asked to postpone the disciplinary council until after General Conference, as directed by the church's PR department. As of today, Dusty's council meeting is now set to take place October 16th.
Join us for this important and time-sensitive edition of Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Idahoan, Dusty Johns. In Part 1 of this interview, Dusty shares his experience growing up as a gay and closeted Mormon and at times being the only active member of his family. Before becoming a missionary, he covenanted with God that if he served an honorable full-time mission that his sexual orientation would change. Upon returning from his mission to England and quickly marrying, a few months into his marriage he realized that he was unable to connect with his wife in a manner that a man and woman should. Though the marriage did not last, it did produce two boys who Dusty treasures and shares parenting responsibilities with their mother. Dusty began to be involved with LDS-affiliated groups that attempt to diminish "same-sex attraction" and overcome homosexual behavior, but quickly saw that many program attendees were either acting hypocritically or living seemingly miserable lives as celibate Mormons. After experiencing medical complications that almost ended his life, his devotion to the LDS Church and God became cemented and he decided that he could be both an active Mormon, and create a family with someone that he truly loved.
In Part 2 of this interview, we learn how Dusty met his husband and how the two have formed a loving family unit with Dusty's two boys. The family was quickly accepted by their local Idahoan ward, including their ward and stake leadership. Dusty tells us that recently his local leadership was directed by LDS Church authorities in Salt Lake City to initiate disciplinary proceedings because of his same-sex marriage. After receiving a letter in the mail indicating such, Dusty forwarded the letter to Mormon Stories Podcast and 6 hours after the letter was posted publicly, his stake leadership was asked to postpone the disciplinary council until after General Conference, as directed by the church's PR department. As of today, Dusty's council meeting is now set to take place October 16th.
Today's release is the first in a new series devoted to interviewing prominent historians to gather their evidence-based take on the question, "How did the Mormon Church come to be?"
Kathleen Melonakos's book Secret Combinations: Evidence of Early Mormon Counterfeiting 1800-1847 has created buzz in many online Mormon communities and we are excited to launch our series with Kathleen's expertise and careful research. Her book chronicles the evidence that early Mormon leaders, starting with Joseph Smith Sr., dealt in counterfeit money beginning in Vermont, and continuing throughout Joseph and Hyrum's careers. It places the Smith brothers in the early American context where counterfeiting networks and some of their CEO-like bosses posed as preachers. It is the only book of its kind that uncovers the problems counterfeiters caused in early America and what really happened before, during and after the Book of Mormon appeared on the scene. Her book is both fact-based and fast moving, supported by more than 1400 footnotes and over 100 photos and illustrations. It is also based on nearly 10 years of research, conducted in Vermont, New York, Illinois, Missouri, and Utah.
In this interview, Kathleen attempts to provide the historical context for the life of the Smith family and the founding of the LDS Church. In particular, we focus on the counterfeiting culture of the time period (Part 1), treasure digging as a practice (Part 2), the origins of the Book of Mormon (Part 3), and finally we delve into how her research and work influences Kathleen's personal beliefs (Part 4).
Today's release is the first in a new series devoted to interviewing prominent historians to gather their evidence-based take on the question, "How did the Mormon Church come to be?"
Kathleen Melonakos's book Secret Combinations: Evidence of Early Mormon Counterfeiting 1800-1847 has created buzz in many online Mormon communities and we are excited to launch our series with Kathleen's expertise and careful research. Her book chronicles the evidence that early Mormon leaders, starting with Joseph Smith Sr., dealt in counterfeit money beginning in Vermont, and continuing throughout Joseph and Hyrum's careers. It places the Smith brothers in the early American context where counterfeiting networks and some of their CEO-like bosses posed as preachers. It is the only book of its kind that uncovers the problems counterfeiters caused in early America and what really happened before, during and after the Book of Mormon appeared on the scene. Her book is both fact-based and fast moving, supported by more than 1400 footnotes and over 100 photos and illustrations. It is also based on nearly 10 years of research, conducted in Vermont, New York, Illinois, Missouri, and Utah.
In this interview, Kathleen attempts to provide the historical context for the life of the Smith family and the founding of the LDS Church. In particular, we focus on the counterfeiting culture of the time period (Part 1), treasure digging as a practice (Part 2), the origins of the Book of Mormon (Part 3), and finally we delve into how her research and work influences Kathleen's personal beliefs (Part 4).
Today's release is the first in a new series devoted to interviewing prominent historians to gather their evidence-based take on the question, "How did the Mormon Church come to be?"
Kathleen Melonakos's book Secret Combinations: Evidence of Early Mormon Counterfeiting 1800-1847 has created buzz in many online Mormon communities and we are excited to launch our series with Kathleen's expertise and careful research. Her book chronicles the evidence that early Mormon leaders, starting with Joseph Smith Sr., dealt in counterfeit money beginning in Vermont, and continuing throughout Joseph and Hyrum's careers. It places the Smith brothers in the early American context where counterfeiting networks and some of their CEO-like bosses posed as preachers. It is the only book of its kind that uncovers the problems counterfeiters caused in early America and what really happened before, during and after the Book of Mormon appeared on the scene. Her book is both fact-based and fast moving, supported by more than 1400 footnotes and over 100 photos and illustrations. It is also based on nearly 10 years of research, conducted in Vermont, New York, Illinois, Missouri, and Utah.
In this interview, Kathleen attempts to provide the historical context for the life of the Smith family and the founding of the LDS Church. In particular, we focus on the counterfeiting culture of the time period (Part 1), treasure digging as a practice (Part 2), the origins of the Book of Mormon (Part 3), and finally we delve into how her research and work influences Kathleen's personal beliefs (Part 4).
Today's release is the first in a new series devoted to interviewing prominent historians to gather their evidence-based take on the question, "How did the Mormon Church come to be?"
Kathleen Melonakos's book Secret Combinations: Evidence of Early Mormon Counterfeiting 1800-1847 has created buzz in many online Mormon communities and we are excited to launch our series with Kathleen's expertise and careful research. Her book chronicles the evidence that early Mormon leaders, starting with Joseph Smith Sr., dealt in counterfeit money beginning in Vermont, and continuing throughout Joseph and Hyrum's careers. It places the Smith brothers in the early American context where counterfeiting networks and some of their CEO-like bosses posed as preachers. It is the only book of its kind that uncovers the problems counterfeiters caused in early America and what really happened before, during and after the Book of Mormon appeared on the scene. Her book is both fact-based and fast moving, supported by more than 1400 footnotes and over 100 photos and illustrations. It is also based on nearly 10 years of research, conducted in Vermont, New York, Illinois, Missouri, and Utah.
In this interview, Kathleen attempts to provide the historical context for the life of the Smith family and the founding of the LDS Church. In particular, we focus on the counterfeiting culture of the time period (Part 1), treasure digging as a practice (Part 2), the origins of the Book of Mormon (Part 3), and finally we delve into how her research and work influences Kathleen's personal beliefs (Part 4).
Join us as we begin a new series on instances where the LDS Church protects alleged abusers instead of advocating for their victims.
Trigger warning: This interview discusses sexual assault. Please practice self care, and use discretion regarding who else listens in.
In Part 1 of this interview, Jared shares how he was allegedly sexually abused as a young boy by his uncle and how these experiences formed the basis for his most vivid memories. Jared also talks about the guilt and shame he carried from those experiences throughout his youth and through his LDS mission. As Jared progresses through life, he feels he has forgiven his uncle and was ready to move on, until his uncle was called as a bishop and given stewardship over a ward, including children. Feeling pressure to say something, Jared finally told his wife Juli of the abuse he suffered decades earlier.
In Part 2 of this interview, Jared and Juli discuss multiple meetings and interactions with LDS Church leaders including multiple stake presidents and bishops, and a private meeting with Elder Steven O. Laing of the Seventy (recorded by Jared and Juli and presented as Part 3 of this interview) to warn them of his uncle’s alleged history of abuse. During this meeting, both Jared and Juli were still true believing members, but now regard the inaction taken by their priesthood leaders and instead focusing on their personal faith as a major tipping point for their testimonies. As of today, Jared’s uncle remains bishop in a northern Utah ward.
Join us as we begin a new series on instances where the LDS Church protects alleged abusers instead of advocating for their victims.
Trigger warning: This interview discusses sexual assault. Please practice self care, and use discretion regarding who else listens in.
In Part 1 of this interview, Jared shares how he was allegedly sexually abused as a young boy by his uncle and how these experiences formed the basis for his most vivid memories. Jared also talks about the guilt and shame he carried from those experiences throughout his youth and through his LDS mission. As Jared progresses through life, he feels he has forgiven his uncle and was ready to move on, until his uncle was called as a bishop and given stewardship over a ward, including children. Feeling pressure to say something, Jared finally told his wife Juli of the abuse he suffered decades earlier.
In Part 2 of this interview, Jared and Juli discuss multiple meetings and interactions with LDS Church leaders including multiple stake presidents and bishops, and a private meeting with Elder Steven O. Laing of the Seventy (recorded by Jared and Juli and presented as Part 3 of this interview) to warn them of his uncle’s alleged history of abuse. During this meeting, both Jared and Juli were still true believing members, but now regard the inaction taken by their priesthood leaders and instead focusing on their personal faith as a major tipping point for their testimonies. As of today, Jared’s uncle remains bishop in a northern Utah ward.
Join us as we begin a new series on instances where the LDS Church protects alleged abusers instead of advocating for their victims.
Trigger warning: This interview discusses sexual assault. Please practice self care, and use discretion regarding who else listens in.
In Part 1 of this interview, Jared shares how he was allegedly sexually abused as a young boy by his uncle and how these experiences formed the basis for his most vivid memories. Jared also talks about the guilt and shame he carried from those experiences throughout his youth and through his LDS mission. As Jared progresses through life, he feels he has forgiven his uncle and was ready to move on, until his uncle was called as a bishop and given stewardship over a ward, including children. Feeling pressure to say something, Jared finally told his wife Juli of the abuse he suffered decades earlier.
In Part 2 of this interview, Jared and Juli discuss multiple meetings and interactions with LDS Church leaders including multiple stake presidents and bishops, and a private meeting with Elder Steven O. Laing of the Seventy (recorded by Jared and Juli and presented as Part 3 of this interview) to warn them of his uncle’s alleged history of abuse. During this meeting, both Jared and Juli were still true believing members, but now regard the inaction taken by their priesthood leaders and instead focusing on their personal faith as a major tipping point for their testimonies. As of today, Jared’s uncle remains bishop in a northern Utah ward.
Continuing our series of European Mormon Stories, we visit Switzerland to interview Philipp Gysler to hear his important and fascinating Mormon story. As a former branch president and member of the Stake High Council, and as a lifelong member from an influential family in the Mormon community, Philipp has a unique perspective on the LDS Church in Switzerland.
These episodes cover topics in Philipp's life such as his experience growing up in the LDS Church, divorce, second marriage, and achieving tremendous business success—but also importantly how he responded to the difficulty of having his faith challenged. These episodes contain great advice from Philipp on how to navigate your own faith journey and also how to include believing family and friends as you forge a new life.
Continuing our series of European Mormon Stories, we visit Switzerland to interview Philipp Gysler to hear his important and fascinating Mormon story. As a former branch president and member of the Stake High Council, and as a lifelong member from an influential family in the Mormon community, Philipp has a unique perspective on the LDS Church in Switzerland.
These episodes cover topics in Philipp's life such as his experience growing up in the LDS Church, divorce, second marriage, and achieving tremendous business success—but also importantly how he responded to the difficulty of having his faith challenged. These episodes contain great advice from Philipp on how to navigate your own faith journey and also how to include believing family and friends as you forge a new life.
Continuing our series of European Mormon Stories, we visit Switzerland to interview Philipp Gysler to hear his important and fascinating Mormon story. As a former branch president and member of the Stake High Council, and as a lifelong member from an influential family in the Mormon community, Philipp has a unique perspective on the LDS Church in Switzerland.
These episodes cover topics in Philipp's life such as his experience growing up in the LDS Church, divorce, second marriage, and achieving tremendous business success—but also importantly how he responded to the difficulty of having his faith challenged. These episodes contain great advice from Philipp on how to navigate your own faith journey and also how to include believing family and friends as you forge a new life.
Because of a large international presence during our event in Stockholm, Sweden to celebrate and remember the "Swedish Rescue," we challenged our attendees to agree to an interview to represent their country's unique perspective in Mormonism and this panel of Norwegian Mormons rose to the occasion.
Join us as we learn about our panelists, Stein Carlsen, Elisabeth Olsen, Daniel Lillegård, and Runar Strandunique, and their Mormon roots either generationally or as a convert, and how each developed cracks in their faith. We also learn how some of our panelists found faith in other places, or moved away from religion altogether—all while focusing on how the close-knit Mormon community in Norway influenced their journeys.
Because of a large international presence during our event in Stockholm, Sweden to celebrate and remember the "Swedish Rescue," we challenged our attendees to agree to an interview to represent their country's unique perspective in Mormonism and this panel of Norwegian Mormons rose to the occasion.
Join us as we learn about our panelists, Stein Carlsen, Elisabeth Olsen, Daniel Lillegård, and Runar Strandunique, and their Mormon roots either generationally or as a convert, and how each developed cracks in their faith. We also learn how some of our panelists found faith in other places, or moved away from religion altogether—all while focusing on how the close-knit Mormon community in Norway influenced their journeys.
Join us for our highly anticipated follow-up interview with both Hans and Birgitta Mattsson during our recent trip to Sweden to visit with those who attended the original "Swedish Rescue" fireside in November, 2010. Our first interview with Hans and Birgitta was released on July 22, 2013 and is noted as one of our most important releases given Hans' church leadership pedigree as a bishop and stake president in Sweden before serving in the LDS church 3rd Quorum of the Seventy from 2000-2005 in the Europe Central area under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry, as well as the sincere struggles with testimony that both Hans and Birgitta faced after his release as an Area Authority.
In this two-part interview, we relive both Hans and Birgitta's ascent through the LDS Church, we elaborate for the first time on Hans and Birgitta's experience receiving the Second Anointing (a rarely-talked about temple ordinance reserved for those in the upper echelons of the LDS Church and described in detail during our epic interview with Tom Phillips), and we discuss the motivations for writing the book, "Truth Seeking: The Story of High-Ranking Mormon Leader Hans Mattsson Seeking Sincere Answers From His Church but Instead Finding Contempt, Fear, Doubt ...and Eventually Peace."
Join us for our highly anticipated follow-up interview with both Hans and Birgitta Mattsson during our recent trip to Sweden to visit with those who attended the original "Swedish Rescue" fireside in November, 2010. Our first interview with Hans and Birgitta was released on July 22, 2013 and is noted as one of our most important releases given Hans' church leadership pedigree as a bishop and stake president in Sweden before serving in the LDS church 3rd Quorum of the Seventy from 2000-2005 in the Europe Central area under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry, as well as the sincere struggles with testimony that both Hans and Birgitta faced after his release as an Area Authority.
In this two-part interview, we relive both Hans and Birgitta's ascent through the LDS Church, we elaborate for the first time on Hans and Birgitta's experience receiving the Second Anointing (a rarely-talked about temple ordinance reserved for those in the upper echelons of the LDS Church and described in detail during our epic interview with Tom Phillips), and we discuss the motivations for writing the book, "Truth Seeking: The Story of High-Ranking Mormon Leader Hans Mattsson Seeking Sincere Answers From His Church but Instead Finding Contempt, Fear, Doubt ...and Eventually Peace."
Please note that the quality of this recording is due to the covert nature in how it was recorded, and has been edited now to eliminate the introductions in Swedish and to optimize volume:
In November 2010, an emergency fireside was held in Stockholm, Sweden by Elder Marlin K. Jensen (Church historian at the time) and Elder Richard Turley (assistant Church historian) to address the faith crisis that ensued among an entire group of members and leaders in Stockholm including a stake president and Hans Mattsson, an Area Authority.
About 25 Swedes attended this fireside including all the local bishops and stake presidents. Those in attendance were those that were knowledgeable about the Church historical issues that were troubling many Swedes. The Swedes formed their own local Mormon Stories group and had over 600 Facebook members. They would openly discuss these issues amongst themselves.
In November 2010, an emergency fireside was held in Stockholm Sweden by Elder Marlin K. Jensen (Church historian at the time) and Elder Richard Turley (assistant Church historian) to address the faith crisis that ensued among an entire group of members and leaders in Stockholm, Sweden including a stake president and Hans Mattsson, an Area Authority.
About 25 Swedes attended this fireside including all the local bishops and stake presidents. Those in attendance were those that were knowledgeable about the Church historical issues that were troubling many Swedes. The Swedes formed their own local Mormon Stories group and had over 600 Facebook members. They would openly discuss these issues amongst themselves.
Join us as we visit Sweden and relive the “Swedish Rescue” with a panel (Parts 1 & 2) including Hans Mattsson as well as his co-author of the book, “Truth Seeking: The Story of High-Ranking Mormon Leader Hans Mattsson Seeking Sincere Answers From His Church but Instead Finding Contempt, Fear, Doubt …and Eventually Peace,” as well as a counselor to the District Presidency and former Bishop, and finally a Sunday School teacher who at the time of the Swedish Rescue had doubts about the truth claims of the LDS Church. In Part 3, we invite our Swedish live audience to approach the microphone and share their unique Scandinavian experiences in the LDS Church.
In November 2010, an emergency fireside was held in Stockholm Sweden by Elder Marlin K. Jensen (Church historian at the time) and Elder Richard Turley (assistant Church historian) to address the faith crisis that ensued among an entire group of members and leaders in Stockholm, Sweden including a stake president and Hans Mattsson, an Area Authority.
About 25 Swedes attended this fireside including all the local bishops and stake presidents. Those in attendance were those that were knowledgeable about the Church historical issues that were troubling many Swedes. The Swedes formed their own local Mormon Stories group and had over 600 Facebook members. They would openly discuss these issues amongst themselves.
Join us as we visit Sweden and relive the “Swedish Rescue” with a panel (Parts 1 & 2) including Hans Mattsson as well as his co-author of the book, “Truth Seeking: The Story of High-Ranking Mormon Leader Hans Mattsson Seeking Sincere Answers From His Church but Instead Finding Contempt, Fear, Doubt …and Eventually Peace,” as well as a counselor to the District Presidency and former Bishop, and finally a Sunday School teacher who at the time of the Swedish Rescue had doubts about the truth claims of the LDS Church. In Part 3, we invite our Swedish live audience to approach the microphone and share their unique Scandinavian experiences in the LDS Church.
In November 2010, an emergency fireside was held in Stockholm Sweden by Elder Marlin K. Jensen (Church historian at the time) and Elder Richard Turley (assistant Church historian) to address the faith crisis that ensued among an entire group of members and leaders in Stockholm, Sweden including a stake president and Hans Mattsson, an Area Authority.
About 25 Swedes attended this fireside including all the local bishops and stake presidents. Those in attendance were those that were knowledgeable about the Church historical issues that were troubling many Swedes. The Swedes formed their own local Mormon Stories group and had over 600 Facebook members. They would openly discuss these issues amongst themselves.
Join us as we visit Sweden and relive the “Swedish Rescue” with a panel (Parts 1 & 2) including Hans Mattsson as well as his co-author of the book, “Truth Seeking: The Story of High-Ranking Mormon Leader Hans Mattsson Seeking Sincere Answers From His Church but Instead Finding Contempt, Fear, Doubt …and Eventually Peace,” as well as a counselor to the District Presidency and former Bishop, and finally a Sunday School teacher who at the time of the Swedish Rescue had doubts about the truth claims of the LDS Church. In Part 3, we invite our Swedish live audience to approach the microphone and share their unique Scandinavian experiences in the LDS Church.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Camille and Maddy about experiencing rape/sexual assault as a Mormon missionary.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses rape and sexual assault. Please practice self care, and use discretion regarding who else listens in.
In these important episodes, we will cover Camille’s sexual assault during her mission to Mexico, Maddy’s sexual assault while on a mission in Bolivia, and how the LDS Church handled the aftermath of these traumatic experiences. Camille and Maddy also share their thoughts on how the LDS Church can improve their handling of sexual assaults and importantly, why they decided to go public with their stories now.
Also discussed throughout these episodes is the missionary cultural belief of obedience to mission rules results in protection from the Lord, even in the most war-torn and violent areas in the world. We talk about the feeling of invincibility and protection that Camille and Maddy felt before their assaults, and how their sexual assaults affected their faith in both LDS Church leadership, and in God.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Camille and Maddy about experiencing rape/sexual assault as a Mormon missionary.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses rape and sexual assault. Please practice self care, and use discretion regarding who else listens in.
In these important episodes, we will cover Camille’s sexual assault during her mission to Mexico, Maddy’s sexual assault while on a mission in Bolivia, and how the LDS Church handled the aftermath of these traumatic experiences. Camille and Maddy also share their thoughts on how the LDS Church can improve their handling of sexual assaults and importantly, why they decided to go public with their stories now.
Also discussed throughout these episodes is the missionary cultural belief of obedience to mission rules results in protection from the Lord, even in the most war-torn and violent areas in the world. We talk about the feeling of invincibility and protection that Camille and Maddy felt before their assaults, and how their sexual assaults affected their faith in both LDS Church leadership, and in God.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Camille and Maddy about experiencing rape/sexual assault as a Mormon missionary.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses rape and sexual assault. Please practice self care, and use discretion regarding who else listens in.
In these important episodes, we will cover Camille’s sexual assault during her mission to Mexico, Maddy’s sexual assault while on a mission in Bolivia, and how the LDS Church handled the aftermath of these traumatic experiences. Camille and Maddy also share their thoughts on how the LDS Church can improve their handling of sexual assaults and importantly, why they decided to go public with their stories now.
Also discussed throughout these episodes is the missionary cultural belief of obedience to mission rules results in protection from the Lord, even in the most war-torn and violent areas in the world. We talk about the feeling of invincibility and protection that Camille and Maddy felt before their assaults, and how their sexual assaults affected their faith in both LDS Church leadership, and in God.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Camille and Maddy about experiencing rape/sexual assault as a Mormon missionary.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses rape and sexual assault. Please practice self care, and use discretion regarding who else listens in.
In these important episodes, we will cover Camille’s sexual assault during her mission to Mexico, Maddy’s sexual assault while on a mission in Bolivia, and how the LDS Church handled the aftermath of these traumatic experiences. Camille and Maddy also share their thoughts on how the LDS Church can improve their handling of sexual assaults and importantly, why they decided to go public with their stories now.
Also discussed throughout these episodes is the missionary cultural belief of obedience to mission rules results in protection from the Lord, even in the most war-torn and violent areas in the world. We talk about the feeling of invincibility and protection that Camille and Maddy felt before their assaults, and how their sexual assaults affected their faith in both LDS Church leadership, and in God.
Jill Searle's story includes:
Being raised LDS and serving a mission.
Entering into a mixed-orientation marriage as a lesbian woman.
Having several children.
Leaving the church, and finding a committed, long term partner (they were married 5 different times...incredible story).
*Allowing and even supporting her children to remain active/faithful LDS as a lesbian, ex-Mormon woman, all while the church was waging war on committed LGBT relationships.
Katie Searle's story includes:
Being raised Mormon by an orthodox Mormon father and step-mother, and two lesbian ex-Mormon mothers.
Marrying her husband, Nathan Williams.
Co-founding with Nathan a globally successful magazine, Kinfolk.
Facing the excruciating decision to terminate a pregnancy at 6 months.
Dealing with the discovery that her husband, Nathan, is gay, while pregnant with their second child.
Deciding with Nathan to end the marriage.
Coping with a religious faith crisis through all this.
Rebuilding a life and raising her daughter, Vi, as an ex-Mormon single mother.
This is an amazing story of responding to tragedy with grace and resilience.
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast for an incredibly powerful story on dealing with tragedy with resilience and grace. Jill and Katie Searle are a mother/daughter pair.
Jill Searle's story includes:
Being raised LDS and serving a mission.
Entering into a mixed-orientation marriage as a lesbian woman.
Having several children.
Leaving the church, and finding a committed, long term partner (they were married 5 different times...incredible story).
*Allowing and even supporting her children to remain active/faithful LDS as a lesbian, ex-Mormon woman, all while the church was waging war on committed LGBT relationships.
Katie Searle's story includes:
Being raised Mormon by an orthodox Mormon father and step-mother, and two lesbian ex-Mormon mothers.
Marrying her husband, Nathan Williams.
Co-founding with Nathan a globally successful magazine, Kinfolk.
Facing the excruciating decision to terminate a pregnancy at 6 months.
Dealing with the discovery that her husband, Nathan, is gay, while pregnant with their second child.
Deciding with Nathan to end the marriage.
Coping with a religious faith crisis through all this.
Rebuilding a life and raising her daughter, Vi, as an ex-Mormon single mother.
This is an amazing story of responding to tragedy with grace and resilience.
BREAKING NEWS! Please join us on Mormon Stories Podcast as we discuss the Mormon Church’s announcement that it plans to excommunicate Sam Young for attempting to Protect LDS Children from sexual abuse. The council is currently scheduled to convene at 6PM on Sunday, September 9 at the Lexington Building in the stake offices in Houston, Texas.
In this episode, we discuss the letter Sam received dated August 28, 2018 and Sam’s initial feelings about the meeting, including his approach and preparation for the disciplinary council.
Collette’s incredible journey covers betrayal in her first marriage, genetic illness in two of her children, financial ruin leading to a multi-million dollar business, and advancement through and eventual separation from Mormonism.
Part One:
Born and raised in Rexburg, Idaho in a devout LDS family, the oldest of 10 children, Collette and her first husband had five children, two of whom were born with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease. At 14 years old, Collette’s daughter passed away after a rejected double lung transplant and medically-induced coma. Collette describes rushing into her first marriage at a young age because of guilt induced from clergy interviews when she confessed to youthful indiscretions. Her second marriage also ended in divorce.
Part Two:
After three months of intensive care for her daughter and her second daughter who was also living with CF, Collette had accrued over $1,000,000 in medical bills. Collette describes her first time seeking help from the State Welfare Office. That year, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundationprovided Christmas gifts for Collette’s children.
Collette found great success working with Usana, a new career opportunity that allowed Collette the chance to earn an income from home while taking care of her children. When the company expanded to Australia, Collette moved there for a year with her children. From there, they spent time expanding the market in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Korea.
Collette’s third marriage unfolds like a fascinating movie script. Listen to the interview to hear how Collette and her husband, the love of her life, found each other.
Participation in LDS-led Prop 8 advocacy in California gave Collette the opportunity to exercise her faith and obedience, but standing on California street corners holding pro-Prop 8 banners forced her to question her actions and faith. The “Exclusion Policy” of November 2015 was a final straw for Collette.
Collette’s incredible journey covers betrayal in her first marriage, genetic illness in two of her children, financial ruin leading to a multi-million dollar business, and advancement through and eventual separation from Mormonism.
Part One:
Born and raised in Rexburg, Idaho in a devout LDS family, the oldest of 10 children, Collette and her first husband had five children, two of whom were born with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease. At 14 years old, Collette’s daughter passed away after a rejected double lung transplant and medically-induced coma. Collette describes rushing into her first marriage at a young age because of guilt induced from clergy interviews when she confessed to youthful indiscretions. Her second marriage also ended in divorce.
Part Two:
After three months of intensive care for her daughter and her second daughter who was also living with CF, Collette had accrued over $1,000,000 in medical bills. Collette describes her first time seeking help from the State Welfare Office. That year, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundationprovided Christmas gifts for Collette’s children.
Collette found great success working with Usana, a new career opportunity that allowed Collette the chance to earn an income from home while taking care of her children. When the company expanded to Australia, Collette moved there for a year with her children. From there, they spent time expanding the market in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Korea.
Collette’s third marriage unfolds like a fascinating movie script. Listen to the interview to hear how Collette and her husband, the love of her life, found each other.
Participation in LDS-led Prop 8 advocacy in California gave Collette the opportunity to exercise her faith and obedience, but standing on California street corners holding pro-Prop 8 banners forced her to question her actions and faith. The “Exclusion Policy” of November 2015 was a final straw for Collette.
Longtime friend of John and Margi Dehlin, Jeremy Young joins us discuss his pioneer ancestry, faith journey, ventures as an entrepreneur, and wine!Near the conclusion of the interview, we hear about an exciting scripted TV series on Joseph Smith and the founding of the Mormon church that Jeremy is undertaking with John C. Hamer and other brilliant collaborators.
Part One: Growing up deeply rooted in Mormon culture in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Jeremy felt the pressure to be perfect but realized early in his teen years that he didn't quite fit the mold. From mimicking the edgy "Zestfully Clean" TV commercialin front of his entire high school - to performing magic tricks as an icebreaker for investigators on his mission - Jeremy had a playful approach to life.
Jeremy attributes much of his success in life to the values instilled in him by his Mormon upbringing. Jeremy served a French-speaking LDS mission in Québec, Canada, which he reflects fondly upon. Attending the temple was never a source of feeling the spirit for Jeremy like playing church music on the piano or attending church was.
Part Two: From climbing the ranks within telemarketing to building Rush Limbaugh's early online store, Jeremy realized great success as a business person. He became a multi-millionaire by the age of 28 with over one hundred employees and multiple ventures under his belt.
After about 6 years of dealing with infertility, Jeremy and his wife Molly adopted their first child through LDS Social Services. Jeremy emotionally recounts the challenging and beautiful experience of growing his family and interacting with the birth mother of his adopted child. "It was a magical experience." In total, the couple now has three children.
German board games became a passion for Jeremy, inspiring him to start a board game company. There, he created the game Settlers of Zarahemla. Jeremy came close to owning the rights to the game Ticket to Ride.
Part Three: After serving in multiple church callings related to music, Jeremy became the Elders' Quorum President as a young father and husband. Jeremy found three of D. Michael Quinn's booksat his mother-in-law's house. Jeremy describes the cognitive dissonance reading these books cause within him as "jolting." Other influential books in Jeremy's were Newell's Mormon Enigma, Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling, Dawkins' The God Delusion.
Around this time, Jeremy heard of John Dehlin's work and Mormon Stories Podcast but was cautioned to stay away. Living in St. George, Utah at this point, Jeremy was grappling with his emotionally-taxing faith crisis.
In a temple recommend interview, Jeremy's bishop questioned Jeremy's tongue-in-cheek Christmas cards that he would send to hundreds of people, using this to threaten not issuing a recommend.
Living in St. George, Utah was a challenge for Jeremy during his faith journey. Perhaps the last straw that made him move was receiving a gift certificate for a massage. When he went to the massage studio, he was given a massage by a polygamist woman in full garb with a Massage Envy t-shirt over her dress. "We've got to get out of here!" Jeremy told Molly.
Expressing concerns about issues within the church prevented Jeremy from having a temple recommend, which strained relationships between Jeremy and his friends. Transitioning out of the church, what took Jeremy thirteen years, took Molly three days after reading Runnell's CES Letter. Jeremy and Molly's participation in Arizona LDS LGBT & Family/Friends and marching in Pride parades "caused all hell to break loose in the ward" and started untrue rumors that Jeremy is gay. The "November Policy" was a final straw for Jeremy and his family, causing the entire family to resign membership in the church through Quit Mormon.
Jeremy details how he and Molly have evolved as a couple, sought help from others, and have moved from "okay" to "great." John and Jeremy share memories of a trip they took together with their spouses to Tuscany, Italy. There, Jeremy shared with John his love of the craft of wine - which John did not drink. The two discuss the role and risks of incorporating alcohol into life as an ex-Mormon.
Longtime friend of John and Margi Dehlin, Jeremy Young joins us discuss his pioneer ancestry, faith journey, ventures as an entrepreneur, and wine!Near the conclusion of the interview, we hear about an exciting scripted TV series on Joseph Smith and the founding of the Mormon church that Jeremy is undertaking with John C. Hamer and other brilliant collaborators.
Part One: Growing up deeply rooted in Mormon culture in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Jeremy felt the pressure to be perfect but realized early in his teen years that he didn't quite fit the mold. From mimicking the edgy "Zestfully Clean" TV commercialin front of his entire high school - to performing magic tricks as an icebreaker for investigators on his mission - Jeremy had a playful approach to life.
Jeremy attributes much of his success in life to the values instilled in him by his Mormon upbringing. Jeremy served a French-speaking LDS mission in Québec, Canada, which he reflects fondly upon. Attending the temple was never a source of feeling the spirit for Jeremy like playing church music on the piano or attending church was.
Part Two: From climbing the ranks within telemarketing to building Rush Limbaugh's early online store, Jeremy realized great success as a business person. He became a multi-millionaire by the age of 28 with over one hundred employees and multiple ventures under his belt.
After about 6 years of dealing with infertility, Jeremy and his wife Molly adopted their first child through LDS Social Services. Jeremy emotionally recounts the challenging and beautiful experience of growing his family and interacting with the birth mother of his adopted child. "It was a magical experience." In total, the couple now has three children.
German board games became a passion for Jeremy, inspiring him to start a board game company. There, he created the game Settlers of Zarahemla. Jeremy came close to owning the rights to the game Ticket to Ride.
Part Three: After serving in multiple church callings related to music, Jeremy became the Elders' Quorum President as a young father and husband. Jeremy found three of D. Michael Quinn's booksat his mother-in-law's house. Jeremy describes the cognitive dissonance reading these books cause within him as "jolting." Other influential books in Jeremy's were Newell's Mormon Enigma, Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling, Dawkins' The God Delusion.
Around this time, Jeremy heard of John Dehlin's work and Mormon Stories Podcast but was cautioned to stay away. Living in St. George, Utah at this point, Jeremy was grappling with his emotionally-taxing faith crisis.
In a temple recommend interview, Jeremy's bishop questioned Jeremy's tongue-in-cheek Christmas cards that he would send to hundreds of people, using this to threaten not issuing a recommend.
Living in St. George, Utah was a challenge for Jeremy during his faith journey. Perhaps the last straw that made him move was receiving a gift certificate for a massage. When he went to the massage studio, he was given a massage by a polygamist woman in full garb with a Massage Envy t-shirt over her dress. "We've got to get out of here!" Jeremy told Molly.
Expressing concerns about issues within the church prevented Jeremy from having a temple recommend, which strained relationships between Jeremy and his friends. Transitioning out of the church, what took Jeremy thirteen years, took Molly three days after reading Runnell's CES Letter. Jeremy and Molly's participation in Arizona LDS LGBT & Family/Friends and marching in Pride parades "caused all hell to break loose in the ward" and started untrue rumors that Jeremy is gay. The "November Policy" was a final straw for Jeremy and his family, causing the entire family to resign membership in the church through Quit Mormon.
Jeremy details how he and Molly have evolved as a couple, sought help from others, and have moved from "okay" to "great." John and Jeremy share memories of a trip they took together with their spouses to Tuscany, Italy. There, Jeremy shared with John his love of the craft of wine - which John did not drink. The two discuss the role and risks of incorporating alcohol into life as an ex-Mormon.
Longtime friend of John and Margi Dehlin, Jeremy Young joins us discuss his pioneer ancestry, faith journey, ventures as an entrepreneur, and wine!Near the conclusion of the interview, we hear about an exciting scripted TV series on Joseph Smith and the founding of the Mormon church that Jeremy is undertaking with John C. Hamer and other brilliant collaborators.
Part One: Growing up deeply rooted in Mormon culture in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Jeremy felt the pressure to be perfect but realized early in his teen years that he didn't quite fit the mold. From mimicking the edgy "Zestfully Clean" TV commercialin front of his entire high school - to performing magic tricks as an icebreaker for investigators on his mission - Jeremy had a playful approach to life.
Jeremy attributes much of his success in life to the values instilled in him by his Mormon upbringing. Jeremy served a French-speaking LDS mission in Québec, Canada, which he reflects fondly upon. Attending the temple was never a source of feeling the spirit for Jeremy like playing church music on the piano or attending church was.
Part Two: From climbing the ranks within telemarketing to building Rush Limbaugh's early online store, Jeremy realized great success as a business person. He became a multi-millionaire by the age of 28 with over one hundred employees and multiple ventures under his belt.
After about 6 years of dealing with infertility, Jeremy and his wife Molly adopted their first child through LDS Social Services. Jeremy emotionally recounts the challenging and beautiful experience of growing his family and interacting with the birth mother of his adopted child. "It was a magical experience." In total, the couple now has three children.
German board games became a passion for Jeremy, inspiring him to start a board game company. There, he created the game Settlers of Zarahemla. Jeremy came close to owning the rights to the game Ticket to Ride.
Part Three: After serving in multiple church callings related to music, Jeremy became the Elders' Quorum President as a young father and husband. Jeremy found three of D. Michael Quinn's booksat his mother-in-law's house. Jeremy describes the cognitive dissonance reading these books cause within him as "jolting." Other influential books in Jeremy's were Newell's Mormon Enigma, Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling, Dawkins' The God Delusion.
Around this time, Jeremy heard of John Dehlin's work and Mormon Stories Podcast but was cautioned to stay away. Living in St. George, Utah at this point, Jeremy was grappling with his emotionally-taxing faith crisis.
In a temple recommend interview, Jeremy's bishop questioned Jeremy's tongue-in-cheek Christmas cards that he would send to hundreds of people, using this to threaten not issuing a recommend.
Living in St. George, Utah was a challenge for Jeremy during his faith journey. Perhaps the last straw that made him move was receiving a gift certificate for a massage. When he went to the massage studio, he was given a massage by a polygamist woman in full garb with a Massage Envy t-shirt over her dress. "We've got to get out of here!" Jeremy told Molly.
Expressing concerns about issues within the church prevented Jeremy from having a temple recommend, which strained relationships between Jeremy and his friends. Transitioning out of the church, what took Jeremy thirteen years, took Molly three days after reading Runnell's CES Letter. Jeremy and Molly's participation in Arizona LDS LGBT & Family/Friends and marching in Pride parades "caused all hell to break loose in the ward" and started untrue rumors that Jeremy is gay. The "November Policy" was a final straw for Jeremy and his family, causing the entire family to resign membership in the church through Quit Mormon.
Jeremy details how he and Molly have evolved as a couple, sought help from others, and have moved from "okay" to "great." John and Jeremy share memories of a trip they took together with their spouses to Tuscany, Italy. There, Jeremy shared with John his love of the craft of wine - which John did not drink. The two discuss the role and risks of incorporating alcohol into life as an ex-Mormon.
What would cause a sitting Mormon bishop and his wife to lose their testimonies while he is serving as bishop – leading him to resign as bishop? Jeanne and Jason’s story is another in a series of episodes where we interview past Mormon bishops.
The two describe raising their four children in the church, their varied callings, and how inextricable Mormonism was in their marriage and worldview. Jason’s first call to a bishopric was not one he felt ready or spiritual enough for. Moved by the words of President Hinckley to “Forget yourself and go to work,” he accepted and immediately went to work. “He was a good bishop,” affirms Jeanne. Jason “upped his ‘spiritual game’” by eliminating hard rock from his music collection. Jeanne and their children made similar steps to fit the mold.
Once called as Bishop, Jason began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays, beginning with “Race and the Priesthood,” which caused him to reflect on 2 Nephi Chapter 5 as well as his own experience teaching individuals in New Zealand. “It shook my confidence in the scriptures. It never occurred to me that prophets could be wrong…in ways that affect people’s lives.” These essays served as the beginning of a series of events that eroded Jason’s testimony.
Jason was further shaken by being invited to interview as a candidate for Stake President, causing him to wonder if such callings were really the result of inspiration or perhaps the leadership were just ordinary people doing the best they could. Expressing these concerns to Jeanne caused her grief, wondering how her husband could still be a good in person if he left the church.
Around this time, Jason found Mormon Stories Podcast, which helped him learn more about challenging issues in the church. Issues for Jason began to mount as he learned about individuals who questioned doctrine and did not receive sufficient answers. Jason goes on to describe what it’s like to remain a Bishop after losing confidence in fellow priesthood leaders. As both of their testimonies crumbled, Jeanne and Jason describe being “heartbroken.”
What does this bishop do as he, his wife, and his family lose their testimonies?
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast to hear the full story. You will not find more sensitive and thoughtful people than Jeanne and Jason Booth.
What would cause a sitting Mormon bishop and his wife to lose their testimonies while he is serving as bishop – leading him to resign as bishop? Jeanne and Jason’s story is another in a series of episodes where we interview past Mormon bishops.
The two describe raising their four children in the church, their varied callings, and how inextricable Mormonism was in their marriage and worldview. Jason’s first call to a bishopric was not one he felt ready or spiritual enough for. Moved by the words of President Hinckley to “Forget yourself and go to work,” he accepted and immediately went to work. “He was a good bishop,” affirms Jeanne. Jason “upped his ‘spiritual game’” by eliminating hard rock from his music collection. Jeanne and their children made similar steps to fit the mold.
Once called as Bishop, Jason began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays, beginning with “Race and the Priesthood,” which caused him to reflect on 2 Nephi Chapter 5 as well as his own experience teaching individuals in New Zealand. “It shook my confidence in the scriptures. It never occurred to me that prophets could be wrong…in ways that affect people’s lives.” These essays served as the beginning of a series of events that eroded Jason’s testimony.
Jason was further shaken by being invited to interview as a candidate for Stake President, causing him to wonder if such callings were really the result of inspiration or perhaps the leadership were just ordinary people doing the best they could. Expressing these concerns to Jeanne caused her grief, wondering how her husband could still be a good in person if he left the church.
Around this time, Jason found Mormon Stories Podcast, which helped him learn more about challenging issues in the church. Issues for Jason began to mount as he learned about individuals who questioned doctrine and did not receive sufficient answers. Jason goes on to describe what it’s like to remain a Bishop after losing confidence in fellow priesthood leaders. As both of their testimonies crumbled, Jeanne and Jason describe being “heartbroken.”
What does this bishop do as he, his wife, and his family lose their testimonies?
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast to hear the full story. You will not find more sensitive and thoughtful people than Jeanne and Jason Booth.
What would cause a sitting Mormon bishop and his wife to lose their testimonies while he is serving as bishop – leading him to resign as bishop? Jeanne and Jason’s story is another in a series of episodes where we interview past Mormon bishops.
The two describe raising their four children in the church, their varied callings, and how inextricable Mormonism was in their marriage and worldview. Jason’s first call to a bishopric was not one he felt ready or spiritual enough for. Moved by the words of President Hinckley to “Forget yourself and go to work,” he accepted and immediately went to work. “He was a good bishop,” affirms Jeanne. Jason “upped his ‘spiritual game’” by eliminating hard rock from his music collection. Jeanne and their children made similar steps to fit the mold.
Once called as Bishop, Jason began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays, beginning with “Race and the Priesthood,” which caused him to reflect on 2 Nephi Chapter 5 as well as his own experience teaching individuals in New Zealand. “It shook my confidence in the scriptures. It never occurred to me that prophets could be wrong…in ways that affect people’s lives.” These essays served as the beginning of a series of events that eroded Jason’s testimony.
Jason was further shaken by being invited to interview as a candidate for Stake President, causing him to wonder if such callings were really the result of inspiration or perhaps the leadership were just ordinary people doing the best they could. Expressing these concerns to Jeanne caused her grief, wondering how her husband could still be a good in person if he left the church.
Around this time, Jason found Mormon Stories Podcast, which helped him learn more about challenging issues in the church. Issues for Jason began to mount as he learned about individuals who questioned doctrine and did not receive sufficient answers. Jason goes on to describe what it’s like to remain a Bishop after losing confidence in fellow priesthood leaders. As both of their testimonies crumbled, Jeanne and Jason describe being “heartbroken.”
What does this bishop do as he, his wife, and his family lose their testimonies?
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast to hear the full story. You will not find more sensitive and thoughtful people than Jeanne and Jason Booth.
What would cause a sitting Mormon bishop and his wife to lose their testimonies while he is serving as bishop – leading him to resign as bishop? Jeanne and Jason’s story is another in a series of episodes where we interview past Mormon bishops.
The two describe raising their four children in the church, their varied callings, and how inextricable Mormonism was in their marriage and worldview. Jason’s first call to a bishopric was not one he felt ready or spiritual enough for. Moved by the words of President Hinckley to “Forget yourself and go to work,” he accepted and immediately went to work. “He was a good bishop,” affirms Jeanne. Jason “upped his ‘spiritual game’” by eliminating hard rock from his music collection. Jeanne and their children made similar steps to fit the mold.
Once called as Bishop, Jason began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays, beginning with “Race and the Priesthood,” which caused him to reflect on 2 Nephi Chapter 5 as well as his own experience teaching individuals in New Zealand. “It shook my confidence in the scriptures. It never occurred to me that prophets could be wrong…in ways that affect people’s lives.” These essays served as the beginning of a series of events that eroded Jason’s testimony.
Jason was further shaken by being invited to interview as a candidate for Stake President, causing him to wonder if such callings were really the result of inspiration or perhaps the leadership were just ordinary people doing the best they could. Expressing these concerns to Jeanne caused her grief, wondering how her husband could still be a good in person if he left the church.
Around this time, Jason found Mormon Stories Podcast, which helped him learn more about challenging issues in the church. Issues for Jason began to mount as he learned about individuals who questioned doctrine and did not receive sufficient answers. Jason goes on to describe what it’s like to remain a Bishop after losing confidence in fellow priesthood leaders. As both of their testimonies crumbled, Jeanne and Jason describe being “heartbroken.”
What does this bishop do as he, his wife, and his family lose their testimonies?
Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast to hear the full story. You will not find more sensitive and thoughtful people than Jeanne and Jason Booth.
Bishop Sam Young is no stranger to Mormon Stories, and in these episodes we meet with Sam again to discuss his decision to escalate his cause to protect LDS children by attempting a 21-day hunger strike and daily spotlight near Temple Square. We discuss the purpose of Sam’s hunger strike and allow him the opportunity to discuss the effectiveness of his latest actions to end one-on-one interviews between clergy and youth behind closed doors, and in asking questions of a sexual nature. Sam also discusses the 29 questions he has compiled of questions individuals have been asked behind closed doors of an inappropriate and pornographic nature. We then ask Sam what his next steps will be if his escalation does not bring about the desired change.
Bishop Sam Young is no stranger to Mormon Stories, and in these episodes we meet with Sam again to discuss his decision to escalate his cause to protect LDS children by attempting a 21-day hunger strike and daily spotlight near Temple Square. We discuss the purpose of Sam’s hunger strike and allow him the opportunity to discuss the effectiveness of his latest actions to end one-on-one interviews between clergy and youth behind closed doors, and in asking questions of a sexual nature. Sam also discusses the 29 questions he has compiled of questions individuals have been asked behind closed doors of an inappropriate and pornographic nature. We then ask Sam what his next steps will be if his escalation does not bring about the desired change.
David Eccles Hardy lived as an orthodox Mormon for years, serving as an LDS Bishop and raising his family "in the covenant." While serving as a Mormon bishop, David learned of his son's homosexuality and the difficulty/pain his son experienced being raised in the LDS church as a gay youth. This experience led David to re-evaluate his faith, and ultimately to resign as bishop. Soon thereafter, David launched a campaign to convince the Mormon church to eliminate several pamphlets for youth and adults that he felt sent damaging messages regarding sexuality.
In a 1999 letter to Boyd K. Packer, David outlined the heartache and damage these publications caused his son and countless others.
In our interview, David outlines his careers in music and law, his interactions with prominent LDS leaders, as well as his involvement in helping to secure Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics. He also treats us to how he would have born his testimony in French as an LDS missionary in France.
David Eccles Hardy lived as an orthodox Mormon for years, serving as an LDS Bishop and raising his family "in the covenant." While serving as a Mormon bishop, David learned of his son's homosexuality and the difficulty/pain his son experienced being raised in the LDS church as a gay youth. This experience led David to re-evaluate his faith, and ultimately to resign as bishop. Soon thereafter, David launched a campaign to convince the Mormon church to eliminate several pamphlets for youth and adults that he felt sent damaging messages regarding sexuality.
In a 1999 letter to Boyd K. Packer, David outlined the heartache and damage these publications caused his son and countless others.
In our interview, David outlines his careers in music and law, his interactions with prominent LDS leaders, as well as his involvement in helping to secure Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics. He also treats us to how he would have born his testimony in French as an LDS missionary in France.
David Eccles Hardy lived as an orthodox Mormon for years, serving as an LDS Bishop and raising his family "in the covenant." While serving as a Mormon bishop, David learned of his son's homosexuality and the difficulty/pain his son experienced being raised in the LDS church as a gay youth. This experience led David to re-evaluate his faith, and ultimately to resign as bishop. Soon thereafter, David launched a campaign to convince the Mormon church to eliminate several pamphlets for youth and adults that he felt sent damaging messages regarding sexuality.
In a 1999 letter to Boyd K. Packer, David outlined the heartache and damage these publications caused his son and countless others.
In our interview, David outlines his careers in music and law, his interactions with prominent LDS leaders, as well as his involvement in helping to secure Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics. He also treats us to how he would have born his testimony in French as an LDS missionary in France.
In this edition of Mormon Stories, we visit the Houston, Texas area to interview Emily and Kyle Harris as they recount their 14-year mixed faith journey in their marriage. We cover:
- Their backgrounds being raised in the LDS Church, leading up to their marriage while still being believers
- How Kyle lost his faith in the Church early on in their marriage
- The process Emily went through for 14 years as she learned to understand and accept Kyle’s lack of faith
- What mistakes and successes Emily and Kyle experienced as they learned to navigate their mixed-faith marriage
- What changed in Emily’s life to help them get on the same page
- How Emily and Kyle arrived at a healthy, happy place in their marriage
In this edition of Mormon Stories, we visit the Houston, Texas area to interview Emily and Kyle Harris as they recount their 14-year mixed faith journey in their marriage. We cover:
- Their backgrounds being raised in the LDS Church, leading up to their marriage while still being believers
- How Kyle lost his faith in the Church early on in their marriage
- The process Emily went through for 14 years as she learned to understand and accept Kyle’s lack of faith
- What mistakes and successes Emily and Kyle experienced as they learned to navigate their mixed-faith marriage
- What changed in Emily’s life to help them get on the same page
- How Emily and Kyle arrived at a healthy, happy place in their marriage
In this edition of Mormon Stories, we visit the Houston, Texas area to interview Emily and Kyle Harris as they recount their 14-year mixed faith journey in their marriage. We cover:
- Their backgrounds being raised in the LDS Church, leading up to their marriage while still being believers
- How Kyle lost his faith in the Church early on in their marriage
- The process Emily went through for 14 years as she learned to understand and accept Kyle’s lack of faith
- What mistakes and successes Emily and Kyle experienced as they learned to navigate their mixed-faith marriage
- What changed in Emily’s life to help them get on the same page
- How Emily and Kyle arrived at a healthy, happy place in their marriage
In this edition of Mormon Stories, we visit the Houston, Texas area to interview Emily and Kyle Harris as they recount their 14-year mixed faith journey in their marriage. We cover:
- Their backgrounds being raised in the LDS Church, leading up to their marriage while still being believers
- How Kyle lost his faith in the Church early on in their marriage
- The process Emily went through for 14 years as she learned to understand and accept Kyle’s lack of faith
- What mistakes and successes Emily and Kyle experienced as they learned to navigate their mixed-faith marriage
- What changed in Emily’s life to help them get on the same page
- How Emily and Kyle arrived at a healthy, happy place in their marriage
Join us as we interview editors Nancy Ross and Sara Hanks to discuss their anthology, "Where We Must Stand: Ten Years of Feminist Mormon Housewives," an anthology of blog posts from the first decade of the Feminist Mormon Housewives blog, 2004—2014. The posts discuss Mormon women’s experiences of wrestling with feminism in a conservative religious tradition. The book highlights individual moments of reflection and faith while tracking the growth and progress of a larger community and religious social movement. Bloggers and community members moved from writing to activism, witnessed the public excommunication of a community member, mourned, and changed. The Feminist Mormon Housewives blog emerged at a time when the broader Mormon feminist movement was in decline. The bloggers shared their discovery of Mormon feminist history, concerns and fears about polygamy, the difficulty of navigating church and family relationships, losing and finding faith, the worst sex talk that ever happened in a church setting, and the awakening of a broader social consciousness. In doing so, they invited a new generation of women into the movement and helped to rebuild it.
Join us as we interview editors Nancy Ross and Sara Hanks to discuss their anthology, "Where We Must Stand: Ten Years of Feminist Mormon Housewives," an anthology of blog posts from the first decade of the Feminist Mormon Housewives blog, 2004—2014. The posts discuss Mormon women’s experiences of wrestling with feminism in a conservative religious tradition. The book highlights individual moments of reflection and faith while tracking the growth and progress of a larger community and religious social movement. Bloggers and community members moved from writing to activism, witnessed the public excommunication of a community member, mourned, and changed. The Feminist Mormon Housewives blog emerged at a time when the broader Mormon feminist movement was in decline. The bloggers shared their discovery of Mormon feminist history, concerns and fears about polygamy, the difficulty of navigating church and family relationships, losing and finding faith, the worst sex talk that ever happened in a church setting, and the awakening of a broader social consciousness. In doing so, they invited a new generation of women into the movement and helped to rebuild it.
Join us as we interview key contributors to the documentary “Church and State,” James Huntsman, Holly Tuckett, and Mark Lawrence.
Mormon Stories is honored to host a private screening of the award-winning documentary “Church and State.” This screening will be held on Wednesday, July 18th, 2018 at 7:00 pm at the Broadway Theater in Salt Lake.
This movie is the improbable story of a brash, inexperienced gay activist and a tiny Salt Lake City law firm that joined forces to topple Utah’s gay marriage ban. The film’s ride on the bumpy road to equality in Utah offers a glimpse at the Mormon church’s influence in state politics and the squabbles inside the gay community that nearly derailed a chance to make history.
In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we interview Jenny Wilson, Democratic nominee for US Senate, challenging Mitt Romneyfor Orrin Hatch‘s seat in Utah.
We discuss:
- Jenny's political heritage in the state of Utah
- Her Mormon upbringing and experience in Utah politics as a non-practicing member of the LDS Church
- Her views on some of the political issues facing Utahns and Mormons in particular
- Her experience on the intersection of Utah politics and the LDS Church
- Thoughts on her opponent and an invitation from Mormon Stories for Mitt Romney to appear on the podcast
In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we interview Jenny Wilson, Democratic nominee for US Senate, challenging Mitt Romneyfor Orrin Hatch‘s seat in Utah.
We discuss:
- Jenny's political heritage in the state of Utah
- Her Mormon upbringing and experience in Utah politics as a non-practicing member of the LDS Church
- Her views on some of the political issues facing Utahns and Mormons in particular
- Her experience on the intersection of Utah politics and the LDS Church
- Thoughts on her opponent and an invitation from Mormon Stories for Mitt Romney to appear on the podcast
On this episode of Mormon News Podcast, John Dehlin, Julienna Viegas, Stephanie Lobrot, and Sharon Price discuss the LDS response to immigrant family separation, the Provo Freedom Festival, the upcoming LDS hymnal, Family Search to include same-sex relationships, and changes to the youth interview policy.
Award-winning singer-songwriter Sarah Sample treats us with an interactive interview in front of a live audience in our Mormon Stories studio—sharing with us songs from her new album, Redwing – which explores her faith journey out of Mormonism.
Sarah writes beautiful songs that weave a trail of stories through folk, Americana, and country and have garnered comparisons to Sheryl Crow, The Weepies, and Bonnie Raitt.
Redwing, Sample’s sixth album, features more of her cut-to-the-bone storytelling, framed with empathy and compassion, and told with the best singing of Sample’s career. Produced by Sample’s longtime producer Scott Wiley (Elliott Smith, Bonnie Raitt), Redwing came to life over a few weeks of sessions at June Audio in Provo, Utah.
Redwing is—among other things and in the grand tradition of albums—a breakup album. But this was no run-of-the-mill romantic heartbreak; Sample’s breakup was spiritual. She left the committed religion of her upbringing (and its by-the-book lifestyle) to chart her own spiritual course, with all the starting over, unmapped question marks, and personal reconstruction that come with it. In the process, she landed in Wyoming where, in her words, “the wide open spaces felt like open arms to me—the endless skies and horizons leave room for anyone to belong.” Redwing tells that story. And more.
Award-winning singer-songwriter Sarah Sample treats us with an interactive interview in front of a live audience in our Mormon Stories studio—sharing with us songs from her new album, Redwing – which explores her faith journey out of Mormonism.
Sarah writes beautiful songs that weave a trail of stories through folk, Americana, and country and have garnered comparisons to Sheryl Crow, The Weepies, and Bonnie Raitt.
Redwing, Sample’s sixth album, features more of her cut-to-the-bone storytelling, framed with empathy and compassion, and told with the best singing of Sample’s career. Produced by Sample’s longtime producer Scott Wiley (Elliott Smith, Bonnie Raitt), Redwing came to life over a few weeks of sessions at June Audio in Provo, Utah.
Redwing is—among other things and in the grand tradition of albums—a breakup album. But this was no run-of-the-mill romantic heartbreak; Sample’s breakup was spiritual. She left the committed religion of her upbringing (and its by-the-book lifestyle) to chart her own spiritual course, with all the starting over, unmapped question marks, and personal reconstruction that come with it. In the process, she landed in Wyoming where, in her words, “the wide open spaces felt like open arms to me—the endless skies and horizons leave room for anyone to belong.” Redwing tells that story. And more.
In response to a recent article published in the Deseret News titled “Defending the Faith: The supposed scandal of multiple First Vision accounts” by past Mormon Stories guest Dan Peterson, we assemble an all-star panel to conduct a deep dive into: 1) The multiple and conflicting accounts of Joseph Smith’s first vision, and 2) How the Mormon church and apologists mislead church members about the issue. Our panelists include Sandra Tanner, Mark Crego, Warren Ludlow, and Johnny Stephenson.
In response to a recent article published in the Deseret News titled “Defending the Faith: The supposed scandal of multiple First Vision accounts” by past Mormon Stories guest Dan Peterson, we assemble an all-star panel to conduct a deep dive into: 1) The multiple and conflicting accounts of Joseph Smith’s first vision, and 2) How the Mormon church and apologists mislead church members about the issue. Our panelists include Sandra Tanner, Mark Crego, Warren Ludlow, and Johnny Stephenson.
In response to a recent article published in the Deseret News titled “Defending the Faith: The supposed scandal of multiple First Vision accounts” by past Mormon Stories guest Dan Peterson, we assemble an all-star panel to conduct a deep dive into: 1) The multiple and conflicting accounts of Joseph Smith’s first vision, and 2) How the Mormon church and apologists mislead church members about the issue. Our panelists include Sandra Tanner, Mark Crego, Warren Ludlow, and Johnny Stephenson.
John Dehlin, Julienna Viegas, Sean Carter, and Darron Smith continue discussing last week's LDS BeOne event, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the lifting of the priesthood ban.
John Dehlin, Julienna Viegas, Sean Carter, and Darron Smith discuss last week's LDS BeOne event, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the lifting of the priesthood ban.
Described as one of our most raw and moving interviews by our Facebook live audience, this special Pride edition of Mormon Stories is an interview with Jaime and Madeleine Soulé of Utah. Join us as we discuss:
- Their upbringing in the LDS Church
- Meeting and falling in love
- Their LDS mission woes
- Eventual marriage and parenthood
- Losing faith
- Jaime's transition as a trans woman and learning to manage their queer marriage
Described as one of our most raw and moving interviews by our Facebook live audience, this special Pride edition of Mormon Stories is an interview with Jaime and Madeleine Soulé of Utah. Join us as we discuss:
- Their upbringing in the LDS Church
- Meeting and falling in love
- Their LDS mission woes
- Eventual marriage and parenthood
- Losing faith
- Jaime's transition as a trans woman and learning to manage their queer marriage
In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we interview the world’s foremost cult expert, Steven Hassan, to discuss what the Mormon church can learn from destructive cults to do/be better. Steven Hassan is the author of several books including “Combating Mind Control: The #1 Best-Selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults.”
In part 2 of this episode, we solicit the feedback of some of our listeners as we view Mormonism through the lens of Hassan’s BITE Model.
In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we interview the world’s foremost cult expert, Steven Hassan, to discuss what the Mormon church can learn from destructive cults to do/be better. Steven Hassan is the author of several books including “Combating Mind Control: The #1 Best-Selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults.”
In part 2 of this episode, we solicit the feedback of some of our listeners as we view Mormonism through the lens of Hassan’s BITE Model.
John Dehlin, Ryan McKnight, Sean Carter, and John Hamer discuss:
- The 5/30/18 Mormon Leaks documents that shed light into the LDS Church's investment portfolios.
- Forward movement to bring medical cannabis legalization before Utah voters.
- Following up on the LDS Priesthood ban and the apology hoax.
Join Sarah Newcomb (host) along with Sean Carter, Julienna Viegas, and Darron Smith for this week's episode of Mormon News Podcast. Today we will be discussing:
- The ongoing conversation regarding the LDS priesthood ban in light of the recent NAACP meeting and apology hoax.
John Dehlin, John Hamer, Kristy Kimball, and Tim Coray launch the inaugural episode of Mormon News Podcast. Today we will be discussing:
- The LDS Church's attempt to dismiss the law suit involving McKenna Denson and Joseph Bishop.
- The LDS Church officially cutting ties with the Boy Scouts of America.
- The LDS Church fighting the 2018 Utah cannabis initiative.
- The recent "fake news" surrounding an LDS apology around racism.
- The Swedish Rescue 2018 and
- Denver Snuffer declares Brazil Plates fraudulent.
Live from the Salt Lake City Community of Christ, we welcome singer/songwriter Angela Soffeto Mormon Stories Podcast. No doubt you have heard her song "Rocks" in our bumper music for many episodes this year, and we were honored to have her in Salt Lake City in front of a live audience to hear her faith transition story and listen to songs that were born from that period in her life.
- Part 1: Angela shares her experience growing up as a Mormon and what eventually led her to experiencing a faith transition as a young mother with small children, and in a period of life where she was feeling intense isolation from being in a new city and having few friends outside of her local LDS ward. In this segment of the interview, Angela gives great advice and hope for those who may be in their darkest moments during a faith transition.
- Part 2: Angela performs songs from her album "Second Wind," and then continues the conversation with John about her faith journey, particularly the joy she feels now as she makes authentic choices in her life.
Live from the Salt Lake City Community of Christ, we welcome singer/songwriter Angela Soffeto Mormon Stories Podcast. No doubt you have heard her song "Rocks" in our bumper music for many episodes this year, and we were honored to have her in Salt Lake City in front of a live audience to hear her faith transition story and listen to songs that were born from that period in her life.
- Part 1: Angela shares her experience growing up as a Mormon and what eventually led her to experiencing a faith transition as a young mother with small children, and in a period of life where she was feeling intense isolation from being in a new city and having few friends outside of her local LDS ward. In this segment of the interview, Angela gives great advice and hope for those who may be in their darkest moments during a faith transition.
- Part 2: Angela performs songs from her album "Second Wind," and then continues the conversation with John about her faith journey, particularly the joy she feels now as she makes authentic choices in her life.
In light of a statement on LDS.org declaring, “An inability to feel the spirit … is often a symptom of poor mental health,” Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT CST and John Dehlin, Ph.D. are joined by our guest Matt to speak about his experiences with Mormon faith crises, depression, and suicidality—issues he has dealt with for 20 years.
According to Matt, it makes him angry to read that his struggles were a trial, test, or blessing from God, or that he could have been healed if he had more faith, prayed, or hadn’t “sinned.” Matt believes that religious observance is not a cure for mental health illness, and in these episodes, Natasha and John discuss how Mormonism, and in particular a faith transition in the context of Mormonism, can exacerbate the symptoms of depression.
___________________________
Part 1: Natasha and John discuss depression and then introduce our guest, Matt
Part 2: Matt shares his faith transition and how it affected his mental health
Part 3: Natasha, John, and Matt discuss the LDS Church’s statement regarding mental health and the ability to feel the “Spirit”
___________________________
In light of a statement on LDS.org declaring, “An inability to feel the spirit … is often a symptom of poor mental health,” Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT CST and John Dehlin, Ph.D. are joined by our guest Matt to speak about his experiences with Mormon faith crises, depression, and suicidality—issues he has dealt with for 20 years.
According to Matt, it makes him angry to read that his struggles were a trial, test, or blessing from God, or that he could have been healed if he had more faith, prayed, or hadn’t “sinned.” Matt believes that religious observance is not a cure for mental health illness, and in these episodes, Natasha and John discuss how Mormonism, and in particular a faith transition in the context of Mormonism, can exacerbate the symptoms of depression.
___________________________
Part 1: Natasha and John discuss depression and then introduce our guest, Matt
Part 2: Matt shares his faith transition and how it affected his mental health
Part 3: Natasha, John, and Matt discuss the LDS Church’s statement regarding mental health and the ability to feel the “Spirit”
___________________________
In light of a statement on LDS.org declaring, “An inability to feel the spirit … is often a symptom of poor mental health,” Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT CST and John Dehlin, Ph.D. are joined by our guest Matt to speak about his experiences with Mormon faith crises, depression, and suicidality—issues he has dealt with for 20 years.
According to Matt, it makes him angry to read that his struggles were a trial, test, or blessing from God, or that he could have been healed if he had more faith, prayed, or hadn’t “sinned.” Matt believes that religious observance is not a cure for mental health illness, and in these episodes, Natasha and John discuss how Mormonism, and in particular a faith transition in the context of Mormonism, can exacerbate the symptoms of depression.
___________________________
Part 1: Natasha and John discuss depression and then introduce our guest, Matt
Part 2: Matt shares his faith transition and how it affected his mental health
Part 3: Natasha, John, and Matt discuss the LDS Church’s statement regarding mental health and the ability to feel the “Spirit”
___________________________
Continuing our theme of interviewing past guests from some of our most popular and impactful interviews, we interview Shawn McCraney who first appeared on Mormon Stories in February 2010to discuss his experience as a "Born-Again Mormon." Shawn currently leads a church in Murray, Utah called C.A.M.P.U.S and has continued the ministry through a weekly streaming service, called Heart of the Matter. Shawn is widely known for his bold and sometimes bare-knuckled approach when comparing Mormonism to Christianity, and given his reputation as an animated and articulate speaker, this interview will keep you entertained and perhaps inspired.
In this interview we cover:
- Part 1: Shawn provides a brief recap of his born-again experience, and then discusses the meteoric rise, and ultimately descent of his tv program Heart of the Matterafter he confronted local Utah Christian churches for focusing more on programs and tithes, and less on the Bible. According to Shawn, these churches were providing the same "bondage" to people as the Mormon Church was.
- Part 2: This segment of the interview is a conversation focusing on Shawn's theology and beliefs, and Shawn provides a pitch for why a questioning Mormon or post-Mormon should seek the Jesus of the Bible
- Part 3: Shawn describes the "bondage" he sees when local churches focus more on "religion" and less on the teachings of Jesus. After our interview with the South Mountain Community Church earlier this year, Shawn voiced concerns to Mormon Stories about our visit and in this segment, we engage in a respectful dialogue about churches such as SMCC and how they serve their congregants.
Continuing our theme of interviewing past guests from some of our most popular and impactful interviews, we interview Shawn McCraney who first appeared on Mormon Stories in February 2010to discuss his experience as a "Born-Again Mormon." Shawn currently leads a church in Murray, Utah called C.A.M.P.U.S and has continued the ministry through a weekly streaming service, called Heart of the Matter. Shawn is widely known for his bold and sometimes bare-knuckled approach when comparing Mormonism to Christianity, and given his reputation as an animated and articulate speaker, this interview will keep you entertained and perhaps inspired.
In this interview we cover:
- Part 1: Shawn provides a brief recap of his born-again experience, and then discusses the meteoric rise, and ultimately descent of his tv program Heart of the Matterafter he confronted local Utah Christian churches for focusing more on programs and tithes, and less on the Bible. According to Shawn, these churches were providing the same "bondage" to people as the Mormon Church was.
- Part 2: This segment of the interview is a conversation focusing on Shawn's theology and beliefs, and Shawn provides a pitch for why a questioning Mormon or post-Mormon should seek the Jesus of the Bible
- Part 3: Shawn describes the "bondage" he sees when local churches focus more on "religion" and less on the teachings of Jesus. After our interview with the South Mountain Community Church earlier this year, Shawn voiced concerns to Mormon Stories about our visit and in this segment, we engage in a respectful dialogue about churches such as SMCC and how they serve their congregants.
Continuing our theme of interviewing past guests from some of our most popular and impactful interviews, we interview Shawn McCraney who first appeared on Mormon Stories in February 2010to discuss his experience as a "Born-Again Mormon." Shawn currently leads a church in Murray, Utah called C.A.M.P.U.S and has continued the ministry through a weekly streaming service, called Heart of the Matter. Shawn is widely known for his bold and sometimes bare-knuckled approach when comparing Mormonism to Christianity, and given his reputation as an animated and articulate speaker, this interview will keep you entertained and perhaps inspired.
In this interview we cover:
- Part 1: Shawn provides a brief recap of his born-again experience, and then discusses the meteoric rise, and ultimately descent of his tv program Heart of the Matterafter he confronted local Utah Christian churches for focusing more on programs and tithes, and less on the Bible. According to Shawn, these churches were providing the same "bondage" to people as the Mormon Church was.
- Part 2: This segment of the interview is a conversation focusing on Shawn's theology and beliefs, and Shawn provides a pitch for why a questioning Mormon or post-Mormon should seek the Jesus of the Bible
- Part 3: Shawn describes the "bondage" he sees when local churches focus more on "religion" and less on the teachings of Jesus. After our interview with the South Mountain Community Church earlier this year, Shawn voiced concerns to Mormon Stories about our visit and in this segment, we engage in a respectful dialogue about churches such as SMCC and how they serve their congregants.
In this edition of Mormon Stories, we continue our conversation with Roger Hendrix– possibly the highest ranking and most well-connected LDS church leader interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast to date. In these final 3 episodes,
_________________________
- Part 6: Roger describes how the LDS Church's involvement in Proposition 8 in California, and his daughters' questions surrounding polygamy, led him to have a more deep and informed conversation internally as he tried to reconcile Mormonism and church history
- Part 7: Roger describes his evolution on opinions of church history, and how new sources of information including Richard Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling and Mormon Stories Podcast contributed to his faith evolution
- Part 8: Roger answers questions submitted by our listeners, including questions regarding whether he has received the 2nd Anointing. Roger also tells us why he decided now to share his Mormon Story on the podcast
In this edition of Mormon Stories, we continue our conversation with Roger Hendrix– possibly the highest ranking and most well-connected LDS church leader interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast to date. In these final 3 episodes,
_________________________
- Part 6: Roger describes how the LDS Church's involvement in Proposition 8 in California, and his daughters' questions surrounding polygamy, led him to have a more deep and informed conversation internally as he tried to reconcile Mormonism and church history
- Part 7: Roger describes his evolution on opinions of church history, and how new sources of information including Richard Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling and Mormon Stories Podcast contributed to his faith evolution
- Part 8: Roger answers questions submitted by our listeners, including questions regarding whether he has received the 2nd Anointing. Roger also tells us why he decided now to share his Mormon Story on the podcast
In this edition of Mormon Stories, we continue our conversation with Roger Hendrix– possibly the highest ranking and most well-connected LDS church leader interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast to date. In these final 3 episodes,
_________________________
- Part 6: Roger describes how the LDS Church's involvement in Proposition 8 in California, and his daughters' questions surrounding polygamy, led him to have a more deep and informed conversation internally as he tried to reconcile Mormonism and church history
- Part 7: Roger describes his evolution on opinions of church history, and how new sources of information including Richard Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling and Mormon Stories Podcast contributed to his faith evolution
- Part 8: Roger answers questions submitted by our listeners, including questions regarding whether he has received the 2nd Anointing. Roger also tells us why he decided now to share his Mormon Story on the podcast
In this edition of Mormon Stories we visit with Roger Hendrix - possibly the highest ranking and most well-connected LDS church leader interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast to date. In these 5 episodes we cover his experience growing up in the LDS Church in Southern California in the 1950s and 60s, his ascent through church leadership including time as a CES Director, Bishop, Stake Presidency Member, Mission President, and serving for 18 years as a Trustee on the board of the Deseret Trust Company(called to the position by President Gordon B. Hinckley). Throughout this series Roger provides fascinating commentary on top church leadership, the changes he's seen in Mormon culture and policy during his lifetime, and rare insight into the financial workings of the LDS Church. Included throughout the interview are interactions Roger had with church leaders such as Paul H. Dunn, Ezra Taft Benson, Boyd K. Packer, Jeffrey R. Holland, Henry B. Eyring, Dallin H. Oaks, Gordon B. Hinckley, and more.
We will be interviewing Roger Hendrix for a few more hours in the coming week. If you have any final questions for Roger, please post them below.
________________________
- Part 1: Roger discusses his early life as a Mormon including his bout with polio as a child, how he compensated for his illness as a teenager, straying from the church for a time, returning to the church after being inspired by an LDS Institute class, and his decision to serve an LDS mission.
- Part 2: Roger joins the Church Education System (CES), ultimately becoming director of the LDS Institute at the University of Southern California. He also shares his interactions with numerous general authorities including Paul H. Dunn, Boyd K. Packer, Ezra Taft Benson, Henry Eyring, and Jeffrey R. Holland, among others.
- Part 3: Roger ascends through high-level LDS church leadership callings including Bishop and Stake Presidency Member, culminating in a call to serve as mission president in Chile. Roger discusses in detail what it was like to serve as a mission president in Chile in the 1990s.
- Parts 4-5: Roger begins this segment discussing the vetting process he went through after returning from his mission presidency as he was offered a position as an area authority (which he ultimately turned down). We then discuss Roger's call to serve on the Deseret Trust Company Board of Trustees by LDS church president Gordon B. Hinckley. We discuss in detail the purpose and inner workings of the Deseret Trust Company, and its interactions with Ensign Peak Advisors Inc., the Deseret Management Corporation, and the LDS church. In these two parts Roger provides important insight into the financial workings of the LDS Church
In this edition of Mormon Stories we visit with Roger Hendrix - possibly the highest ranking and most well-connected LDS church leader interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast to date. In these 5 episodes we cover his experience growing up in the LDS Church in Southern California in the 1950s and 60s, his ascent through church leadership including time as a CES Director, Bishop, Stake Presidency Member, Mission President, and serving for 18 years as a Trustee on the board of the Deseret Trust Company(called to the position by President Gordon B. Hinckley). Throughout this series Roger provides fascinating commentary on top church leadership, the changes he's seen in Mormon culture and policy during his lifetime, and rare insight into the financial workings of the LDS Church. Included throughout the interview are interactions Roger had with church leaders such as Paul H. Dunn, Ezra Taft Benson, Boyd K. Packer, Jeffrey R. Holland, Henry B. Eyring, Dallin H. Oaks, Gordon B. Hinckley, and more.
We will be interviewing Roger Hendrix for a few more hours in the coming week. If you have any final questions for Roger, please post them below.
________________________
- Part 1: Roger discusses his early life as a Mormon including his bout with polio as a child, how he compensated for his illness as a teenager, straying from the church for a time, returning to the church after being inspired by an LDS Institute class, and his decision to serve an LDS mission.
- Part 2: Roger joins the Church Education System (CES), ultimately becoming director of the LDS Institute at the University of Southern California. He also shares his interactions with numerous general authorities including Paul H. Dunn, Boyd K. Packer, Ezra Taft Benson, Henry Eyring, and Jeffrey R. Holland, among others.
- Part 3: Roger ascends through high-level LDS church leadership callings including Bishop and Stake Presidency Member, culminating in a call to serve as mission president in Chile. Roger discusses in detail what it was like to serve as a mission president in Chile in the 1990s.
- Parts 4-5: Roger begins this segment discussing the vetting process he went through after returning from his mission presidency as he was offered a position as an area authority (which he ultimately turned down). We then discuss Roger's call to serve on the Deseret Trust Company Board of Trustees by LDS church president Gordon B. Hinckley. We discuss in detail the purpose and inner workings of the Deseret Trust Company, and its interactions with Ensign Peak Advisors Inc., the Deseret Management Corporation, and the LDS church. In these two parts Roger provides important insight into the financial workings of the LDS Church
In this edition of Mormon Stories we visit with Roger Hendrix - possibly the highest ranking and most well-connected LDS church leader interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast to date. In these 5 episodes we cover his experience growing up in the LDS Church in Southern California in the 1950s and 60s, his ascent through church leadership including time as a CES Director, Bishop, Stake Presidency Member, Mission President, and serving for 18 years as a Trustee on the board of the Deseret Trust Company(called to the position by President Gordon B. Hinckley). Throughout this series Roger provides fascinating commentary on top church leadership, the changes he's seen in Mormon culture and policy during his lifetime, and rare insight into the financial workings of the LDS Church. Included throughout the interview are interactions Roger had with church leaders such as Paul H. Dunn, Ezra Taft Benson, Boyd K. Packer, Jeffrey R. Holland, Henry B. Eyring, Dallin H. Oaks, Gordon B. Hinckley, and more.
We will be interviewing Roger Hendrix for a few more hours in the coming week. If you have any final questions for Roger, please post them below.
________________________
- Part 1: Roger discusses his early life as a Mormon including his bout with polio as a child, how he compensated for his illness as a teenager, straying from the church for a time, returning to the church after being inspired by an LDS Institute class, and his decision to serve an LDS mission.
- Part 2: Roger joins the Church Education System (CES), ultimately becoming director of the LDS Institute at the University of Southern California. He also shares his interactions with numerous general authorities including Paul H. Dunn, Boyd K. Packer, Ezra Taft Benson, Henry Eyring, and Jeffrey R. Holland, among others.
- Part 3: Roger ascends through high-level LDS church leadership callings including Bishop and Stake Presidency Member, culminating in a call to serve as mission president in Chile. Roger discusses in detail what it was like to serve as a mission president in Chile in the 1990s.
- Parts 4-5: Roger begins this segment discussing the vetting process he went through after returning from his mission presidency as he was offered a position as an area authority (which he ultimately turned down). We then discuss Roger's call to serve on the Deseret Trust Company Board of Trustees by LDS church president Gordon B. Hinckley. We discuss in detail the purpose and inner workings of the Deseret Trust Company, and its interactions with Ensign Peak Advisors Inc., the Deseret Management Corporation, and the LDS church. In these two parts Roger provides important insight into the financial workings of the LDS Church
In this edition of Mormon Stories we visit with Roger Hendrix - possibly the highest ranking and most well-connected LDS church leader interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast to date. In these 5 episodes we cover his experience growing up in the LDS Church in Southern California in the 1950s and 60s, his ascent through church leadership including time as a CES Director, Bishop, Stake Presidency Member, Mission President, and serving for 18 years as a Trustee on the board of the Deseret Trust Company(called to the position by President Gordon B. Hinckley). Throughout this series Roger provides fascinating commentary on top church leadership, the changes he's seen in Mormon culture and policy during his lifetime, and rare insight into the financial workings of the LDS Church. Included throughout the interview are interactions Roger had with church leaders such as Paul H. Dunn, Ezra Taft Benson, Boyd K. Packer, Jeffrey R. Holland, Henry B. Eyring, Dallin H. Oaks, Gordon B. Hinckley, and more.
We will be interviewing Roger Hendrix for a few more hours in the coming week. If you have any final questions for Roger, please post them below.
________________________
- Part 1: Roger discusses his early life as a Mormon including his bout with polio as a child, how he compensated for his illness as a teenager, straying from the church for a time, returning to the church after being inspired by an LDS Institute class, and his decision to serve an LDS mission.
- Part 2: Roger joins the Church Education System (CES), ultimately becoming director of the LDS Institute at the University of Southern California. He also shares his interactions with numerous general authorities including Paul H. Dunn, Boyd K. Packer, Ezra Taft Benson, Henry Eyring, and Jeffrey R. Holland, among others.
- Part 3: Roger ascends through high-level LDS church leadership callings including Bishop and Stake Presidency Member, culminating in a call to serve as mission president in Chile. Roger discusses in detail what it was like to serve as a mission president in Chile in the 1990s.
- Parts 4-5: Roger begins this segment discussing the vetting process he went through after returning from his mission presidency as he was offered a position as an area authority (which he ultimately turned down). We then discuss Roger's call to serve on the Deseret Trust Company Board of Trustees by LDS church president Gordon B. Hinckley. We discuss in detail the purpose and inner workings of the Deseret Trust Company, and its interactions with Ensign Peak Advisors Inc., the Deseret Management Corporation, and the LDS church. In these two parts Roger provides important insight into the financial workings of the LDS Church
In this edition of Mormon Stories we visit with Roger Hendrix - possibly the highest ranking and most well-connected LDS church leader interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast to date. In these 5 episodes we cover his experience growing up in the LDS Church in Southern California in the 1950s and 60s, his ascent through church leadership including time as a CES Director, Bishop, Stake Presidency Member, Mission President, and serving for 18 years as a Trustee on the board of the Deseret Trust Company(called to the position by President Gordon B. Hinckley). Throughout this series Roger provides fascinating commentary on top church leadership, the changes he's seen in Mormon culture and policy during his lifetime, and rare insight into the financial workings of the LDS Church. Included throughout the interview are interactions Roger had with church leaders such as Paul H. Dunn, Ezra Taft Benson, Boyd K. Packer, Jeffrey R. Holland, Henry B. Eyring, Dallin H. Oaks, Gordon B. Hinckley, and more.
We will be interviewing Roger Hendrix for a few more hours in the coming week. If you have any final questions for Roger, please post them below.
________________________
- Part 1: Roger discusses his early life as a Mormon including his bout with polio as a child, how he compensated for his illness as a teenager, straying from the church for a time, returning to the church after being inspired by an LDS Institute class, and his decision to serve an LDS mission.
- Part 2: Roger joins the Church Education System (CES), ultimately becoming director of the LDS Institute at the University of Southern California. He also shares his interactions with numerous general authorities including Paul H. Dunn, Boyd K. Packer, Ezra Taft Benson, Henry Eyring, and Jeffrey R. Holland, among others.
- Part 3: Roger ascends through high-level LDS church leadership callings including Bishop and Stake Presidency Member, culminating in a call to serve as mission president in Chile. Roger discusses in detail what it was like to serve as a mission president in Chile in the 1990s.
- Parts 4-5: Roger begins this segment discussing the vetting process he went through after returning from his mission presidency as he was offered a position as an area authority (which he ultimately turned down). We then discuss Roger's call to serve on the Deseret Trust Company Board of Trustees by LDS church president Gordon B. Hinckley. We discuss in detail the purpose and inner workings of the Deseret Trust Company, and its interactions with Ensign Peak Advisors Inc., the Deseret Management Corporation, and the LDS church. In these two parts Roger provides important insight into the financial workings of the LDS Church
In this gripping interview on Mormon Stories, we interview Jen and Todd who share their personal experiences when bringing issues of abuse to the attention of Mormon Bishops. Throughout her life, Jen suffered through periods of abuse that greatly impacted her physical, emotional, and spiritual health, including severe bouts of anorexia. In this interview, we learn of the failures to deliver the help Jen needed from some Mormon bishops, but also the success of another Mormon bishop, Todd. We learn how Todd helped Jen during her darkest time, and what tools Jen used to begin living her best life.
__________________________
Part 1: Jen shares her abuse story and the impact it had on her life
Part 2: The abuse continues into her marriage, and Jen details her unsupportive experiences with Mormon Bishops
Part 3: Jen finally has a positive experience with a Mormon Bishop, Todd. We also explore Todd's experience losing his faith
__________________________
In this gripping interview on Mormon Stories, we interview Jen and Todd who share their personal experiences when bringing issues of abuse to the attention of Mormon Bishops. Throughout her life, Jen suffered through periods of abuse that greatly impacted her physical, emotional, and spiritual health, including severe bouts of anorexia. In this interview, we learn of the failures to deliver the help Jen needed from some Mormon bishops, but also the success of another Mormon bishop, Todd. We learn how Todd helped Jen during her darkest time, and what tools Jen used to begin living her best life.
__________________________
Part 1: Jen shares her abuse story and the impact it had on her life
Part 2: The abuse continues into her marriage, and Jen details her unsupportive experiences with Mormon Bishops
Part 3: Jen finally has a positive experience with a Mormon Bishop, Todd. We also explore Todd's experience losing his faith
__________________________
In this gripping interview on Mormon Stories, we interview Jen and Todd who share their personal experiences when bringing issues of abuse to the attention of Mormon Bishops. Throughout her life, Jen suffered through periods of abuse that greatly impacted her physical, emotional, and spiritual health, including severe bouts of anorexia. In this interview, we learn of the failures to deliver the help Jen needed from some Mormon bishops, but also the success of another Mormon bishop, Todd. We learn how Todd helped Jen during her darkest time, and what tools Jen used to begin living her best life.
__________________________
Part 1: Jen shares her abuse story and the impact it had on her life
Part 2: The abuse continues into her marriage, and Jen details her unsupportive experiences with Mormon Bishops
Part 3: Jen finally has a positive experience with a Mormon Bishop, Todd. We also explore Todd's experience losing his faith
__________________________
Heart of the Matter's Shawn McCraney sits down with John to have a discussion about:
(Part 1) John's Mormon story,
(Part 2) The history of Mormon Stories and how his motivation behind the podcast has transformed over time, and
*(Part 3) An interesting back-and-forth as John gives his take on Christian concepts including God, sin, redemption, and much more.
Continuing a theme this year of capturing updates from some of our most impactful past interviews, in the coming weeks John will interview Shawn again to see what life has been like since his Mormon Stories interview released February 2010!
Heart of the Matter's Shawn McCraney sits down with John to have a discussion about:
(Part 1) John's Mormon story,
(Part 2) The history of Mormon Stories and how his motivation behind the podcast has transformed over time, and
*(Part 3) An interesting back-and-forth as John gives his take on Christian concepts including God, sin, redemption, and much more.
Continuing a theme this year of capturing updates from some of our most impactful past interviews, in the coming weeks John will interview Shawn again to see what life has been like since his Mormon Stories interview released February 2010!
Heart of the Matter's Shawn McCraney sits down with John to have a discussion about:
(Part 1) John's Mormon story,
(Part 2) The history of Mormon Stories and how his motivation behind the podcast has transformed over time, and
*(Part 3) An interesting back-and-forth as John gives his take on Christian concepts including God, sin, redemption, and much more.
Continuing a theme this year of capturing updates from some of our most impactful past interviews, in the coming weeks John will interview Shawn again to see what life has been like since his Mormon Stories interview released February 2010!
Ahead of a possible Utah medical marijuana ballot initiative in the Fall of 2018—and in light of the LDS Church signaling its opposition to the initiative—Mormon Stories seeks to have an open, facts-based discussion about the medicinal uses of marijuana and the LDS Church's role in the legislative process to prevent its passage in the state of Utah. To begin that conversation, we continue our interview with Andrew Jolley—an entrepreneur in Nevada who started The+Sourcedispensary in 2013 after Nevada passed legislation allowing the use of medicinal marijuana in that state.
We cover:
*What Andrew learned about the medicinal and societal value of marijuana that lead him to become involved
*A historical discussion about the political and cultural motives to making marijuana illegal
*The economic impacts seen in the states that have chosen to legalize marijuana use
*The medical impacts of the different types of cannabinoids found in marijuana
*Efforts made 'behind the scenes' by the LDS Church to oppose the initiative to allow for medicinal marijuana use
*What Andrew believes Utahns should do to inform their decision on legalization
Ahead of a possible Utah medical marijuana ballot initiative in the Fall of 2018—and in light of the LDS Church signaling its opposition to the initiative—Mormon Stories seeks to have an open, facts-based discussion about the medicinal uses of marijuana and the LDS Church's role in the legislative process to prevent its passage in the state of Utah. To begin that conversation, we continue our interview with Andrew Jolley—an entrepreneur in Nevada who started The+Sourcedispensary in 2013 after Nevada passed legislation allowing the use of medicinal marijuana in that state.
We cover:
*What Andrew learned about the medicinal and societal value of marijuana that lead him to become involved
*A historical discussion about the political and cultural motives to making marijuana illegal
*The economic impacts seen in the states that have chosen to legalize marijuana use
*The medical impacts of the different types of cannabinoids found in marijuana
*Efforts made 'behind the scenes' by the LDS Church to oppose the initiative to allow for medicinal marijuana use
*What Andrew believes Utahns should do to inform their decision on legalization
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode, we travel to Nevada to listen as Andrew and Allison Jolley tell the story of their Mormon faith crisis, how they healed their painful and disconnected marriage, and (in episodes 911-912) how Andrew became a founder and owner of a marijuana company in Nevada called The+Source Nevada.
We cover:
- The shame and unresolved issues that were brought into the marriage by transgressions in their youth
- The barriers to emotional intimacy that both felt throughout their marriage and how they sought to meet their emotional needs in other places
- How Allison clung more to the church when she felt Andrew pulling away in the marriage
- Why Andrew embarked on a journey to deepen his faith, which instead lead to a faith crisis
- How Allison experienced anxiety and confusion when Andrew worked harder to strengthen his marriage after expressing doubts about the LDS Church
- How Allison experienced her own faith crisis
- What Andrew and Allison did to heal their marriage after experiencing a faith transition
___________________________
Part 1: Andrew and Allison describe their early marriage including the shame and unresolved issues each brought in
Part 2: Andrew and Allison share their difficulty with emotional intimacy and the impact a faith crisis had on their marriage
Part 3: Andrew and Allison share how they healed their marriage
___________________________
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode, we travel to Nevada to listen as Andrew and Allison Jolley tell the story of their Mormon faith crisis, how they healed their painful and disconnected marriage, and (in episodes 911-912) how Andrew became a founder and owner of a marijuana company in Nevada called The+Source Nevada.
We cover:
- The shame and unresolved issues that were brought into the marriage by transgressions in their youth
- The barriers to emotional intimacy that both felt throughout their marriage and how they sought to meet their emotional needs in other places
- How Allison clung more to the church when she felt Andrew pulling away in the marriage
- Why Andrew embarked on a journey to deepen his faith, which instead lead to a faith crisis
- How Allison experienced anxiety and confusion when Andrew worked harder to strengthen his marriage after expressing doubts about the LDS Church
- How Allison experienced her own faith crisis
- What Andrew and Allison did to heal their marriage after experiencing a faith transition
___________________________
Part 1: Andrew and Allison describe their early marriage including the shame and unresolved issues each brought in
Part 2: Andrew and Allison share their difficulty with emotional intimacy and the impact a faith crisis had on their marriage
Part 3: Andrew and Allison share how they healed their marriage
___________________________
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode, we travel to Nevada to listen as Andrew and Allison Jolley tell the story of their Mormon faith crisis, how they healed their painful and disconnected marriage, and (in episodes 911-912) how Andrew became a founder and owner of a marijuana company in Nevada called The+Source Nevada.
We cover:
- The shame and unresolved issues that were brought into the marriage by transgressions in their youth
- The barriers to emotional intimacy that both felt throughout their marriage and how they sought to meet their emotional needs in other places
- How Allison clung more to the church when she felt Andrew pulling away in the marriage
- Why Andrew embarked on a journey to deepen his faith, which instead lead to a faith crisis
- How Allison experienced anxiety and confusion when Andrew worked harder to strengthen his marriage after expressing doubts about the LDS Church
- How Allison experienced her own faith crisis
- What Andrew and Allison did to heal their marriage after experiencing a faith transition
___________________________
Part 1: Andrew and Allison describe their early marriage including the shame and unresolved issues each brought in
Part 2: Andrew and Allison share their difficulty with emotional intimacy and the impact a faith crisis had on their marriage
Part 3: Andrew and Allison share how they healed their marriage
___________________________
We are excited to revisit Dr. Michael Coe at his home in New Haven, Connecticut to learn what he has been up to since our wildly popular first interview with him released in August 2011.
Dr. Michael Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy professor emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the school’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central American where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place.
Continuing their discussion from 7 years ago, Dr. Coe and John discuss some of the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture.
We are excited to revisit Dr. Michael Coe at his home in New Haven, Connecticut to learn what he has been up to since our wildly popular first interview with him released in August 2011.
Dr. Michael Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy professor emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the school’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central American where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place.
Continuing their discussion from 7 years ago, Dr. Coe and John discuss some of the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture.
We are excited to revisit Dr. Michael Coe at his home in New Haven, Connecticut to learn what he has been up to since our wildly popular first interview with him released in August 2011.
Dr. Michael Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy professor emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the school’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central American where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place.
Continuing their discussion from 7 years ago, Dr. Coe and John discuss some of the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture.
A re-release of our first interview with Dr. Coe released in August 2011:
Dr. Michael Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy professor emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the school’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central American where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place. In this interview, Coe discusses the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture and his own views on Joseph Smith.
A re-release of our first interview with Dr. Coe released in August 2011:
Dr. Michael Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy professor emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the school’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central American where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place. In this interview, Coe discusses the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture and his own views on Joseph Smith.
A re-release of our first interview with Dr. Coe released in August 2011:
Dr. Michael Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy professor emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the school’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central American where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place. In this interview, Coe discusses the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture and his own views on Joseph Smith.
Mormon Stories Podcast is honored to sit down with Dr. Bart Ehrman for a power-hour discussion of the story of Jesus, the New Testament, and wider early Christianity as a whole. As an expert on the New Testament and the history of Early Christianity, Dr. Ehrman has written or edited thirty books, numerous scholarly articles, and dozens of book reviews. Five of his books have been on the New York Times Bestseller list: Misquoting Jesus; God’s Problem; Jesus Interrupted; Forged; and How Jesus Became God. A comprehensive list of Dr. Ehrman's works may be found here.
We were honored to host a live Q&A and book signing with New York Times bestselling-author Tara Westover on March 29, 2018 at the First Unitarian Churchin Salt Lake City.
Tara is the author of the book Educated. Born in Idaho to a father opposed to public education, she never attended school. She spent her days working in her father's junkyard or stewing herbs for her mother, a self-taught herbalist and midwife. She was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. After that first encounter with education, she pursued learning for a decade, graduating magna cum laude from Brigham Young University in 2008 and subsequently winning a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. She earned an MPhil from Trinity College, Cambridge in 2009, and in 2010 was a visiting fellow at Harvard University. She returned to Cambridge, where she was awarded a PhD in history in 2014.
Join us for this lively interview with Tyler Measom to discuss his life as an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Tyler's films include Sons of Perditionand An Honest Liar, along with a film currently in production about the history of MTV. A comprehensive list of Tyler's works may be found at his IMDb.
Tyler shares with us his experience growing up as a Mormon including serving a mission—an experience he credits with influencing his style and purpose as a filmmaker by teaching him how to deeply empathize with people. Tyler also shares how he first became involved in the film industry and used his entrepreneurial skills to create works that have won awards at numerous film festivals. Later we learn that Tyler decided to leave the LDS Church in protest during the early days of the Church's efforts to prevent the passage of same-sex marriage in the United States.
This interview contains excellent advice to aspiring artists of all kinds on how to successfully channel your passion into successful outcomes.
Tyler's upcoming film is about Mark Hofmann—a horrifying and seductive tale of the most prolific and accomplished forger in modern history. Information about this film and how you can donate to this project may be found at https://www.forgerfilm.com.
Join us for this lively interview with Tyler Measom to discuss his life as an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Tyler's films include Sons of Perditionand An Honest Liar, along with a film currently in production about the history of MTV. A comprehensive list of Tyler's works may be found at his IMDb.
Tyler shares with us his experience growing up as a Mormon including serving a mission—an experience he credits with influencing his style and purpose as a filmmaker by teaching him how to deeply empathize with people. Tyler also shares how he first became involved in the film industry and used his entrepreneurial skills to create works that have won awards at numerous film festivals. Later we learn that Tyler decided to leave the LDS Church in protest during the early days of the Church's efforts to prevent the passage of same-sex marriage in the United States.
This interview contains excellent advice to aspiring artists of all kinds on how to successfully channel your passion into successful outcomes.
Tyler's upcoming film is about Mark Hofmann—a horrifying and seductive tale of the most prolific and accomplished forger in modern history. Information about this film and how you can donate to this project may be found at https://www.forgerfilm.com.
Join us for this lively interview with Tyler Measom to discuss his life as an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Tyler's films include Sons of Perditionand An Honest Liar, along with a film currently in production about the history of MTV. A comprehensive list of Tyler's works may be found at his IMDb.
Tyler shares with us his experience growing up as a Mormon including serving a mission—an experience he credits with influencing his style and purpose as a filmmaker by teaching him how to deeply empathize with people. Tyler also shares how he first became involved in the film industry and used his entrepreneurial skills to create works that have won awards at numerous film festivals. Later we learn that Tyler decided to leave the LDS Church in protest during the early days of the Church's efforts to prevent the passage of same-sex marriage in the United States.
This interview contains excellent advice to aspiring artists of all kinds on how to successfully channel your passion into successful outcomes.
Tyler's upcoming film is about Mark Hofmann—a horrifying and seductive tale of the most prolific and accomplished forger in modern history. Information about this film and how you can donate to this project may be found at https://www.forgerfilm.com.
This international edition of Mormon Stories Podcast includes our interview with Amanda and Matt Ireland about their experiences as Mormons in Australia. This story includes their relatively recent faith crisis, and their being threatened as apostates by their local leadership for speaking openly about their doubts/questions with the church. Amanda and Matt also speak openly and bravely about how they dealt with issues of mental health in their marriage and how they now find happiness in life outside the Mormon faith.
This international edition of Mormon Stories Podcast includes our interview with Amanda and Matt Ireland about their experiences as Mormons in Australia. This story includes their relatively recent faith crisis, and their being threatened as apostates by their local leadership for speaking openly about their doubts/questions with the church. Amanda and Matt also speak openly and bravely about how they dealt with issues of mental health in their marriage and how they now find happiness in life outside the Mormon faith.
This international edition of Mormon Stories Podcast includes our interview with Amanda and Matt Ireland about their experiences as Mormons in Australia. This story includes their relatively recent faith crisis, and their being threatened as apostates by their local leadership for speaking openly about their doubts/questions with the church. Amanda and Matt also speak openly and bravely about how they dealt with issues of mental health in their marriage and how they now find happiness in life outside the Mormon faith.
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode, Christopher Swallow tells his story. During the 1980s and 1990s, Lowell Robison engaged in predatory sexual behaviors with several male cousins/BYU students. In 1995 Lowell Robison was called to serve as a mission president to the Mexico Leon mission (1995-1998). Christopher Swallow and his brother were two of his victims. When Christopher and his brother learned that Lowell Robison had been called as a mission president, they met with Elder Earl C. Tingey (LDS General Authority) at LDS church headquarters to report Lowell Robison's sexual abuse. Zero support was given to them as abuse victims, and no change was made to Lowell Robison's assignment, and he served out a full term as mission president.
Join us as we talk with Bishop Sam Young about the recent changes to interview protocol and sexual abuse issues for LDS bishops. Sam will also share information about the Protect LDS Children March this Friday.
These Mormon Stories episodes include our interactive Q&A with Dr. Greg Prince held at the Salt Lake City Community of Christ on March 17, 2018.
Gregory A. Prince earned his graduate degrees in dentistry (DDS) and pathology (PhD) at UCLA. He then pursued a four-decade career in pediatric infectious disease research. His love of history led him to write three books, including the award-winning David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Most recently, he has published Leonard Arrington and the Writing of Mormon History. Greg also has a new book that he is working on called “Intended Actions, Unintended Consequences: The Mormon Church’s responses to Homosexuality.”
We hope you enjoy these episodes as we celebrate Greg’s contributions to Mormon history!
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Part 1: Greg and John discuss contemporary Mormonism, including suggested improvements
Part 2: Greg fields questions from our live audience
Part 3: To end the evening, John asks Greg some final questions about truth claims of the Mormon Church
_______________________________________
These Mormon Stories episodes include our interactive Q&A with Dr. Greg Prince held at the Salt Lake City Community of Christ on March 17, 2018.
Gregory A. Prince earned his graduate degrees in dentistry (DDS) and pathology (PhD) at UCLA. He then pursued a four-decade career in pediatric infectious disease research. His love of history led him to write three books, including the award-winning David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Most recently, he has published Leonard Arrington and the Writing of Mormon History. Greg also has a new book that he is working on called “Intended Actions, Unintended Consequences: The Mormon Church’s responses to Homosexuality.”
We hope you enjoy these episodes as we celebrate Greg’s contributions to Mormon history!
_______________________________________
Part 1: Greg and John discuss contemporary Mormonism, including suggested improvements
Part 2: Greg fields questions from our live audience
Part 3: To end the evening, John asks Greg some final questions about truth claims of the Mormon Church
_______________________________________
These Mormon Stories episodes include our interactive Q&A with Dr. Greg Prince held at the Salt Lake City Community of Christ on March 17, 2018.
Gregory A. Prince earned his graduate degrees in dentistry (DDS) and pathology (PhD) at UCLA. He then pursued a four-decade career in pediatric infectious disease research. His love of history led him to write three books, including the award-winning David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Most recently, he has published Leonard Arrington and the Writing of Mormon History. Greg also has a new book that he is working on called “Intended Actions, Unintended Consequences: The Mormon Church’s responses to Homosexuality.”
We hope you enjoy these episodes as we celebrate Greg’s contributions to Mormon history!
_______________________________________
Part 1: Greg and John discuss contemporary Mormonism, including suggested improvements
Part 2: Greg fields questions from our live audience
Part 3: To end the evening, John asks Greg some final questions about truth claims of the Mormon Church
_______________________________________
Returning to Mormon Stories, Dr. Greg Prince delves into the life and legacy of Leonard Arrington—considered by many to be the foremost twentieth-century historian of Mormonism. This interview follows closely the abstract of the book:
"Leonard Arrington’s career was not without controversy. Gregory Prince takes an in-depth look at this respected historian and, in telling Arrington’s story, gives readers insight into the workings of the LDS Church in the late twentieth century. In 1972, during a major reorganization of the LDS Church, Arrington was asked to serve as the official church historian, thereby becoming the first—and thus far the only—professional historian to hold that title. He immediately set out to professionalize the entire Church History Division and open its extensive archives to scholarly researching. While the output of and from that division moved Mormon studies to a new level, the shift of historiography from faith promotion ecclesiastical, to scholarly and professional research and analysis was unacceptable to a handful of powerful senior apostles. In 1980 the History Division was disassembled and moved to Brigham Young University. That led to a shift in the professionalization of the Church History Division and Archives and in Arrington’s career but not to a loss of his broad influence."
________________________
Part 1: Greg discusses why he chose to write this book and describes how Leonard Arrington became LDS Church Historian
Part 2: Greg discusses significant events that occurred during Leonard Arrington's administration
Part 3: Greg describes the legacy of Leonard Arrington and shares his thoughts on where the LDS Church presently stands in its presentation of church history
________________________
Returning to Mormon Stories, Dr. Greg Prince delves into the life and legacy of Leonard Arrington—considered by many to be the foremost twentieth-century historian of Mormonism. This interview follows closely the abstract of the book:
"Leonard Arrington’s career was not without controversy. Gregory Prince takes an in-depth look at this respected historian and, in telling Arrington’s story, gives readers insight into the workings of the LDS Church in the late twentieth century. In 1972, during a major reorganization of the LDS Church, Arrington was asked to serve as the official church historian, thereby becoming the first—and thus far the only—professional historian to hold that title. He immediately set out to professionalize the entire Church History Division and open its extensive archives to scholarly researching. While the output of and from that division moved Mormon studies to a new level, the shift of historiography from faith promotion ecclesiastical, to scholarly and professional research and analysis was unacceptable to a handful of powerful senior apostles. In 1980 the History Division was disassembled and moved to Brigham Young University. That led to a shift in the professionalization of the Church History Division and Archives and in Arrington’s career but not to a loss of his broad influence."
________________________
Part 1: Greg discusses why he chose to write this book and describes how Leonard Arrington became LDS Church Historian
Part 2: Greg discusses significant events that occurred during Leonard Arrington's administration
Part 3: Greg describes the legacy of Leonard Arrington and shares his thoughts on where the LDS Church presently stands in its presentation of church history
________________________
Returning to Mormon Stories, Dr. Greg Prince delves into the life and legacy of Leonard Arrington—considered by many to be the foremost twentieth-century historian of Mormonism. This interview follows closely the abstract of the book:
"Leonard Arrington’s career was not without controversy. Gregory Prince takes an in-depth look at this respected historian and, in telling Arrington’s story, gives readers insight into the workings of the LDS Church in the late twentieth century. In 1972, during a major reorganization of the LDS Church, Arrington was asked to serve as the official church historian, thereby becoming the first—and thus far the only—professional historian to hold that title. He immediately set out to professionalize the entire Church History Division and open its extensive archives to scholarly researching. While the output of and from that division moved Mormon studies to a new level, the shift of historiography from faith promotion ecclesiastical, to scholarly and professional research and analysis was unacceptable to a handful of powerful senior apostles. In 1980 the History Division was disassembled and moved to Brigham Young University. That led to a shift in the professionalization of the Church History Division and Archives and in Arrington’s career but not to a loss of his broad influence."
________________________
Part 1: Greg discusses why he chose to write this book and describes how Leonard Arrington became LDS Church Historian
Part 2: Greg discusses significant events that occurred during Leonard Arrington's administration
Part 3: Greg describes the legacy of Leonard Arrington and shares his thoughts on where the LDS Church presently stands in its presentation of church history
________________________
In these Mormon Stories episodes, we interview Bert Fuller – PhD student and former researcher for the Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University.
In Part 1, Bert shares his background as a Mormon and provides an insider’s view of the Maxwell Institute. Part 2 includes his critique of Mormon Neo-Apologetics and compares its approach to the more traditional form of Mormon apologetics. Finally in Part 3, Bert shares what his life is like now in terms of spirituality.
In these Mormon Stories episodes, we interview Bert Fuller – PhD student and former researcher for the Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University.
In Part 1, Bert shares his background as a Mormon and provides an insider’s view of the Maxwell Institute. Part 2 includes his critique of Mormon Neo-Apologetics and compares its approach to the more traditional form of Mormon apologetics. Finally in Part 3, Bert shares what his life is like now in terms of spirituality.
In these Mormon Stories episodes, we interview Bert Fuller – PhD student and former researcher for the Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University.
In Part 1, Bert shares his background as a Mormon and provides an insider’s view of the Maxwell Institute. Part 2 includes his critique of Mormon Neo-Apologetics and compares its approach to the more traditional form of Mormon apologetics. Finally in Part 3, Bert shares what his life is like now in terms of spirituality.
We are excited to release our interview with Tara Westover, author of the New York Times bestseller “Educated.”
“[A] searing debut memoir… Westover recounts her upbringing with six siblings on an Idaho farm dominated by her father…who tried to live off the grid, kept four children (including the author) out of school…and stockpiled supplies and guns for the end-time…When she finally escaped the toxic atmosphere of dogma, suspicion, and patriarchy to attend college and then grad school at Cambridge, her identity crisis precipitated a heartbreaking rupture. Westover’s vivid prose makes this saga of the pressures of conformity and self-assertion that warp a family seem both terrifying and ordinary.”
We are excited to release our interview with Tara Westover, author of the New York Times bestseller “Educated.”
“[A] searing debut memoir… Westover recounts her upbringing with six siblings on an Idaho farm dominated by her father…who tried to live off the grid, kept four children (including the author) out of school…and stockpiled supplies and guns for the end-time…When she finally escaped the toxic atmosphere of dogma, suspicion, and patriarchy to attend college and then grad school at Cambridge, her identity crisis precipitated a heartbreaking rupture. Westover’s vivid prose makes this saga of the pressures of conformity and self-assertion that warp a family seem both terrifying and ordinary.”
This episode of Mormon Stories Podcast is an interview with Brooke Bonham Miller and Josh Miller about the difficulties they faced during their Mormon faith crisis. They also share a wonderful and challenging experience they had speaking privately with Dr. Spencer Fluhman (Head of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship) about their questions and doubts. This interview highlights Brooke and Josh’s background in the LDS Church, what doubts they encountered, why they decided share their doubts with Dr. Fluhman, and their reactions to the answers he provided.
This episode of Mormon Stories Podcast is an interview with Brooke Bonham Miller and Josh Miller about the difficulties they faced during their Mormon faith crisis. They also share a wonderful and challenging experience they had speaking privately with Dr. Spencer Fluhman (Head of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship) about their questions and doubts. This interview highlights Brooke and Josh’s background in the LDS Church, what doubts they encountered, why they decided share their doubts with Dr. Fluhman, and their reactions to the answers he provided.
This episode of Mormon Stories Podcast is an interview with Brooke Bonham Miller and Josh Miller about the difficulties they faced during their Mormon faith crisis. They also share a wonderful and challenging experience they had speaking privately with Dr. Spencer Fluhman (Head of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship) about their questions and doubts. This interview highlights Brooke and Josh’s background in the LDS Church, what doubts they encountered, why they decided share their doubts with Dr. Fluhman, and their reactions to the answers he provided.
This episode of Mormon Stories Podcast is an interview with Brooke Bonham Miller and Josh Miller about the difficulties they faced during their Mormon faith crisis. They also share a wonderful and challenging experience they had speaking privately with Dr. Spencer Fluhman (Head of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship) about their questions and doubts. This interview highlights Brooke and Josh’s background in the LDS Church, what doubts they encountered, why they decided share their doubts with Dr. Fluhman, and their reactions to the answers he provided.
In this Mormon Stories interview, we meet with Chad Anderson—a licensed clinical social worker in the Salt Lake City area and author of his newly released book, Gay Mormon Dad.
In part 1, Chad shares his story of growing up gay in the LDS Church and his quiet struggle to be completely obedient to God in order to change his sexual orientation. Even though he met all of the Mormon milestones including a mission, marriage, and having children, he found himself unhappy as ever. In part 2, Chad says that all changed when he decided to come out to the world and began to accept his whole self, including his sexuality.
Part 3 of our interview also includes a conversation between Chad and John about contemporary LGBTQ events in the LDS Church, including the impact of Prop 8, the November 2015 policy, rising suicide rates among youth in Utah, and the new First Presidency’s impact on the LGBTQ community, among other things.
In this Mormon Stories interview, we meet with Chad Anderson—a licensed clinical social worker in the Salt Lake City area and author of his newly released book, Gay Mormon Dad.
In part 1, Chad shares his story of growing up gay in the LDS Church and his quiet struggle to be completely obedient to God in order to change his sexual orientation. Even though he met all of the Mormon milestones including a mission, marriage, and having children, he found himself unhappy as ever. In part 2, Chad says that all changed when he decided to come out to the world and began to accept his whole self, including his sexuality.
Part 3 of our interview also includes a conversation between Chad and John about contemporary LGBTQ events in the LDS Church, including the impact of Prop 8, the November 2015 policy, rising suicide rates among youth in Utah, and the new First Presidency’s impact on the LGBTQ community, among other things.
In this Mormon Stories interview, we meet with Chad Anderson—a licensed clinical social worker in the Salt Lake City area and author of his newly released book, Gay Mormon Dad.
In part 1, Chad shares his story of growing up gay in the LDS Church and his quiet struggle to be completely obedient to God in order to change his sexual orientation. Even though he met all of the Mormon milestones including a mission, marriage, and having children, he found himself unhappy as ever. In part 2, Chad says that all changed when he decided to come out to the world and began to accept his whole self, including his sexuality.
Part 3 of our interview also includes a conversation between Chad and John about contemporary LGBTQ events in the LDS Church, including the impact of Prop 8, the November 2015 policy, rising suicide rates among youth in Utah, and the new First Presidency’s impact on the LGBTQ community, among other things.
In this episode, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Tim Birt shares with us his perspective on three questions:
Part 1) In what ways are LDS policies and teachings on sexuality harmful and helpful?
Part 2) In what ways are the LDS church's current policies related to child protection and abuse inadequate or harmful or need improvement?
Part 3) What can LDS church members do to help protect children in their local congregations?
In this episode, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Tim Birt shares with us his perspective on three questions:
Part 1) In what ways are LDS policies and teachings on sexuality harmful and helpful?
Part 2) In what ways are the LDS church's current policies related to child protection and abuse inadequate or harmful or need improvement?
Part 3) What can LDS church members do to help protect children in their local congregations?
In this episode, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Tim Birt shares with us his perspective on three questions:
Part 1) In what ways are LDS policies and teachings on sexuality harmful and helpful?
Part 2) In what ways are the LDS church's current policies related to child protection and abuse inadequate or harmful or need improvement?
Part 3) What can LDS church members do to help protect children in their local congregations?
In this episode, we check in with Bishop Sam Young to discuss progress in his petition to end sexually-invasive questions to children during clergy interviews. We also discuss his plans to organize a march on March 30 to deliver the petition of signatures gathered from ProtectLDSChildren.org to the LDS Church Office Building in Salt Lake City. Sam also details the threats against his safety he has received as well as charges of apostasy leveled against him by his local priesthood leadership.
In these important episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview JaLynn Prince – President and Founder of the Madison House Autism Foundation and wife of our frequent past guest on Mormon Stories episodes as a Mormon scientist and historian – Dr. Greg Prince.
We focus on JaLynn’s background in the LDS Church and how she learned her son Madison was a child with autism. We also have a discussion on some of the general characteristics of autism and other related disabilities, and how the LDS Church serves these individuals. We then have a frank discussion on possible areas of improvement in the LDS community to offer more support, opportunities, and hope for adults with autism. In our final segment of the interview, JaLynn fields questions from our live listening audience.
In these important episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview JaLynn Prince – President and Founder of the Madison House Autism Foundation and wife of our frequent past guest on Mormon Stories episodes as a Mormon scientist and historian – Dr. Greg Prince.
We focus on JaLynn’s background in the LDS Church and how she learned her son Madison was a child with autism. We also have a discussion on some of the general characteristics of autism and other related disabilities, and how the LDS Church serves these individuals. We then have a frank discussion on possible areas of improvement in the LDS community to offer more support, opportunities, and hope for adults with autism. In our final segment of the interview, JaLynn fields questions from our live listening audience.
In these important episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview JaLynn Prince – President and Founder of the Madison House Autism Foundation and wife of our frequent past guest on Mormon Stories episodes as a Mormon scientist and historian – Dr. Greg Prince.
We focus on JaLynn’s background in the LDS Church and how she learned her son Madison was a child with autism. We also have a discussion on some of the general characteristics of autism and other related disabilities, and how the LDS Church serves these individuals. We then have a frank discussion on possible areas of improvement in the LDS community to offer more support, opportunities, and hope for adults with autism. In our final segment of the interview, JaLynn fields questions from our live listening audience.
We are proud to release our live interview held on February 6, 2018 at the Salt Lake City Community of Christ with Tova Mirvis—a past guest on Mormon Stories. For this interview, we relied on the excellent questions from our live audience to drive the conversation. We explore so many of the parallels between the faith transition experiences in Orthodox Judaism and Mormonism, and talk some more about her writing The Book of Separation and how it has touched many of our listeners since tuning into her Mormon Stories episode.
We are proud to release our live interview held on February 6, 2018 at the Salt Lake City Community of Christ with Tova Mirvis—a past guest on Mormon Stories. For this interview, we relied on the excellent questions from our live audience to drive the conversation. We explore so many of the parallels between the faith transition experiences in Orthodox Judaism and Mormonism, and talk some more about her writing The Book of Separation and how it has touched many of our listeners since tuning into her Mormon Stories episode.
The South Mountain Community Church has become home for many former Mormons—which make up nearly half of the congregation. As strange as it may sound to some, the church also has a large contingent of atheist/agnostic former Mormons, as well as many who have embraced Biblical Christianity.
In this exciting panel interview, we interview Pastor Rick and Pastor Paul along with panelists Keri, Dave, Emily, and Jim about what drew them to SMCC, and what their lives look like now in terms of belief and spirituality. Some of the important questions we try to answer include:
- Why do the panelists believe the New Testament is reliable?
- Why the panelists believe following Jesus of the New Testament is not a feelings based decision?
- Do the panelists scrutinize the claims of the Bible as thoroughly as they scrutinize the claims of religions they don’t endorse?
The South Mountain Community Church has become home for many former Mormons—which make up nearly half of the congregation. As strange as it may sound to some, the church also has a large contingent of atheist/agnostic former Mormons, as well as many who have embraced Biblical Christianity.
In this exciting panel interview, we interview Pastor Rick and Pastor Paul along with panelists Keri, Dave, Emily, and Jim about what drew them to SMCC, and what their lives look like now in terms of belief and spirituality. Some of the important questions we try to answer include:
- Why do the panelists believe the New Testament is reliable?
- Why the panelists believe following Jesus of the New Testament is not a feelings based decision?
- Do the panelists scrutinize the claims of the Bible as thoroughly as they scrutinize the claims of religions they don’t endorse?
The South Mountain Community Church has become home for many former Mormons—which make up nearly half of the congregation. As strange as it may sound to some, the church also has a large contingent of atheist/agnostic former Mormons, as well as many who have embraced Biblical Christianity.
In this exciting panel interview, we interview Pastor Rick and Pastor Paul along with panelists Keri, Dave, Emily, and Jim about what drew them to SMCC, and what their lives look like now in terms of belief and spirituality. Some of the important questions we try to answer include:
- Why do the panelists believe the New Testament is reliable?
- Why the panelists believe following Jesus of the New Testament is not a feelings based decision?
- Do the panelists scrutinize the claims of the Bible as thoroughly as they scrutinize the claims of religions they don’t endorse?
Mormon Stories Podcast is excited to team up with Sunstone to present a recording of our live podcast on 1/25/18 with Carol Lynn Pearson where we discuss her book, The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. Special thanks to the Salt Lake City Community of Christ for hosting such a wonderful evening and for the many listeners who came to enjoy the experience.
These episodes closely follow the abstract of the book:
"'Polygamy?' says the mainstream Mormon Church, “We gave that up long ago.” Not so, claims noted LDS poet and author Carol Lynn Pearson, who examines the issue as it has never been examined before. Any member of the LDS Church today who enters the practice of polygamy is immediately excommunicated. However, Pearson claims, polygamy itself has never been excommunicated, but has an honored and protected place at the table. It has only been postponed, a fact confirmed by thousands of “eternal sealings” giving a man an assurance that he will claim as wives in heaven the two, three, or even more women he has sequentially married during his lifetime. No such opportunity is available to women. Through her own personal stories, those of her ancestors, and the thousands of stories that came to her through an Internet survey, Pearson shows the power of the Ghost of Eternal Polygamy as it not only waits on the other side to greet the most righteous in heaven, but also haunts the living—hiding in the recesses of the Mormon psyche, inflicting profound pain and fear, assuring women that they are still objects, harming or destroying marriages, bringing chaos to family relationships, leading many to lose faith in the church and in God."
Mormon Stories Podcast is excited to team up with Sunstone to present a recording of our live podcast on 1/25/18 with Carol Lynn Pearson where we discuss her book, The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. Special thanks to the Salt Lake City Community of Christ for hosting such a wonderful evening and for the many listeners who came to enjoy the experience.
These episodes closely follow the abstract of the book:
"'Polygamy?' says the mainstream Mormon Church, “We gave that up long ago.” Not so, claims noted LDS poet and author Carol Lynn Pearson, who examines the issue as it has never been examined before. Any member of the LDS Church today who enters the practice of polygamy is immediately excommunicated. However, Pearson claims, polygamy itself has never been excommunicated, but has an honored and protected place at the table. It has only been postponed, a fact confirmed by thousands of “eternal sealings” giving a man an assurance that he will claim as wives in heaven the two, three, or even more women he has sequentially married during his lifetime. No such opportunity is available to women. Through her own personal stories, those of her ancestors, and the thousands of stories that came to her through an Internet survey, Pearson shows the power of the Ghost of Eternal Polygamy as it not only waits on the other side to greet the most righteous in heaven, but also haunts the living—hiding in the recesses of the Mormon psyche, inflicting profound pain and fear, assuring women that they are still objects, harming or destroying marriages, bringing chaos to family relationships, leading many to lose faith in the church and in God."
Scholarships and free lodging still available for the Mormon Stories St. George retreat on Feb 9-11!
Details and registration here: http://www.mormonstories.org/stgeorge/
Spiral Dynamics is a theory of how human consciousness changes the world, and explains how people come to very different conclusions while having access to the same information. With panelists Jamie Hanis-Handy, Gina Colvin, Lindsay Hansen Park, and Glenn Ostlund, this is a conversation that attempts to build on an episode of The Liturgists found here:
http://www.theliturgists.com/podcast/2014/9/23/episode-5-spiral-dynamics
Spiral Dynamics is a theory of how human consciousness changes the world, and explains how people come to very different conclusions while having access to the same information. With panelists Jamie Hanis-Handy, Gina Colvin, Lindsay Hansen Park, and Glenn Ostlund, this is a conversation that attempts to build on an episode of The Liturgists found here: http://www.theliturgists.com/podcast/2014/9/23/episode-5-spiral-dynamics
In this special episode of Mormon Stories, we travel to Southern California to interview 2 couples—Doug & Laurie and Jerry & Julie about their Mormon faith crisis and transition. The couples are connected in that Laurie and Julie are sisters, and Doug and Jerry served in the same LDS mission together.
This is a super fascinating story in that each grew up as faithful, orthodox Mormons and both couples were living what they considered to be the "Mormon dream" until Doug began to have a faith crisis that he endured silently for years. Suffering alone and feeling unable to share his doubts with anyone, he finally opened up to his wife Laurie and they carefully navigated a mixed-faith marriage for some time. Seeking support, Doug and Laurie reached out to Jerry and Julie to share their questions and struggles and we learn how each began a faith journey they did not expect.
Important topics we cover:
- What the Church meant to each as they were in it
- What caused them to doubt and question
- What was hard and difficult about the faith crisis
- The mistakes and successes they discovered while navigating their faith crisis
- How they shared their faith crisis with their children
- How they "came out" about their beliefs to others, including ward members and leaders
- How they have begun to forge a new life
This interview is a first of many this year that will highlight what John calls "The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis." More information for this 2018 initiative can be found at http://www.mormonfaithcrisis.com
____________________________________________________
Part 1: Each provide their Mormon background
Part 2: Doug is the first to have a faith crisis, which has ripple effects to Laurie, Julie, and Jerry
Part 3: Laurie, Doug, and Julie share how cracks developed in their faith
Part 4: Each tackle the tough topic of sharing their faith crisis with their children
Part 5: Each discuss "coming out" about their beliefs to others
Part 6: Each discuss the hard, yet rewarding task of forging a new life
____________________________________________________
Like what we do? Please consider becoming a Patron at our newly created Patreon account. This is an option in addition to our regular monthly donation option. Patrons donate based on the amount of content we produce, at the price of $1 per interview. Please visit https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories for more details.
____________________________________________________
In this special episode of Mormon Stories, we travel to Southern California to interview 2 couples—Doug & Laurie and Jerry & Julie about their Mormon faith crisis and transition. The couples are connected in that Laurie and Julie are sisters, and Doug and Jerry served in the same LDS mission together.
This is a super fascinating story in that each grew up as faithful, orthodox Mormons and both couples were living what they considered to be the "Mormon dream" until Doug began to have a faith crisis that he endured silently for years. Suffering alone and feeling unable to share his doubts with anyone, he finally opened up to his wife Laurie and they carefully navigated a mixed-faith marriage for some time. Seeking support, Doug and Laurie reached out to Jerry and Julie to share their questions and struggles and we learn how each began a faith journey they did not expect.
Important topics we cover:
- What the Church meant to each as they were in it
- What caused them to doubt and question
- What was hard and difficult about the faith crisis
- The mistakes and successes they discovered while navigating their faith crisis
- How they shared their faith crisis with their children
- How they "came out" about their beliefs to others, including ward members and leaders
- How they have begun to forge a new life
This interview is a first of many this year that will highlight what John calls "The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis." More information for this 2018 initiative can be found at http://www.mormonfaithcrisis.com
____________________________________________________
Part 1: Each provide their Mormon background
Part 2: Doug is the first to have a faith crisis, which has ripple effects to Laurie, Julie, and Jerry
Part 3: Laurie, Doug, and Julie share how cracks developed in their faith
Part 4: Each tackle the tough topic of sharing their faith crisis with their children
Part 5: Each discuss "coming out" about their beliefs to others
Part 6: Each discuss the hard, yet rewarding task of forging a new life
____________________________________________________
Like what we do? Please consider becoming a Patron at our newly created Patreon account. This is an option in addition to our regular monthly donation option. Patrons donate based on the amount of content we produce, at the price of $1 per interview. Please visit https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories for more details.
____________________________________________________
In this special episode of Mormon Stories, we travel to Southern California to interview 2 couples—Doug & Laurie and Jerry & Julie about their Mormon faith crisis and transition. The couples are connected in that Laurie and Julie are sisters, and Doug and Jerry served in the same LDS mission together.
This is a super fascinating story in that each grew up as faithful, orthodox Mormons and both couples were living what they considered to be the "Mormon dream" until Doug began to have a faith crisis that he endured silently for years. Suffering alone and feeling unable to share his doubts with anyone, he finally opened up to his wife Laurie and they carefully navigated a mixed-faith marriage for some time. Seeking support, Doug and Laurie reached out to Jerry and Julie to share their questions and struggles and we learn how each began a faith journey they did not expect.
Important topics we cover:
- What the Church meant to each as they were in it
- What caused them to doubt and question
- What was hard and difficult about the faith crisis
- The mistakes and successes they discovered while navigating their faith crisis
- How they shared their faith crisis with their children
- How they "came out" about their beliefs to others, including ward members and leaders
- How they have begun to forge a new life
This interview is a first of many this year that will highlight what John calls "The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis." More information for this 2018 initiative can be found at http://www.mormonfaithcrisis.com
____________________________________________________
Part 1: Each provide their Mormon background
Part 2: Doug is the first to have a faith crisis, which has ripple effects to Laurie, Julie, and Jerry
Part 3: Laurie, Doug, and Julie share how cracks developed in their faith
Part 4: Each tackle the tough topic of sharing their faith crisis with their children
Part 5: Each discuss "coming out" about their beliefs to others
Part 6: Each discuss the hard, yet rewarding task of forging a new life
____________________________________________________
Like what we do? Please consider becoming a Patron at our newly created Patreon account. This is an option in addition to our regular monthly donation option. Patrons donate based on the amount of content we produce, at the price of $1 per interview. Please visit https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories for more details.
____________________________________________________
In this special episode of Mormon Stories, we travel to Southern California to interview 2 couples—Doug & Laurie and Jerry & Julie about their Mormon faith crisis and transition. The couples are connected in that Laurie and Julie are sisters, and Doug and Jerry served in the same LDS mission together.
This is a super fascinating story in that each grew up as faithful, orthodox Mormons and both couples were living what they considered to be the "Mormon dream" until Doug began to have a faith crisis that he endured silently for years. Suffering alone and feeling unable to share his doubts with anyone, he finally opened up to his wife Laurie and they carefully navigated a mixed-faith marriage for some time. Seeking support, Doug and Laurie reached out to Jerry and Julie to share their questions and struggles and we learn how each began a faith journey they did not expect.
Important topics we cover:
- What the Church meant to each as they were in it
- What caused them to doubt and question
- What was hard and difficult about the faith crisis
- The mistakes and successes they discovered while navigating their faith crisis
- How they shared their faith crisis with their children
- How they "came out" about their beliefs to others, including ward members and leaders
- How they have begun to forge a new life
This interview is a first of many this year that will highlight what John calls "The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis." More information for this 2018 initiative can be found at http://www.mormonfaithcrisis.com
____________________________________________________
Part 1: Each provide their Mormon background
Part 2: Doug is the first to have a faith crisis, which has ripple effects to Laurie, Julie, and Jerry
Part 3: Laurie, Doug, and Julie share how cracks developed in their faith
Part 4: Each tackle the tough topic of sharing their faith crisis with their children
Part 5: Each discuss "coming out" about their beliefs to others
Part 6: Each discuss the hard, yet rewarding task of forging a new life
____________________________________________________
Like what we do? Please consider becoming a Patron at our newly created Patreon account. This is an option in addition to our regular monthly donation option. Patrons donate based on the amount of content we produce, at the price of $1 per interview. Please visit https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories for more details.
____________________________________________________
In this special episode of Mormon Stories, we travel to Southern California to interview 2 couples—Doug & Laurie and Jerry & Julie about their Mormon faith crisis and transition. The couples are connected in that Laurie and Julie are sisters, and Doug and Jerry served in the same LDS mission together.
This is a super fascinating story in that each grew up as faithful, orthodox Mormons and both couples were living what they considered to be the "Mormon dream" until Doug began to have a faith crisis that he endured silently for years. Suffering alone and feeling unable to share his doubts with anyone, he finally opened up to his wife Laurie and they carefully navigated a mixed-faith marriage for some time. Seeking support, Doug and Laurie reached out to Jerry and Julie to share their questions and struggles and we learn how each began a faith journey they did not expect.
Important topics we cover:
- What the Church meant to each as they were in it
- What caused them to doubt and question
- What was hard and difficult about the faith crisis
- The mistakes and successes they discovered while navigating their faith crisis
- How they shared their faith crisis with their children
- How they "came out" about their beliefs to others, including ward members and leaders
- How they have begun to forge a new life
This interview is a first of many this year that will highlight what John calls "The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis." More information for this 2018 initiative can be found at http://www.mormonfaithcrisis.com
____________________________________________________
Part 1: Each provide their Mormon background
Part 2: Doug is the first to have a faith crisis, which has ripple effects to Laurie, Julie, and Jerry
Part 3: Laurie, Doug, and Julie share how cracks developed in their faith
Part 4: Each tackle the tough topic of sharing their faith crisis with their children
Part 5: Each discuss "coming out" about their beliefs to others
Part 6: Each discuss the hard, yet rewarding task of forging a new life
____________________________________________________
Like what we do? Please consider becoming a Patron at our newly created Patreon account. This is an option in addition to our regular monthly donation option. Patrons donate based on the amount of content we produce, at the price of $1 per interview. Please visit https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories for more details.
____________________________________________________
In this special episode of Mormon Stories, we travel to Southern California to interview 2 couples—Doug & Laurie and Jerry & Julie about their Mormon faith crisis and transition. The couples are connected in that Laurie and Julie are sisters, and Doug and Jerry served in the same LDS mission together.
This is a super fascinating story in that each grew up as faithful, orthodox Mormons and both couples were living what they considered to be the "Mormon dream" until Doug began to have a faith crisis that he endured silently for years. Suffering alone and feeling unable to share his doubts with anyone, he finally opened up to his wife Laurie and they carefully navigated a mixed-faith marriage for some time. Seeking support, Doug and Laurie reached out to Jerry and Julie to share their questions and struggles and we learn how each began a faith journey they did not expect.
Important topics we cover:
- What the Church meant to each as they were in it
- What caused them to doubt and question
- What was hard and difficult about the faith crisis
- The mistakes and successes they discovered while navigating their faith crisis
- How they shared their faith crisis with their children
- How they "came out" about their beliefs to others, including ward members and leaders
- How they have begun to forge a new life
This interview is a first of many this year that will highlight what John calls "The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis." More information for this 2018 initiative can be found at http://www.mormonfaithcrisis.com
____________________________________________________
Part 1: Each provide their Mormon background
Part 2: Doug is the first to have a faith crisis, which has ripple effects to Laurie, Julie, and Jerry
Part 3: Laurie, Doug, and Julie share how cracks developed in their faith
Part 4: Each tackle the tough topic of sharing their faith crisis with their children
Part 5: Each discuss "coming out" about their beliefs to others
Part 6: Each discuss the hard, yet rewarding task of forging a new life
____________________________________________________
Like what we do? Please consider becoming a Patron at our newly created Patreon account. This is an option in addition to our regular monthly donation option. Patrons donate based on the amount of content we produce, at the price of $1 per interview. Please visit https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories for more details.
____________________________________________________
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode, we interview millennial apologist Jaxon Washburn. Jaxon is 19 year old, pre-mission Mormon apologist attending Arizona State University.
Jaxon was introduced to issues of Mormon faith as his mother lost belief in and left the LDS church, while his father remained faithful to the church. Jaxon’s involvement in an interfaith family led to strong personal interest in matters of faith, which has led to extensive interfaith efforts.
In this interview Jaxon discusses his own history of doubts, including his experiencing watching the church evolve as an active Mormon youth in how it speaks about and teaches certain issues. He explains how he reconciles difficult Mormon issues and also discusses his view of classic and modern Mormon apologetics, including the newly coined term/wave of “neo-apologetics.”
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode, we interview millennial apologist Jaxon Washburn. Jaxon is 19 year old, pre-mission Mormon apologist attending Arizona State University.
Jaxon was introduced to issues of Mormon faith as his mother lost belief in and left the LDS church, while his father remained faithful to the church. Jaxon’s involvement in an interfaith family led to strong personal interest in matters of faith, which has led to extensive interfaith efforts.
In this interview Jaxon discusses his own history of doubts, including his experiencing watching the church evolve as an active Mormon youth in how it speaks about and teaches certain issues. He explains how he reconciles difficult Mormon issues and also discusses his view of classic and modern Mormon apologetics, including the newly coined term/wave of “neo-apologetics.”
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode, we interview millennial apologist Jaxon Washburn. Jaxon is 19 year old, pre-mission Mormon apologist attending Arizona State University.
Jaxon was introduced to issues of Mormon faith as his mother lost belief in and left the LDS church, while his father remained faithful to the church. Jaxon’s involvement in an interfaith family led to strong personal interest in matters of faith, which has led to extensive interfaith efforts.
In this interview Jaxon discusses his own history of doubts, including his experiencing watching the church evolve as an active Mormon youth in how it speaks about and teaches certain issues. He explains how he reconciles difficult Mormon issues and also discusses his view of classic and modern Mormon apologetics, including the newly coined term/wave of “neo-apologetics.”
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode, we interview millennial apologist Jaxon Washburn. Jaxon is 19 year old, pre-mission Mormon apologist attending Arizona State University.
Jaxon was introduced to issues of Mormon faith as his mother lost belief in and left the LDS church, while his father remained faithful to the church. Jaxon’s involvement in an interfaith family led to strong personal interest in matters of faith, which has led to extensive interfaith efforts.
In this interview Jaxon discusses his own history of doubts, including his experiencing watching the church evolve as an active Mormon youth in how it speaks about and teaches certain issues. He explains how he reconciles difficult Mormon issues and also discusses his view of classic and modern Mormon apologetics, including the newly coined term/wave of “neo-apologetics.”
Our special Christmas Morning release on Mormon Stories Podcast includes an interview with Tom Christofferson about his book “That We May Be One.”
Tom shares the story of voluntary excommunication from the LDS Church in order to live his life as a gay man—a life that included a fulfilling relationship with a partner and acceptance from his family including brother D. Todd Christofferson—Apostle in the LDS Church. Sensing a void in his spiritual life, Tom began attending a local meetinghouse of the Church with the support of its leadership. Over time his relationship with his partner ended and his relationship with the Church began again.
We ask Tom about his experience outlined in his book and delve deeper into the impacts his returning to the church had on his relationship with his partner, and on his spiritual self. We also ask Tom tougher questions about whether his brother’s apostleship affords him greater privilege as a member of the Mormon LGBTQ community, his thoughts on the November 2015 policy on children of same-sex parents denied baptism, and his being held up as a role model (intended or not) for Mormon LGBTQ youth to choose a life of celibacy in the LDS Church.
We thank Tom for this fascinating interview and hope it furthers the conversation on reconciling sexuality with faith!
Our special Christmas Morning release on Mormon Stories Podcast includes an interview with Tom Christofferson about his book “That We May Be One.”
Tom shares the story of voluntary excommunication from the LDS Church in order to live his life as a gay man—a life that included a fulfilling relationship with a partner and acceptance from his family including brother D. Todd Christofferson—Apostle in the LDS Church. Sensing a void in his spiritual life, Tom began attending a local meetinghouse of the Church with the support of its leadership. Over time his relationship with his partner ended and his relationship with the Church began again.
We ask Tom about his experience outlined in his book and delve deeper into the impacts his returning to the church had on his relationship with his partner, and on his spiritual self. We also ask Tom tougher questions about whether his brother’s apostleship affords him greater privilege as a member of the Mormon LGBTQ community, his thoughts on the November 2015 policy on children of same-sex parents denied baptism, and his being held up as a role model (intended or not) for Mormon LGBTQ youth to choose a life of celibacy in the LDS Church.
We thank Tom for this fascinating interview and hope it furthers the conversation on reconciling sexuality with faith!
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Our special Christmas Morning release on Mormon Stories Podcast includes an interview with Tom Christofferson about his book “That We May Be One.”
Tom shares the story of voluntary excommunication from the LDS Church in order to live his life as a gay man—a life that included a fulfilling relationship with a partner and acceptance from his family including brother D. Todd Christofferson—Apostle in the LDS Church. Sensing a void in his spiritual life, Tom began attending a local meetinghouse of the Church with the support of its leadership. Over time his relationship with his partner ended and his relationship with the Church began again.
We ask Tom about his experience outlined in his book and delve deeper into the impacts his returning to the church had on his relationship with his partner, and on his spiritual self. We also ask Tom tougher questions about whether his brother’s apostleship affords him greater privilege as a member of the Mormon LGBTQ community, his thoughts on the November 2015 policy on children of same-sex parents denied baptism, and his being held up as a role model (intended or not) for Mormon LGBTQ youth to choose a life of celibacy in the LDS Church.
We thank Tom for this fascinating interview and hope it furthers the conversation on reconciling sexuality with faith!
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With panelists Bishop Sam Young, LDS mother Jamie Hanis-Handy, attorney Brynne Thomas Gant, and certified sex therapist Kristin Hodson
With panelists Bishop Sam Young, LDS mother Jamie Hanis-Handy, attorney Brynne Thomas Gant, and certified sex therapist Kristin Hodson
Continuing our series on the Doctrine of Christ (Snuffer) Movement, we interview Matthew Lohmeier. Matt converted to the Mormon church at age 14. He served a mission in Taiwan, attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, flew F15s, and married Sara McConkie Lohmeier, granddaughter to Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie. Both Matthew and Sara have joined the Denver Snuffer movement and were excommunicated from the Mormon church in July 2015. This interview discusses their journey, their excommunication, their interactions with the McConkie family, and the state of the Snuffer movement.
Continuing our series on the Doctrine of Christ (Snuffer) Movement, we interview Matthew Lohmeier. Matt converted to the Mormon church at age 14. He served a mission in Taiwan, attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, flew F15s, and married Sara McConkie Lohmeier, granddaughter to Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie. Both Matthew and Sara have joined the Denver Snuffer movement and were excommunicated from the Mormon church in July 2015. This interview discusses their journey, their excommunication, their interactions with the McConkie family, and the state of the Snuffer movement.
Continuing our series on the Doctrine of Christ (Snuffer) Movement, we interview Matthew Lohmeier. Matt converted to the Mormon church at age 14. He served a mission in Taiwan, attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, flew F15s, and married Sara McConkie Lohmeier, granddaughter to Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie. Both Matthew and Sara have joined the Denver Snuffer movement and were excommunicated from the Mormon church in July 2015. This interview discusses their journey, their excommunication, their interactions with the McConkie family, and the state of the Snuffer movement.
Continuing our series on the Doctrine of Christ (Snuffer) Movement, we interview Matthew Lohmeier. Matt converted to the Mormon church at age 14. He served a mission in Taiwan, attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, flew F15s, and married Sara McConkie Lohmeier, granddaughter to Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie. Both Matthew and Sara have joined the Denver Snuffer movement and were excommunicated from the Mormon church in July 2015. This interview discusses their journey, their excommunication, their interactions with the McConkie family, and the state of the Snuffer movement.
Beginning a new series on the Doctrine of Christ (Snuffer) Movement, we interview Karen and Kirk Strong about their faith journey. Both were excommunicated from the LDS Church for their beliefs and participation in the movement.
One of the hallmark teachings of this movement is that “The Fullness of the Gospel is literally entering into the presence of Jesus Christ while in the flesh; personal redemption from the Fall is attained in no other way.” Prophets play an important role in the movement by plainly and boldly declaring this gospel to all. With no paid clergy, believers gather together in small groups or fellowships. Equality is an important principle to believers, as shown by the unique responsibilities given to women that are not available to those in the mainstream Mormon Church.
This is Karen and Kirk’s experience leaving the mainstream LDS Church and joining the movement in their search to receive the Living Savior.
Beginning a new series on the Doctrine of Christ (Snuffer) Movement, we interview Karen and Kirk Strong about their faith journey. Both were excommunicated from the LDS Church for their beliefs and participation in the movement.
One of the hallmark teachings of this movement is that “The Fullness of the Gospel is literally entering into the presence of Jesus Christ while in the flesh; personal redemption from the Fall is attained in no other way.” Prophets play an important role in the movement by plainly and boldly declaring this gospel to all. With no paid clergy, believers gather together in small groups or fellowships. Equality is an important principle to believers, as shown by the unique responsibilities given to women that are not available to those in the mainstream Mormon Church.
This is Karen and Kirk’s experience leaving the mainstream LDS Church and joining the movement in their search to receive the Living Savior.
Beginning a new series on the Doctrine of Christ (Snuffer) Movement, we interview Karen and Kirk Strong about their faith journey. Both were excommunicated from the LDS Church for their beliefs and participation in the movement.
One of the hallmark teachings of this movement is that “The Fullness of the Gospel is literally entering into the presence of Jesus Christ while in the flesh; personal redemption from the Fall is attained in no other way.” Prophets play an important role in the movement by plainly and boldly declaring this gospel to all. With no paid clergy, believers gather together in small groups or fellowships. Equality is an important principle to believers, as shown by the unique responsibilities given to women that are not available to those in the mainstream Mormon Church.
This is Karen and Kirk’s experience leaving the mainstream LDS Church and joining the movement in their search to receive the Living Savior.
Beginning a new series on the Doctrine of Christ (Snuffer) Movement, we interview Karen and Kirk Strong about their faith journey. Both were excommunicated from the LDS Church for their beliefs and participation in the movement.
One of the hallmark teachings of this movement is that “The Fullness of the Gospel is literally entering into the presence of Jesus Christ while in the flesh; personal redemption from the Fall is attained in no other way.” Prophets play an important role in the movement by plainly and boldly declaring this gospel to all. With no paid clergy, believers gather together in small groups or fellowships. Equality is an important principle to believers, as shown by the unique responsibilities given to women that are not available to those in the mainstream Mormon Church.
This is Karen and Kirk’s experience leaving the mainstream LDS Church and joining the movement in their search to receive the Living Savior.
In this episode, we interview Angelo Baca and Dr. Thomas Murphy about U.S. President Donald Trump's recent announcement that he will be shrinking the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. President Trump visited Utah on Monday, 12/4/2017 to make this announcement. Our guests for this episode share how they believe this is a continuation of white settlers putting claim on indigenous land in order to extract valuable minerals, and attempt to put this action into a Mormon context.
John interviews former Bishop Sam Young about his intentions behind the petition to stop sexually-oriented interviews of Mormon youth
protectldschildren.org
In this special edition of Mormon Stories, we interview Mel and Stu Brown from Cache Valley, Utah. Many of our listeners will find Mel and Stu’s experience as a mixed-faith couple inspiring and full of wisdom as they share how they navigated differing beliefs—eventually leading to the decision to both leave the LDS Church.
We cover:
- Mel’s upbringing in the LDS Church and how she never wavered in keeping the standards expected of her
- Stu’s efforts to be clean and worthy to go on a mission and how his experience as a missionary in Oklahoma solidified his testimony
- How Mel and Stu met and formed a life as a pair of successful entrepreneurs
- How Stu’s testimony began to waver the deeper he studied the scriptures, and how he made the decision to share his growing doubts with Mel from the beginning
- Why Stu made the decision to resign from the LDS Church
- How Mel reacted to Stu’s doubts by listening and not judging—utilizing Impact training she had previously received
- Mel’s growing realization that the gospel was not brining her the happiness she had been promised
- How Mel and Stu have molded a new life and share advice for couples who are experiencing a mixed-faith marriage and faith transition
In this special edition of Mormon Stories, we interview Mel and Stu Brown from Cache Valley, Utah. Many of our listeners will find Mel and Stu’s experience as a mixed-faith couple inspiring and full of wisdom as they share how they navigated differing beliefs—eventually leading to the decision to both leave the LDS Church.
We cover:
- Mel’s upbringing in the LDS Church and how she never wavered in keeping the standards expected of her
- Stu’s efforts to be clean and worthy to go on a mission and how his experience as a missionary in Oklahoma solidified his testimony
- How Mel and Stu met and formed a life as a pair of successful entrepreneurs
- How Stu’s testimony began to waver the deeper he studied the scriptures, and how he made the decision to share his growing doubts with Mel from the beginning
- Why Stu made the decision to resign from the LDS Church
- How Mel reacted to Stu’s doubts by listening and not judging—utilizing Impact training she had previously received
- Mel’s growing realization that the gospel was not brining her the happiness she had been promised
- How Mel and Stu have molded a new life and share advice for couples who are experiencing a mixed-faith marriage and faith transition
In this special edition of Mormon Stories, we interview Mel and Stu Brown from Cache Valley, Utah. Many of our listeners will find Mel and Stu’s experience as a mixed-faith couple inspiring and full of wisdom as they share how they navigated differing beliefs—eventually leading to the decision to both leave the LDS Church.
We cover:
- Mel’s upbringing in the LDS Church and how she never wavered in keeping the standards expected of her
- Stu’s efforts to be clean and worthy to go on a mission and how his experience as a missionary in Oklahoma solidified his testimony
- How Mel and Stu met and formed a life as a pair of successful entrepreneurs
- How Stu’s testimony began to waver the deeper he studied the scriptures, and how he made the decision to share his growing doubts with Mel from the beginning
- Why Stu made the decision to resign from the LDS Church
- How Mel reacted to Stu’s doubts by listening and not judging—utilizing Impact training she had previously received
- Mel’s growing realization that the gospel was not brining her the happiness she had been promised
- How Mel and Stu have molded a new life and share advice for couples who are experiencing a mixed-faith marriage and faith transition
In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode we interview Scott Turley and Carey Foushee who recently attended a Terryl and Fiona Givens Fireside in Arizona. We discuss the Givens' new book, The Christ Who Heals, and the role of both the Givens' and the Neo-Apologetic movement in modern Mormonism.
In response to recent news stories involving Harvey Weinstein, Al Franken, Roy Moore, etc. - on the topics of sexual harassment, assault, rape, groping, etc., University of Georgia law professor Mehrsa Baradaran shares her perspectives on all of these subjects, along with the MeToo movement. We also discuss these issues in a Mormon context.
A new album of Mormon parodies has been released. The album is called “Straight Outta Cumorah” and the artist jokingly refers to himself as Weird Alma. In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast we sit down with the artist, listen to his songs, and discuss them, along with his story and motivations/inspirations for writing this super creative and brilliant album.
A new album of Mormon parodies has been released. The album is called “Straight Outta Cumorah” and the artist jokingly refers to himself as Weird Alma. In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast we sit down with the artist, listen to his songs, and discuss them, along with his story and motivations/inspirations for writing this super creative and brilliant album.
Beginning our series on Mormon leaders and inappropriate interviews regarding sexuality, we provide 6 mini-interviews with Mormon Stories listeners who share their experiences discussing sexual matters with LDS leaders. A new petition created by past guest Sam Young seeks to provoke conversation and change around this subject.
From the petition:
“For decades, it has been common practice for Bishops, Bishopric Counselors, Stake Presidents, and Stake President Counselors to pose questions of a sexual nature to children. There are reports of this happening to children as young as age 8. These questions are being asked by an older man, all alone with the child, behind closed doors and often without the knowledge or permission of the parents. Almost universally, these men have no comprehensive training.
Here is a list of potential harm. All the risks below are actual consequences that have been experienced from sexual interviews with LDS children.
- Suicide.
- Attempted suicide.
- Suicidal ideation.
- Inappropriate shame and guilt.
- Childhood filled with self loathing.
- Adulthood filled with self loathing.
- Normalizing children to sexual questions by adult men. (Grooming)
- Sexual abuse. (Pedophilia)
- Impaired sexual relations after marriage.
- Years of recovery from childhood shaming. Often lasting decades.”
Sam Young‘s petition can be found here if you want to sign: http://protectldschildren.org
_______________________________________
Part 1: Interview with Paul and Ann
Part 2: Interview with Anna, Tyler, and Lara
Part 3: Maile, Ryan, and Ryan
Beginning our series on Mormon leaders and inappropriate interviews regarding sexuality, we provide 6 mini-interviews with Mormon Stories listeners who share their experiences discussing sexual matters with LDS leaders. A new petition created by past guest Sam Young seeks to provoke conversation and change around this subject.
From the petition:
“For decades, it has been common practice for Bishops, Bishopric Counselors, Stake Presidents, and Stake President Counselors to pose questions of a sexual nature to children. There are reports of this happening to children as young as age 8. These questions are being asked by an older man, all alone with the child, behind closed doors and often without the knowledge or permission of the parents. Almost universally, these men have no comprehensive training.
Here is a list of potential harm. All the risks below are actual consequences that have been experienced from sexual interviews with LDS children.
- Suicide.
- Attempted suicide.
- Suicidal ideation.
- Inappropriate shame and guilt.
- Childhood filled with self loathing.
- Adulthood filled with self loathing.
- Normalizing children to sexual questions by adult men. (Grooming)
- Sexual abuse. (Pedophilia)
- Impaired sexual relations after marriage.
- Years of recovery from childhood shaming. Often lasting decades.”
Sam Young‘s petition can be found here if you want to sign: http://protectldschildren.org
_______________________________________
Part 1: Interview with Paul and Ann
Part 2: Interview with Anna, Tyler, and Lara
Part 3: Maile, Ryan, and Ryan
Beginning our series on Mormon leaders and inappropriate interviews regarding sexuality, we provide 6 mini-interviews with Mormon Stories listeners who share their experiences discussing sexual matters with LDS leaders. A new petition created by past guest Sam Young seeks to provoke conversation and change around this subject.
From the petition:
“For decades, it has been common practice for Bishops, Bishopric Counselors, Stake Presidents, and Stake President Counselors to pose questions of a sexual nature to children. There are reports of this happening to children as young as age 8. These questions are being asked by an older man, all alone with the child, behind closed doors and often without the knowledge or permission of the parents. Almost universally, these men have no comprehensive training.
Here is a list of potential harm. All the risks below are actual consequences that have been experienced from sexual interviews with LDS children.
- Suicide.
- Attempted suicide.
- Suicidal ideation.
- Inappropriate shame and guilt.
- Childhood filled with self loathing.
- Adulthood filled with self loathing.
- Normalizing children to sexual questions by adult men. (Grooming)
- Sexual abuse. (Pedophilia)
- Impaired sexual relations after marriage.
- Years of recovery from childhood shaming. Often lasting decades.”
Sam Young‘s petition can be found here if you want to sign: http://protectldschildren.org
_______________________________________
Part 1: Interview with Paul and Ann
Part 2: Interview with Anna, Tyler, and Lara
Part 3: Maile, Ryan, and Ryan
These episodes of Mormon Stories include a recording of our live interview on 10/23/17 with renowned author, Dr. D. Michael Quinn, author of the final volume of the “Mormon Hierarchy” trilogy. In his newest book, Wealth & Corporate Power, Michael provides a comprehensive look into how the LDS Church acquired wealth from the early days of the church until the 21st century.
We cover in detail:
- How Michael was persuaded to expand the project from an appendix, to a full-fledged book
- Michael’s meticulous methods in gathering and remembering information
- His thoughts on the ethics of receiving “leaked” information, and whether he uses such information in his work
- His observations in the changes of church financial strategy and salaries throughout the decades of church leadership
- His views of the contemporary Mormon Church
…and so much more
__________________________
Like what we do? Please consider becoming a Patron at our newly created Patreon account. This is an option in addition to our regular monthly donation option. Patrons donate based on the amount of content we produce, at the price of $1 per interview. Please visit https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories for more details.
__________________________
These episodes of Mormon Stories include a recording of our live interview on 10/23/17 with renowned author, Dr. D. Michael Quinn, author of the final volume of the “Mormon Hierarchy” trilogy. In his newest book, Wealth & Corporate Power, Michael provides a comprehensive look into how the LDS Church acquired wealth from the early days of the church until the 21st century.
We cover in detail:
- How Michael was persuaded to expand the project from an appendix, to a full-fledged book
- Michael’s meticulous methods in gathering and remembering information
- His thoughts on the ethics of receiving “leaked” information, and whether he uses such information in his work
- His observations in the changes of church financial strategy and salaries throughout the decades of church leadership
- His views of the contemporary Mormon Church
…and so much more
__________________________
Like what we do? Please consider becoming a Patron at our newly created Patreon account. This is an option in addition to our regular monthly donation option. Patrons donate based on the amount of content we produce, at the price of $1 per interview. Please visit https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories for more details.
__________________________
These episodes of Mormon Stories include a recording of our live interview on 10/23/17 with renowned author, Dr. D. Michael Quinn, author of the final volume of the “Mormon Hierarchy” trilogy. In his newest book, Wealth & Corporate Power, Michael provides a comprehensive look into how the LDS Church acquired wealth from the early days of the church until the 21st century.
We cover in detail:
- How Michael was persuaded to expand the project from an appendix, to a full-fledged book
- Michael’s meticulous methods in gathering and remembering information
- His thoughts on the ethics of receiving “leaked” information, and whether he uses such information in his work
- His observations in the changes of church financial strategy and salaries throughout the decades of church leadership
- His views of the contemporary Mormon Church
…and so much more
__________________________
Like what we do? Please consider becoming a Patron at our newly created Patreon account. This is an option in addition to our regular monthly donation option. Patrons donate based on the amount of content we produce, at the price of $1 per interview. Please visit https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories for more details.
__________________________
Peter J Brown is Chief Financial Officer for the Grand Teton Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In this Mormon Stories Podcast episode we discuss the history of the relationship between the Boy Scouts of America and the Mormon church, and also discuss various historical controversies including BSA policies regarding girls and LGBT youth.
Dr. Dan Lonergan is an anesthesiologist at Vanderbilt Medical Center who specializes in pain management and addiction. He has also experienced his own Mormon faith crisis/transition, and is currently in a mixed-faith marriage.
Topics for today's podcast include:
*Dan's own faith crisis/transition.
*Dan's experiences navigating a mixed-faith marriage.
*Tips from an expert in overcoming addiction.
Dr. Dan Lonergan is an anesthesiologist at Vanderbilt Medical Center who specializes in pain management and addiction. He has also experienced his own Mormon faith crisis/transition, and is currently in a mixed-faith marriage.
Topics for today's podcast include:
*Dan's own faith crisis/transition.
*Dan's experiences navigating a mixed-faith marriage.
*Tips from an expert in overcoming addiction.
Join Dan Wotherspoon, Brian Birch, and Patrick Mason in part 1 of a Mormon Stories Podcast series on Mormon apologetics. In this episode we will provide a brief history of Mormon apologetics, and discuss the emergence of a new style of apologetics sometimes referred to as "Neo-Apologetics," which includes the work of Richard Bushman, Terryl and Fiona Givens, and Patrick Mason.
Join Dan Wotherspoon, Brian Birch, and Patrick Mason in part 1 of a Mormon Stories Podcast series on Mormon apologetics. In this episode we will provide a brief history of Mormon apologetics, and discuss the emergence of a new style of apologetics sometimes referred to as "Neo-Apologetics," which includes the work of Richard Bushman, Terryl and Fiona Givens, and Patrick Mason.
As part 1 in a new Mormon Stories Podcast series on navigating mixed-faith marriages, we interview Kirsten and David Udy. The Udy's story touches on multiple important themes, including:
- Their brief courtship and marriage after returning from full-time LDS missions
- David's early experiences with drugs and alcohol that resurfaced during their marriage
- How David's "shelf" broke under the weight of doctrinal issues and how he used alcohol to cope
- Kirsten's unwavering commitment to the Gospel, including the Word of Wisdom, and how David's alcohol use created tension in the marriage
- David's experience in the LDS 12-step program
- How Kirsten and David currently navigate their mixed-faith marriage, using love to overcome their obstacles and facing their challenges despite differences in belief
As part 1 in a new Mormon Stories Podcast series on navigating mixed-faith marriages, we interview Kirsten and David Udy. The Udy's story touches on multiple important themes, including:
- Their brief courtship and marriage after returning from full-time LDS missions
- David's early experiences with drugs and alcohol that resurfaced during their marriage
- How David's "shelf" broke under the weight of doctrinal issues and how he used alcohol to cope
- Kirsten's unwavering commitment to the Gospel, including the Word of Wisdom, and how David's alcohol use created tension in the marriage
- David's experience in the LDS 12-step program
- How Kirsten and David currently navigate their mixed-faith marriage, using love to overcome their obstacles and facing their challenges despite differences in belief
Continuing our Mormon Stories series on drug addiction, we interview Graham. In this interview, Graham discusses:
- His early years as a true-believing Mormon
- His battle with Cystic Fibrosis and chronic pain as a youth
- Being introduced to drugs as a teen
- Attending BYU and making the decision to leave and not pursue a full-time mission
- How difficult events in his life led to his addiction to “hard drugs” as a young adult, and his recovery attempts
- Graham’s current views on addiction and the recovery process
We thank Graham for providing his experience-based insight into the difficult process of recovery to all of our listeners.
Continuing our Mormon Stories series on drug addiction, we interview Graham. In this interview, Graham discusses:
- His early years as a true-believing Mormon
- His battle with Cystic Fibrosis and chronic pain as a youth
- Being introduced to drugs as a teen
- Attending BYU and making the decision to leave and not pursue a full-time mission
- How difficult events in his life led to his addiction to “hard drugs” as a young adult, and his recovery attempts
- Graham’s current views on addiction and the recovery process
We thank Graham for providing his experience-based insight into the difficult process of recovery to all of our listeners.
In these important episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Thomas to understand his journey in overcoming opiate addiction. As opiate use reaches epidemic proportions in the United States and numerous other places in the world, many of our listeners have been impacted by the epidemic in some way. There are multiple facets to this story we cover including:
- How childhood sexual abuse had a direct affect on Thomas' later drug use
- How the LDS Church's messaging on sexuality played a major role in negatively shaping his self-identity
- Learning to use drugs as a tool to avoid feeling
- What it was like living a life addicted to drugs
- How family, friends, and church authority/members can better help struggling addicts
- The impact his crisis of faith has on his life now, and his vision for the future
We thank Thomas for bravely sharing his story, and know it will impact many, many lives for good.
In these important episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Thomas to understand his journey in overcoming opiate addiction. As opiate use reaches epidemic proportions in the United States and numerous other places in the world, many of our listeners have been impacted by the epidemic in some way. There are multiple facets to this story we cover including:
- How childhood sexual abuse had a direct affect on Thomas' later drug use
- How the LDS Church's messaging on sexuality played a major role in negatively shaping his self-identity
- Learning to use drugs as a tool to avoid feeling
- What it was like living a life addicted to drugs
- How family, friends, and church authority/members can better help struggling addicts
- The impact his crisis of faith has on his life now, and his vision for the future
We thank Thomas for bravely sharing his story, and know it will impact many, many lives for good.
With dueling “breaking news” events on September 21 within Mormondom, John tackles both topics with guests John Hamer and Wesley Monahan.
At a hefty price tag of $35M, the LDS Church purchased the original printer’s manuscript of the Book of Mormon from the Community of Christ who held it in possession for over 100 years. To understand the implications of the purchase, we interview one of Mormon Stories’ favorites—John Hamer—pastor of the Community of Christ in Toronto. We discuss what the manuscript is and its history, as well as the possible CoC motivations for the sell.
In another surprising twist, Brigham Young University announced that it would begin to sell caffeinated beverages on its campus, ending a ban on the sale of traditional colas that dated back to the 1950’s. We discuss the original reasons for the ban, and how those explanations for the ban evolved over time to become solely an economic decision. Wesley Monahan of Caffeine Corner, a current BYU student who is the proprietor of a service that delivers caffeinated beverages to students on campus, gives his take on the revelation and how it may (or may not) affect his business.
With dueling “breaking news” events on September 21 within Mormondom, John tackles both topics with guests John Hamer and Wesley Monahan.
At a hefty price tag of $35M, the LDS Church purchased the original printer’s manuscript of the Book of Mormon from the Community of Christ who held it in possession for over 100 years. To understand the implications of the purchase, we interview one of Mormon Stories’ favorites—John Hamer—pastor of the Community of Christ in Toronto. We discuss what the manuscript is and its history, as well as the possible CoC motivations for the sell.
In another surprising twist, Brigham Young University announced that it would begin to sell caffeinated beverages on its campus, ending a ban on the sale of traditional colas that dated back to the 1950’s. We discuss the original reasons for the ban, and how those explanations for the ban evolved over time to become solely an economic decision. Wesley Monahan of Caffeine Corner, a current BYU student who is the proprietor of a service that delivers caffeinated beverages to students on campus, gives his take on the revelation and how it may (or may not) affect his business.
In these episodes, we interview Lex de Azevedo -- son of Alyce King of The King Sisters. He served as a musical director for The Sonny & Cher Show, Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five, and The Osmonds. He composed the scores for the films Where the Red Fern Grows and The Swan Princess. He is also credited as the co-writer of the Latter-day Saint production, Saturday's Warrior.
In these episodes, we interview Lex de Azevedo -- son of Alyce King of The King Sisters. He served as a musical director for The Sonny & Cher Show, Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five, and The Osmonds. He composed the scores for the films Where the Red Fern Grows and The Swan Princess. He is also credited as the co-writer of the Latter-day Saint production, Saturday's Warrior.
In these episodes, we interview Lex de Azevedo -- son of Alyce King of The King Sisters. He served as a musical director for The Sonny & Cher Show, Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five, and The Osmonds. He composed the scores for the films Where the Red Fern Grows and The Swan Princess. He is also credited as the co-writer of the Latter-day Saint production, Saturday's Warrior.
In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast we interview the incredibly successful Mehrsa Baradaran. Mehrsa and her family immigrated from Iran to the United States when she was 9. After joining the Mormon church, Mehrsa graduated from BYU and New York University law school, became law school faculty at both BYU and University of Georgia (where she now works). She is the author of two books:
- How the other half banks: Exclusion, Exploitation, and the Threat to Democracy
- The Color of Money: Black Banking and the Racial Wealth Gap
In addition to her successful career, she is the mother of three children, and identifies as an Immigrant, liberal, Mormon, Muslim, feminist, lawyer, mother who generally dislikes labels.
Topics of focus for today's episode include: Race and Mormonism, Mormons and Social Justice, and Tribalism and Mormon Identity.
In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast we interview the incredibly successful Mehrsa Baradaran. Mehrsa and her family immigrated from Iran to the United States when she was 9. After joining the Mormon church, Mehrsa graduated from BYU and New York University law school, became law school faculty at both BYU and University of Georgia (where she now works). She is the author of two books:
- How the other half banks: Exclusion, Exploitation, and the Threat to Democracy
- The Color of Money: Black Banking and the Racial Wealth Gap
In addition to her successful career, she is the mother of three children, and identifies as an Immigrant, liberal, Mormon, Muslim, feminist, lawyer, mother who generally dislikes labels.
Topics of focus for today's episode include: Race and Mormonism, Mormons and Social Justice, and Tribalism and Mormon Identity.
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Sean Carter—traveling law humorist of Lawpsided Seminars, and former member of the LDS Church. In this entertaining and lively interview, we discuss:
- Sean's upbringing in the Compton area of Los Angeles and how he determined his career path
- How he became funny as a way for people to like him in school
- His experience of growing up black as a young man and his later realization of his efforts to "exempt himself out of blackness," or to make sure that he himself didn't experience discrimination while being aware that it existed against his community
- His path to attending Harvard Law School, and coincidentally at the same time as President Barack Obama
- His marriage to his educated wife who was not religious in any way, and how his investigation of the LDS Church began as a way to bring "Jesus to her"
- How one of his biggest struggles with joining the LDS Church was being endowed and having someone else pick out his underwear, which for Sean was a stigma attached to young black men who had their underwear picked out for them while in prison symbolizing that they became property of someone else
- His growing realization that the policies of the Church favored white culture, and how the revelation preventing young children with gay parents from joining the Church as being one of the last straws
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Sean Carter—traveling law humorist of Lawpsided Seminars, and former member of the LDS Church. In this entertaining and lively interview, we discuss:
- Sean's upbringing in the Compton area of Los Angeles and how he determined his career path
- How he became funny as a way for people to like him in school
- His experience of growing up black as a young man and his later realization of his efforts to "exempt himself out of blackness," or to make sure that he himself didn't experience discrimination while being aware that it existed against his community
- His path to attending Harvard Law School, and coincidentally at the same time as President Barack Obama
- His marriage to his educated wife who was not religious in any way, and how his investigation of the LDS Church began as a way to bring "Jesus to her"
- How one of his biggest struggles with joining the LDS Church was being endowed and having someone else pick out his underwear, which for Sean was a stigma attached to young black men who had their underwear picked out for them while in prison symbolizing that they became property of someone else
- His growing realization that the policies of the Church favored white culture, and how the revelation preventing young children with gay parents from joining the Church as being one of the last straws
In this episode of Mormon Stories, we hold a panel discussion with Dr. Darron Smith—author of When Race & Religion Collide: Black Athletics at BYU and Beyond, Ryan McKnight—MormonLeaks publisher, and Vanessa Judd—a victim of assault by a BYU athlete. We discuss the MormonLeaks video which depicted an interaction between the Provo Police Department, a BYU football player, and other unidentified individuals. The video was recorded on December 4, 2016 and in it we learn that this is the second visit from the police that night and one of multiple visits they have had to make over time to the athlete.
We discuss:
The ethics of releasing the video
The ethics of NCAA athletics (especially at BYU), and
*The relationship between Provo Police, BYU and the Honor Code, especially regarding the many claims and accusations made concerning students being expelled or suspended for less than what is admitted to in this video
In this mini-episode of Mormon Stories, we follow-up with John O’Conner—father of a Mormon Missionary in the path of Hurricane Harvey. John had an email exchange with his son’s mission president that was released on MormonLeaks wherein John was given little to no information on his son’s whereabouts, a disaster plan of action, or a phone number to reach his son directly. Instead, the mission president encouraged John to “support him in his decision to serve with all his heart, might, mind, and strength and to keep the mission rules and policies.”
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Jon Ogden—author of When Mormons Doubt. Jon describes how his faith crisis blossomed during his LDS mission and time at BYU and ultimately became the impetus to writing the book, which strives to explore how the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness can save relationships even when we disagree with those we love.
We cover:
How his faith crisis developed on his LDS mission, but he finished his mission anyway
Dating while at BYU and how it distracted him from his faith crisis
How when a family member left the LDS Church, it forced him to confront his own doubts and begin an academic study of the truth claims of the Church
When he realized that the same problems with Mormon historicity were also at play with Christianity in general
He and his spouse’s current belief state, and their desire to have a sense of community and solid religious framework for their children to hold onto
The main topics of his book, When Mormons Doubt, including a deep dive into sections on “Truth,” “Goodness,” and “Beauty.”
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Jon Ogden—author of When Mormons Doubt. Jon describes how his faith crisis blossomed during his LDS mission and time at BYU and ultimately became the impetus to writing the book, which strives to explore how the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness can save relationships even when we disagree with those we love.
We cover:
How his faith crisis developed on his LDS mission, but he finished his mission anyway
Dating while at BYU and how it distracted him from his faith crisis
How when a family member left the LDS Church, it forced him to confront his own doubts and begin an academic study of the truth claims of the Church
When he realized that the same problems with Mormon historicity were also at play with Christianity in general
He and his spouse’s current belief state, and their desire to have a sense of community and solid religious framework for their children to hold onto
The main topics of his book, When Mormons Doubt, including a deep dive into sections on “Truth,” “Goodness,” and “Beauty.”
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Jason Echols of /r/exmormon. For many, the exmormon subreddit serves as a one-stop shop for current events and happenings that may interest those who have left the faith. Jason gives us the inside scoop of this prominent gathering place, and details his belief that the forum provides a training ground for exmormons to learn how to voice opinions in healthy and assertive ways.
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Jason Echols of /r/exmormon. For many, the exmormon subreddit serves as a one-stop shop for current events and happenings that may interest those who have left the faith. Jason gives us the inside scoop of this prominent gathering place, and details his belief that the forum provides a training ground for exmormons to learn how to voice opinions in healthy and assertive ways.
In this two-part episode we sit down for final time with Grant Palmer to discuss the release of his final book: Restoring Christ: Leaving Mormon Jesus for Jesus of the Gospels.
- In part 1 of the interview we dig deep into two chapters: one on Joseph Smith's possible treason against the United States government, and one on Joseph Smith's use of concubinage in addition to polygamy and polyandry.
- In part 2 we discuss Grant's research into "leaving Mormon Jesus for Jesus of the Gospels," and conduct a final Q&A with Grant.
In this two-part episode we sit down a final time with Grant Palmer to discuss the release of his final book: Restoring Christ: Leaving Mormon Jesus for Jesus of the Gospels.
- In part 1 of the interview we dig deep into two chapters: one on Joseph Smith's possible treason against the United States government, and one on Joseph Smith's likely use of concubinage in addition to polygamy and polyandry.
- In part 2 we discuss Grant's research into "leaving Mormon Jesus for Jesus of the Gospels," and conduct a final Q&A with Grant.
In our third sit-down with former Mormon Bishop and podcaster Bill Reel, we discuss:
- His early years as a convert to the Mormon church.
- His original motives for starting his podcast, Mormon Discussion.
- The most significant contributing factors to his Mormon faith transition.
- His evolution as a podcaster, which includes becoming increasingly frustrated with, and critical of the LDS church, its policies, and its leadership.
- His current Mormon beliefs and non-beliefs.
- His motives for remaining active in the LDS church.
- His responses to recent criticisms of his positions.
- His perspective on the possible threat of excommunication.
In our third sit-down with former Mormon Bishop and podcaster Bill Reel, we discuss:
- His early years as a convert to the Mormon church.
- His original motives for starting his podcast, Mormon Discussion.
- The most significant contributing factors to his Mormon faith transition.
- His evolution as a podcaster, which includes becoming increasingly frustrated with, and critical of the LDS church, its policies, and its leadership.
- His current Mormon beliefs and non-beliefs.
- His motives for remaining active in the LDS church.
- His responses to recent criticisms of his positions.
- His perspective on the possible threat of excommunication.
Continuing our series on “Losing the Lamanites,” we interview Gabriel Misla who originated from the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. We cover:
- Gabriel’s experience joining the Church as a young man in the island territory and his eventual immigration to the mainland US
- His mission service to the Dominican Republic, and the cultural nuances between the two islands that heightened his sensitivity to how race is viewed in the LDS Church
- How he came to terms with his sexuality and his experience as a gay Latter-day Saint, including spending time in Evergreen
- His reminiscence of elation of being from the tribe of Ephraim in his patriarchal blessing because it meant he was more like his white Utah missionary companions—and now his regret over how his thinking was influenced by the Church’s views on race
- His thoughts and feelings over the Book of Mormon’s still accepted views on Lamanites and race, and what he feels the Church should do
- His vision and plans for the future as a post-Mormon still living in Utah
Continuing our series on “Losing the Lamanites,” we interview Gabriel Misla who originated from the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. We cover:
- Gabriel’s experience joining the Church as a young man in the island territory and his eventual immigration to the mainland US
- His mission service to the Dominican Republic, and the cultural nuances between the two islands that heightened his sensitivity to how race is viewed in the LDS Church
- How he came to terms with his sexuality and his experience as a gay Latter-day Saint, including spending time in Evergreen
- His reminiscence of elation of being from the tribe of Ephraim in his patriarchal blessing because it meant he was more like his white Utah missionary companions—and now his regret over how his thinking was influenced by the Church’s views on race
- His thoughts and feelings over the Book of Mormon’s still accepted views on Lamanites and race, and what he feels the Church should do
- His vision and plans for the future as a post-Mormon still living in Utah
Ruthie Robertson ignited a nationwide firestorm when she revealed she was fired as an adjunct professor at BYU-Idaho for an LGBTQ-supportive Facebook post on her private page. During these episodes of Mormon Stories, we delve deep into Ruthie’s Mormon background and her motivations in publishing her post, as well as her opinions about the decision to terminate her employment. John and Ruthie also discuss the possible “chilling effect” this event could have on students and professors at BYU-Idaho who wish to support their LGBTQ friends and family.
Ruthie Robertson ignited a nationwide firestorm when she revealed she was fired as an adjunct professor at BYU-Idaho for an LGBTQ-supportive Facebook post on her private page. During these episodes of Mormon Stories, we delve deep into Ruthie’s Mormon background and her motivations in publishing her post, as well as her opinions about the decision to terminate her employment. John and Ruthie also discuss the possible “chilling effect” this event could have on students and professors at BYU-Idaho who wish to support their LGBTQ friends and family.
In this episode of Mormon Stories/Transitions, John and Margi interview the brilliant Dr. Julie DeAzevedo Hanks about her article titled “30 Questions Nobody Asks My Husband at Church.”
John, Margi, and Julie focus on the powerful cultural messages about gender, potential, life decisions, and worth that are broadcast in the questions we ask. During the interview, cultural assumptions are challenged in some of the questions from Julie’s article:
- Did you know that you are a son of your Heavenly Mother?
- What does your wife do for a living?
- Who’s watching your kids?
- Why are you getting a graduate degree?
- Will you go home and change? Your clothes are distracting the sisters.
…and many more.
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview former LDS Stake President and LDS Chief Architect Laurie Lee Hall. Laurie Lee’s story is fascinating on many levels:
- Laurie Lee worked for 20 years as Chief Architect for the LDS Church and as Director of Design and/or Construction for around 40 LDS temples.
- She served as Stake President of the Tooele Utah Valley View Stake in Tooele, Utah for 8 years.
- While she remembers identifying internally as a woman from a very young age, she began to experience intense pressure to transition to female while serving as an LDS Stake President. This ultimately led to her being released as stake president after 8 years of service.
- About two months ago Laurie Lee was excommunicated stemming from her decision to transition gender presentation while living in her home ward/stake.
- Laurie Lee and her spouse have been married 32 years this month and are the parents of five children and 11 grandchildren.
- Laurie Lee remains a believer in many of the core tenets of Mormonism (e.g., Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the atonement), and reads the Book of Mormon daily.
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview former LDS Stake President and LDS Chief Architect Laurie Lee Hall. Laurie Lee’s story is fascinating on many levels:
- Laurie Lee worked for 20 years as Chief Architect for the LDS Church and as Director of Design and/or Construction for around 40 LDS temples.
- She served as Stake President of the Tooele Utah Valley View Stake in Tooele, Utah for 8 years.
- While she remembers identifying internally as a woman from a very young age, she began to experience intense pressure to transition to female while serving as an LDS Stake President. This ultimately led to her being released as stake president after 8 years of service.
- About two months ago Laurie Lee was excommunicated stemming from her decision to transition gender presentation while living in her home ward/stake.
- Laurie Lee and her spouse have been married 32 years this month and are the parents of five children and 11 grandchildren.
- Laurie Lee remains a believer in many of the core tenets of Mormonism (e.g., Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the atonement), and reads the Book of Mormon daily.
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview former LDS Stake President and LDS Chief Architect Laurie Lee Hall. Laurie Lee’s story is fascinating on many levels:
- Laurie Lee worked for 20 years as Chief Architect for the LDS Church and as Director of Design and/or Construction for around 40 LDS temples.
- She served as Stake President of the Tooele Utah Valley View Stake in Tooele, Utah for 8 years.
- While she remembers identifying internally as a woman from a very young age, she began to experience intense pressure to transition to female while serving as an LDS Stake President. This ultimately led to her being released as stake president after 8 years of service.
- About two months ago Laurie Lee was excommunicated stemming from her decision to transition gender presentation while living in her home ward/stake.
- Laurie Lee and her spouse have been married 32 years this month and are the parents of five children and 11 grandchildren.
- Laurie Lee remains a believer in many of the core tenets of Mormonism (e.g., Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the atonement), and reads the Book of Mormon daily.
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview former LDS Stake President and LDS Chief Architect Laurie Lee Hall. Laurie Lee’s story is fascinating on many levels:
- Laurie Lee worked for 20 years as Chief Architect for the LDS Church and as Director of Design and/or Construction for around 40 LDS temples.
- She served as Stake President of the Tooele Utah Valley View Stake in Tooele, Utah for 8 years.
- While she remembers identifying internally as a woman from a very young age, she began to experience intense pressure to transition to female while serving as an LDS Stake President. This ultimately led to her being released as stake president after 8 years of service.
- About two months ago Laurie Lee was excommunicated stemming from her decision to transition gender presentation while living in her home ward/stake.
- Laurie Lee and her spouse have been married 32 years this month and are the parents of five children and 11 grandchildren.
- Laurie Lee remains a believer in many of the core tenets of Mormonism (e.g., Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the atonement), and reads the Book of Mormon daily.
In this episode recorded for use on Bart Campolo's "Humanize Me" podcast, John and Bart interview each other on their experience at building communities post religion
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, John and Margi interview Carol Lynn Pearson, Jana Riess, and Jana Johnson Spangler to explore their experiences as they navigate progressive Mormonism.
We cover important topics such as:
Each panelist’s experience when their faith became more complex and whether they would self-describe as a Mormon
What made them choose to remain engaged in the Church
What the most valuable aspects of the faith are to each of them, and how they inform and impact their life
Their social experience in their wards and whether they feel alone or among many others who are navigating a middle-way
How they approach Sundays and whether they have supplemented their Sunday experience with anything that would be helpful to share with our audience
Whether they observe a decline in the health and vitality of the Church
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, John and Margi interview Carol Lynn Pearson, Jana Riess, and Jana Johnson Spangler to explore their experiences as they navigate progressive Mormonism.
We cover important topics such as:
Each panelist’s experience when their faith became more complex and whether they would self-describe as a Mormon
What made them choose to remain engaged in the Church
What the most valuable aspects of the faith are to each of them, and how they inform and impact their life
Their social experience in their wards and whether they feel alone or among many others who are navigating a middle-way
How they approach Sundays and whether they have supplemented their Sunday experience with anything that would be helpful to share with our audience
Whether they observe a decline in the health and vitality of the Church
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, John and Margi interview 3 of the hard-working moderators of the “A Thoughtful Faith” Facebook group. The group comprises LDS members who are working to stay engaged in constructive ways within Mormonism and offers a safe space to ask faith-challenging questions.
Mark Crego, Jeralee Renshaw, and Dan Wotherspoon answer questions about the purpose of the group, but also embark on a very interesting conversation about how they each are able to remain happily involved in the Church despite being aware of the faith-challenging aspects of the Mormon faith.
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, John and Margi interview 3 of the hard-working moderators of the “A Thoughtful Faith” Facebook group. The group comprises LDS members who are working to stay engaged in constructive ways within Mormonism and offers a safe space to ask faith-challenging questions.
Mark Crego, Jeralee Renshaw, and Dan Wotherspoon answer questions about the purpose of the group, but also embark on a very interesting conversation about how they each are able to remain happily involved in the Church despite being aware of the faith-challenging aspects of the Mormon faith.
In this series on Mormon Stories, we interview the fabulous Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT, CST — moderator of the Mormon Mental Health podcast — to finally hear her “Mormon story.”
This interview covers:
Being raised in the Church with convert parents in Spain and her eventual move to the US
Natasha and her family’s concerns about the practice of polygamy and frustration that their questions never seemed to be answered, yet remaining true-believers
The impact of being a victim of sexual abuse as a child and teenager and how it influenced her experiences exploring her sexuality as a teenager and young adult
Her removal from BYU because of her sexual experiences and her thoughts now about the unintended consequences of honor code enforcement
How she met her husband and disclosed her sexual past in an act of transparency, and how it affected the first years of their marriage
Her thoughts now about the difference between behavior and self-worth within the Church, especially as it relates to sexual behavior
Her decision to become a sex therapist and how her move to the Midwest became an impetus to develop a wider online presence
How being a believer in the faith, but having a nuanced view of sexuality led her to being widely known as the “Mormon Sex Therapist”
How cracks developed in her Orthodox faith foundation
Her feeling of being in a continuing faith transition for much of the 20+ years of her practice
http://www.mormonmentalhealth.org
https://www.symmetrysols.com
In this series on Mormon Stories, we interview the fabulous Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT, CST — moderator of the Mormon Mental Health podcast — to finally hear her “Mormon story.”
This interview covers:
Being raised in the Church with convert parents in Spain and her eventual move to the US
Natasha and her family’s concerns about the practice of polygamy and frustration that their questions never seemed to be answered, yet remaining true-believers
The impact of being a victim of sexual abuse as a child and teenager and how it influenced her experiences exploring her sexuality as a teenager and young adult
Her removal from BYU because of her sexual experiences and her thoughts now about the unintended consequences of honor code enforcement
How she met her husband and disclosed her sexual past in an act of transparency, and how it affected the first years of their marriage
Her thoughts now about the difference between behavior and self-worth within the Church, especially as it relates to sexual behavior
Her decision to become a sex therapist and how her move to the Midwest became an impetus to develop a wider online presence
How being a believer in the faith, but having a nuanced view of sexuality led her to being widely known as the “Mormon Sex Therapist”
How cracks developed in her Orthodox faith foundation
Her feeling of being in a continuing faith transition for much of the 20+ years of her practice
http://www.mormonmentalhealth.org
https://www.symmetrysols.com
In this series on Mormon Stories, we interview the fabulous Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT, CST — moderator of the Mormon Mental Health podcast — to finally hear her “Mormon story.”
This interview covers:
Being raised in the Church with convert parents in Spain and her eventual move to the US
Natasha and her family’s concerns about the practice of polygamy and frustration that their questions never seemed to be answered, yet remaining true-believers
The impact of being a victim of sexual abuse as a child and teenager and how it influenced her experiences exploring her sexuality as a teenager and young adult
Her removal from BYU because of her sexual experiences and her thoughts now about the unintended consequences of honor code enforcement
How she met her husband and disclosed her sexual past in an act of transparency, and how it affected the first years of their marriage
Her thoughts now about the difference between behavior and self-worth within the Church, especially as it relates to sexual behavior
Her decision to become a sex therapist and how her move to the Midwest became an impetus to develop a wider online presence
How being a believer in the faith, but having a nuanced view of sexuality led her to being widely known as the “Mormon Sex Therapist”
How cracks developed in her Orthodox faith foundation
Her feeling of being in a continuing faith transition for much of the 20+ years of her practice
http://www.mormonmentalhealth.org
https://www.symmetrysols.com
In this episode, we interview Brynne Thomas Gant -- the author of "They Can Leave the Church, But They Can't Leave the Church Alone"
In this episode, we interview Brynne Thomas Gant -- the author of "They Can Leave the Church, But They Can't Leave the Church Alone"
In this episode of Mormon Stories, we interview Savannah and her mother, Heather.
In this episode of Mormon Stories we interview Savannah and her mother, Heather. Savannah recently generated international media attention when she came out as gay to her Mormon ward (congregation) in Eagle Mountain, Utah during fast and testimony meeting (May 7, 2017). Towards the end of her testimony, a presiding priesthood authority cut off her microphone and told her to sit down. A friend recorded the video of her live testimony.
In this episode John interviews both Savannah and Heather in order to provide the context for Savannah's testimony that day. Questions answered in this episode include:
What was Savannah's relationship with the Mormon church prior to her testimony?
Why did Savannah want to come out as gay to her ward?
Why did she write out her testimony beforehand?
Why did Savannah's parents "allow" her to bear her testimony in this way?
Who recorded Savannah's testimony, and why?
How did Savannah and her mother feel when the microphone was cut off, and Savannah was asked to sit down by her Mormon priesthood leader?
Was this event a conspiracy orchestrated by Savannah's parents?
What has been the reaction to these events?
What do Savannah and Heather hope to accomplish by talking about this publicly?
What would Savannah and Heather like to say to LGBT Mormons and their family/friends?
Special thanks to Heather and Savannah for visiting with the Mormon Stories crew and sharing her beautiful story!
In this episode of Mormon Stories and Mormon Transitions, John and Margi reflect back on their 13 years of experience as semi- and non-believers and provide their advice on how to successfully navigate activity in the LDS Church. Some of the topics discussed are:
*Advice on how to determine whether church attendance is a healthy option for you and your family
*Living the “Law of Tithing” in a way that is meaningful to you
*Focusing on teaching lessons about truths that resonate with you, and less on the topics that trouble you as they most likely will be covered many other times
*How to respond to inquiries about your activity status from fellow ward members
*Setting boundaries and expectations when given a calling
*Protecting your children by having an open discussion after church that allows them to safely process and talk through the information
*Building social credit in your ward to spend thoughtfully when the time arrives
*Advice on how to ethically navigate the temple recommend interview
*Answering the question “can you be honest and ethical in staying?”
Continuing our series on “Losing the Lamanites,” we interview Sarah Newcomb who descends from the Tsimshian of the NW Coastal Tribes. In this interview we cover:
How Sarah struggled as a youth knowing that she came from the ‘Lamanites,’ who had turned their backs on God.
How she worked her way through college in Rexburg, ID, acquired a degree in Communications/Journalism, and how her new knowledge around sourcing served as an impetus to her questioning her faith.
How her husband ignored the Mormon admonition against interracial marriage, out of love for Sarah.
Her avoidance of dancing (and other native customs), as they were practiced by the ’Lamanites’ in the Book of Mormon.
Her avoidance of the sun, as a way to ensure that her skin would stay as light as possible.
How she used her knowledge of sourcing (seeking original documentation) to discover many of the problems with LDS church history and doctrine, all before discovering the CES Letter.
How Mormon Stories Podcast validated her feelings, and provided strength and a sense of community during her faith transition.
How she now embraces her life in the sun, and is on a journey to connect to the heritage and identity she felt forced to distance herself from while a member of the LDS Church.
We thank Sarah for sharing her powerful, beautiful story and know that it will touch lives!
We are excited to release an interview with Jen Parkinson that has many fascinating components, including:
*Her devout LDS upbringing and bout with perfectionism while a youth and as a missionary
*Her first marriage to a gay man, unbeknownst to her
*Experiences with LDS Family Services in addressing her husband’s sexual orientation
*Her resulting divorce and intense feelings of guilt and shame
*The experience of seeking a sealing cancellation and how it made her relive the nightmare of her divorce
*Dating and marrying her current husband
*Working for BYU-Idaho and the gender disparity she observed
*Her husband’s faith transition and her reaction to it by “quintupling down” on her beliefs
*How leaving her job at BYU gave her the freedom to learn and question
*Her own faith transition and hope for the future
We are excited to release an interview with Jen Parkinson that has many fascinating components, including:
*Her devout LDS upbringing and bout with perfectionism while a youth and as a missionary
*Her first marriage to a gay man, unbeknownst to her
*Experiences with LDS Family Services in addressing her husband’s sexual orientation
*Her resulting divorce and intense feelings of guilt and shame
*The experience of seeking a sealing cancellation and how it made her relive the nightmare of her divorce
*Dating and marrying her current husband
*Working for BYU-Idaho and the gender disparity she observed
*Her husband’s faith transition and her reaction to it by “quintupling down” on her beliefs
*How leaving her job at BYU gave her the freedom to learn and question
*Her own faith transition and hope for the future
We are excited to release an interview with Jen Parkinson that has many fascinating components, including:
*Her devout LDS upbringing and bout with perfectionism while a youth and as a missionary
*Her first marriage to a gay man, unbeknownst to her
*Experiences with LDS Family Services in addressing her husband’s sexual orientation
*Her resulting divorce and intense feelings of guilt and shame
*The experience of seeking a sealing cancellation and how it made her relive the nightmare of her divorce
*Dating and marrying her current husband
*Working for BYU-Idaho and the gender disparity she observed
*Her husband’s faith transition and her reaction to it by “quintupling down” on her beliefs
*How leaving her job at BYU gave her the freedom to learn and question
*Her own faith transition and hope for the future
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Derrick Clements—a new contributor to “The Cheeky Mormon Movie Review” podcast series with Gina Colvin, avid podcaster, and reporter for Provo’s Daily Herald.
In part 2, Derrick shares his beliefs and reasons for remaining active in the LDS Church and the important role personal honesty and integrity play in that decision. As a general rule, Derrick avoids dogma and does not rely heavily on truth claims as the root of his faith.
Derrick and John answer the difficult questions such as:
- “Is it disingenuous to stay active in the LDS Church with knowledge of ‘problems’ of historicity and knowing the harm the church inflicts on groups of people, like LGBTQ individuals?”
- “Are the people who remain complicit in that harm?”
- “Should the teachings of the church be taken literally or metaphorically?”
In these episodes of Mormon Stories, we interview Derrick Clements—a new contributor to “The Cheeky Mormon Movie Review” podcast series with Gina Colvin, avid podcaster, and reporter for Provo’s Daily Herald.
Derrick and John begin part 1 by discussing categories of people who remain active in the LDS Church, including those who are:
Unaware of church “problems”
Unable to leave without massive disruption in their lives
Unempathetic to those the church harms
Staying to improve the church
Genuinely spiritually converted
Motivated to stay for tribal / identity sentiments
This episode is a recording of Dr. John Dehlin's goodbye presentation to Cache Valley Oasis - a secular support community formed in Fall of 2015 in Logan, Utah.
In his presentation (recorded May 21, 2017), John shared reflections of "lessons" he has learned over the course of 13 years as a Mormon/Post-Mormon activist.
In this episode of Mormon Stories, Margi and John share and discuss their ideas in creating a family culture. Margi uses the metaphor of a “tower” with 5 building blocks to show their cumulative effect.
These building blocks are:
Values — the foundational layer
Embodiment — the living of those values
Ritual — the framework that integrates those values into your schedule
Tradition — opportunities to celebrate that cement values
Home Environment — the space and “vibe” that reflects values
Continuing our series entitled “Losing the Lamanites,” we interview Mormons from Central and South America, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders — with the intent of exploring their faith transitions, and focusing (where relevant) particularly on their thoughts and feelings around having been handed the now questionable “Lamanite” identity.
In this episode we interview Hyrum Joe, and cover the following:
His 3rd-generation upbringing in the LDS Church
The culture shock he experienced when he moved off the Reservation while in grade school
His feelings of being an outsider both in and out of the Church while growing up in his new community
His inactivity in his younger years and how he subsequently went back into activity after meeting his ex-wife and becoming sealed in the temple
How he realized he never truly had a "testimony" of the truth claims of the LDS Church, even while being active and being heavily involved in ward missionary activities
His impending faith transition
*His thoughts and feelings of the "Lamanite" identity
https://www.facebook.com/artofhyrumjoe/
Continuing our series entitled “Losing the Lamanites,” we interview Mormons from Central and South America, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders — with the intent of exploring their faith transitions, and focusing (where relevant) particularly on their thoughts and feelings around having been handed the now questionable “Lamanite” identity.
In this episode we interview Hyrum Joe, and cover the following:
His 3rd-generation upbringing in the LDS Church
The culture shock he experienced when he moved off the Reservation while in grade school
His feelings of being an outsider both in and out of the Church while growing up in his new community
His inactivity in his younger years and how he subsequently went back into activity after meeting his ex-wife and becoming sealed in the temple
How he realized he never truly had a "testimony" of the truth claims of the LDS Church, even while being active and being heavily involved in ward missionary activities
His impending faith transition
*His thoughts and feelings of the "Lamanite" identity
https://www.facebook.com/artofhyrumjoe/
This episode begins our series on “Losing the Lamanites” where we interview people from Central and South America, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders with the intent of exploring their faith transitions—especially their thoughts and feelings on the identity of “Lamanite” being given to them.
Vania Moore was raised in the LDS Church and has recently experienced a faith transition. In this episode, we explore:
*Vania’s upbringing in the LDS Church and her desire to serve an LDS mission
*Her thoughts about the label of “Lamanite” and how she never felt it applied to her, and why
*The cultural differences of the LDS Church she noticed having been raised in Brazil and then immigrating to Utah
*Her marriage and subsequent divorce
*Immigrating to America in search of a new life for herself and her children
*How her struggle with anxiety and depression immediately subsided after she decided to leave the LDS Church
*Her remarriage to a true-believing member of the LDS Church and how they make their mixed-faith marriage work
*Vania’s YouTube channel where she explores different truth claims of the church
This episode begins our series on “Losing the Lamanites” where we interview people from Central and South America, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders with the intent of exploring their faith transitions—especially their thoughts and feelings on the identity of “Lamanite” being given to them.
Vania Moore was raised in the LDS Church and has recently experienced a faith transition. In this episode, we explore:
*Vania’s upbringing in the LDS Church and her desire to serve an LDS mission
*Her thoughts about the label of “Lamanite” and how she never felt it applied to her, and why
*The cultural differences of the LDS Church she noticed having been raised in Brazil and then immigrating to Utah
*Her marriage and subsequent divorce
*Immigrating to America in search of a new life for herself and her children
*How her struggle with anxiety and depression immediately subsided after she decided to leave the LDS Church
*Her remarriage to a true-believing member of the LDS Church and how they make their mixed-faith marriage work
*Vania’s YouTube channel where she explores different truth claims of the church
In this episode John Dehlin (OSF Chief Executive Officer, Board Member) and Craig Woodfield (OSF Board Member, Finance Committee Chair) review the successes of the Open Stories Foundation for 2016. Items discussed include:
- The OSF's longstanding commitment to financial transparency.
- The incredible growth of OSF podcasts in 2016.
- The emergence and success of a new retreats/workshops initiative to support Mormons experiencing a religious transition.
- A review of the newly released financial statements.
- Compensation of OSF staff and OSF podcasters.
- A discussion of the Mormon Transitions project.
SUPER grateful for all the questions submitted by OSF donors and listeners.
Please email any additional questions to: openstoriesboard@gmail.com.
Concluding our series on Transgender/Intersex issues within Mormonism, we interview London Flynn. London discusses her transition from male to female as a post-Mormon teen, including:
*Her desires and behaviors she wanted to take part in as a child, but was not free to express
*Achieving the Eagle Scout award as a teen, but feeling disconnected from the other boys
*Her fears of “coming out” when she began to study the methods others were subjected to as a way to “correct” gender confusion
*The different milestones in her transition and how her family, friends, and institutional leaders have responded
*Her hope and vision of the future
Thank you London for sharing your beautiful story and for helping all of us understand more the transgender experience within Mormonism!
In this episode, John, Margi, and Natasha Helfer Parker discuss guiding principles to maintaining successful relationships
In this episode, John, Margi, and Natasha Helfer Parker discuss forming a foundation for marriage that withstands change
In this episode of Mormon Stories, we continue our series on Transgender/Intersex education within Mormonism by interviewing Alex Autry. Alex discusses his transition from female to male as a post-Mormon teen, including:
- His early feelings and experiences with gender as a child
- His upbringing in the LDS Church and feelings of disconnection while involved in Young Women’s activities
- The constant desire to receive the Priesthood along with all the other boys
- How his strong and orthodox testimony served as a barrier to confronting his gender identity
- The feelings of relief when his family and schoolmates accepted his identity
- Leaving the LDS Church along with his family
- His beliefs now and his vision for the future
We are grateful to Alex for sharing his unique story and for shining a light on the transgender experience within the Mormon context!
In this episode John and Margi interview four individuals who are transgender and either active LDS or former LDS. Our panelists for this interview are Kimberly, Ann, Emmett, and Augustus. We discuss:
What it was like growing up in the LDS Church
What effect bullying and life in the “closet” had on them
How the panelists see transgender people fitting (or not) into LDS Church doctrine
“Trans-erasure” in the Church where lesbian, gay, and bisexual identities receive more focus and attention; therefore, transgender issues are less understood
How they were treated when they attended church as their authentic selves
Things they would like the Church to address with their transgender members
We thank our panelists for sharing each of their unique stories and for bringing light to the Mormon transgender experience!
Part 4: Kimberly shares the impact her transition had on her Mormon life, and shares her vision of the future
Kimberly Anderson is a self-actualized woman who has made the change from living for 45 years as a Mormon man to living openly as a woman. Before her transition, she lived, worked, and thrived for decades as a spouse, parent of two children, faithful Mormon, professional photographer, and university professor (BYU, UVU, Snow College).
Kimberly has a BA and an MFA from Utah State University, has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally as a professional photographer, and has work in various collections throughout the Intermountain West. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University, Snow College and Utah Valley University. She is the founder/photographer for the Mama Dragons Story Project which was recently featured on Mormon Stories Podcast.
This interview kicks off a 4-part series on Transgender/Intersex education within Mormonism.
Part 3: Kimberly details the sacrifices required when she made the decision to transition
Kimberly Anderson is a self-actualized woman who has made the change from living for 45 years as a Mormon man to living openly as a woman. Before her transition, she lived, worked, and thrived for decades as a spouse, parent of two children, faithful Mormon, professional photographer, and university professor (BYU, UVU, Snow College).
Kimberly has a BA and an MFA from Utah State University, has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally as a professional photographer, and has work in various collections throughout the Intermountain West. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University, Snow College and Utah Valley University. She is the founder/photographer for the Mama Dragons Story Project which was recently featured on Mormon Stories Podcast.
This interview kicks off a 4-part series on Transgender/Intersex education within Mormonism.
Part 2: Kimberly tells about her LDS mission experience, her marriage, and having children
Kimberly Anderson is a self-actualized woman who has made the change from living for 45 years as a Mormon man to living openly as a woman. Before her transition, she lived, worked, and thrived for decades as a spouse, parent of two children, faithful Mormon, professional photographer, and university professor (BYU, UVU, Snow College).
Kimberly has a BA and an MFA from Utah State University, has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally as a professional photographer, and has work in various collections throughout the Intermountain West. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University, Snow College and Utah Valley University. She is the founder/photographer for the Mama Dragons Story Project which was recently featured on Mormon Stories Podcast.
This interview kicks off a 4-part series on Transgender/Intersex education within Mormonism.
Part 1: Kimberly describes her early life as a child and teen raised in the LDS Church
Kimberly Anderson is a self-actualized woman who has made the change from living for 45 years as a Mormon man to living openly as a woman. Before her transition, she lived, worked, and thrived for decades as a spouse, parent of two children, faithful Mormon, professional photographer, and university professor (BYU, UVU, Snow College).
Kimberly has a BA and an MFA from Utah State University, has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally as a professional photographer, and has work in various collections throughout the Intermountain West. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University, Snow College and Utah Valley University. She is the founder/photographer for the Mama Dragons Story Project which was recently featured on Mormon Stories Podcast.
This interview kicks off a 4-part series on Transgender/Intersex education within Mormonism.
In this episode we discuss what happens when religions or religious people praise abusers in front of their victims.
In April 2017, Keith Robert Vallejo, a Mormon bishop, was convicted of 10 counts of forcible sexual abuse and one count of object rape, involving two women – who were both staying at his home at the time of the rape/abuse.
During his sentencing hearing in Provo, Utah, Fourth District judge Thomas Low (who is currently serving as Mormon bishop of the Valley Hills First Ward of the Heber City Utah North Stake), praised Vallejo as a "an extraordinarily good man" in front of his two victims.
You can hear his full statement here: https://soundcloud.com/user-592916436/judge-thomas-low-statement
In today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we are interviewing Ashlie. Ashlie currently attends a Mormon ward where a former bishop who has abused two separate victims who were both ward members. He was convicted of rape for the first offense has been fully reintegrated into the ward at the expense of his victims (who also remain in the ward). According to Ashlie:
- After the former bishop served time in prison, wealthy ward members pooled a large amount of money to have his name removed from the sex offender’s registry in Florida.
- He has been reinstated with full membership status back into the ward, and is currently serving as seminary teacher and as a high priest teacher.
- Many ward and stake members have not been informed of his former abuses.
- The victims and their families have been marginalized by the ward and stake for not being more “forgiving,” and for not “understanding the atonement.”
Today we will be discussing Ashlie’s perspective on the impact of protecting abusers at the expense of the abused, along with how this has impacted her own faith journey. Ashlie’s stories includes:
- Her conversion to the church.
- Her temple marriage that ended in divorce
- Her inappropriate excommunication for drinking alcohol
- Her rebaptism into the church by Bishop Mark McConkie (Colorado Spring)
- Her re-marriage (elopement, then temple sealing)
- Her experience in a ward where three successive bishops were excommunicated
- Her “shelf breakers” and faith transition (which happened only a month ago).
This episode includes a beautiful shout-out to Kristin Marie (Bennion), so check it out!
In this episode we discuss what happens when religions or religious people praise abusers in front of their victims.
In April 2017, Keith Robert Vallejo, a Mormon bishop, was convicted of 10 counts of forcible sexual abuse and one count of object rape, involving two women – who were both staying at his home at the time of the rape/abuse.
During his sentencing hearing in Provo, Utah, Fourth District judge Thomas Low (who is currently serving as Mormon bishop of the Valley Hills First Ward of the Heber City Utah North Stake), praised Vallejo as a "an extraordinarily good man" in front of his two victims.
You can hear his full statement here: https://soundcloud.com/user-592916436/judge-thomas-low-statement
In today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we are interviewing Ashlie. Ashlie currently attends a Mormon ward where a former bishop who has abused two separate victims who were both ward members. He was convicted of rape for the first offense has been fully reintegrated into the ward at the expense of his victims (who also remain in the ward). According to Ashlie:
- After the former bishop served time in prison, wealthy ward members pooled a large amount of money to have his name removed from the sex offender’s registry in Florida.
- He has been reinstated with full membership status back into the ward, and is currently serving as seminary teacher and as a high priest teacher.
- Many ward and stake members have not been informed of his former abuses.
- The victims and their families have been marginalized by the ward and stake for not being more “forgiving,” and for not “understanding the atonement.”
Today we will be discussing Ashlie’s perspective on the impact of protecting abusers at the expense of the abused, along with how this has impacted her own faith journey. Ashlie’s stories includes:
- Her conversion to the church.
- Her temple marriage that ended in divorce
- Her inappropriate excommunication for drinking alcohol
- Her rebaptism into the church by Bishop Mark McConkie (Colorado Spring)
- Her re-marriage (elopement, then temple sealing)
- Her experience in a ward where three successive bishops were excommunicated
- Her “shelf breakers” and faith transition (which happened only a month ago).
This episode includes a beautiful shout-out to Kristin Marie (Bennion), so check it out!
As part of our series on meetings with Mormon General Authorities, we interview Scott Duke. Scott met with Elder Christoffel Golden of the Seventy November 15, 2012.
In this episode, Scott recounts:
-His LDS mission experience and the troubling historical issues he put on his “shelf”
-His confusion about the role of personal revelation within the framework of the Mormon Church
-How he “came out” about his faith crisis to his wife and family
-How he landed an opportunity to meet with a General Authority of the Church as a last effort to restore faith
-The events and impressions of the meeting with Elder Golden
-The letter he wrote to Dieter F. Uchtdorf and the subsequent response
-The emotional fallout and impact on his family that resulted from his non-belief
As part of our series on meetings with Mormon General Authorities, we interview Meg and Jake Abhau as they relay the story of their September 2013 meeting with Mormon Apostle Elder D. Todd Christofferson.
Meg and Jake appeared on episodes 508-510 of Mormon Stories discussing their experiences in early 2013 when their 13 year old son, Jon, came out to them as gay while they were living as committed, orthodox Mormons. During this period Meg and Jake met Tom Christofferson, brother of Mormon Apostle D. Todd Christofferson. At the time Meg and Jake met Tom he was an excommunicated gay Mormon man living in a committed relationship for over 18 years. After hearing the Abhau’s story, Tom graciously offered to arrange a meeting between them and his brother, Elder D. Todd Christofferson.
In this episode Meg and Jake recount in detail their 1+ hour with apostle D. Todd Christofferson, which included:
- Elder D. Todd Christofferson acknowledging that the LDS Church may not be a safe place for our LGBT youth,
- Elder Christofferson acknowledging to Meg and Jake that personal revelation trumps revelation from Mormon leadership (but that he would never be able to admit this publicly to church members), and
- Meg informing Elder Christofferson that he and other LDS leadership had/have “blood on their hands” for the way that they have mishandled LGBT issues, contributing to a modern wave of LGBT youth suicides.
Meg and Jake also express their disappointment with Elder Christofferson’s role in speaking as the representative for the LDS church during the November 2015 policy decision denouncing same-sex couples as apostates, and disallowing their children from being baptised into the Mormon church. They also discuss their respective decisions to leave the Mormon church after decades of orthodox membership.
In this 4-part series, we interview Nicki and Lance Miles who share their Mormon upbringing, how they met, and how their individual mission experiences intertwined in Episode 1.
In Episode 2, we have a serious discussion about Lance’s father who comes out as gay and the impact it had on the Miles family. Nicki and Lance share how their feelings towards their father evolved in a more positive direction as time progressed.
Episode 3 details the meeting Nicki and Lance had with Marlin K. Jensen, former historian for the LDS Church. They detail the questions asked of the historian, and the impact his answers had on them.
Rounding out the interview, in Episode 4 we discuss Nicki’s feminist awakening and the impact it had on Lance’s view of their marriage. Transitioning out of the LDS Church led the couple to take a serious look at the foundation of their marriage and their approach to raising their children.
In this 4-part series, we interview Nicki and Lance Miles who share their Mormon upbringing, how they met, and how their individual mission experiences intertwined in Episode 1.
In Episode 2, we have a serious discussion about Lance’s father who comes out as gay and the impact it had on the Miles family. Nicki and Lance share how their feelings towards their father evolved in a more positive direction as time progressed.
Episode 3 details the meeting Nicki and Lance had with Marlin K. Jensen, former historian for the LDS Church. They detail the questions asked of the historian, and the impact his answers had on them.
Rounding out the interview, in Episode 4 we discuss Nicki’s feminist awakening and the impact it had on Lance’s view of their marriage. Transitioning out of the LDS Church led the couple to take a serious look at the foundation of their marriage and their approach to raising their children.
In this 4-part series, we interview Nicki and Lance Miles who share their Mormon upbringing, how they met, and how their individual mission experiences intertwined in Episode 1.
In Episode 2, we have a serious discussion about Lance’s father who comes out as gay and the impact it had on the Miles family. Nicki and Lance share how their feelings towards their father evolved in a more positive direction as time progressed.
Episode 3 details the meeting Nicki and Lance had with Marlin K. Jensen, former historian for the LDS Church. They detail the questions asked of the historian, and the impact his answers had on them.
Rounding out the interview, in Episode 4 we discuss Nicki’s feminist awakening and the impact it had on Lance’s view of their marriage. Transitioning out of the LDS Church led the couple to take a serious look at the foundation of their marriage and their approach to raising their children.
In this 4-part series, we interview Nicki and Lance Miles who share their Mormon upbringing, how they met, and how their individual mission experiences intertwined in Episode 1.
In Episode 2, we have a serious discussion about Lance’s father who comes out as gay and the impact it had on the Miles family. Nicki and Lance share how their feelings towards their father evolved in a more positive direction as time progressed.
Episode 3 details the meeting Nicki and Lance had with Marlin K. Jensen, former historian for the LDS Church. They detail the questions asked of the historian, and the impact his answers had on them.
Rounding out the interview, in Episode 4 we discuss Nicki’s feminist awakening and the impact it had on Lance’s view of their marriage. Transitioning out of the LDS Church led the couple to take a serious look at the foundation of their marriage and their approach to raising their children.
In this episode of Mormon Stories, we interview Noah Rasheta — the Executive Director of the Foundation for Mindful Living and host of the Secular Buddhism podcast. This meaningful and compelling interview covers:
- Noah’s early life as an orthodox Mormon believer and his struggle with the thought that with all of the good in the world, is it possible that the path set forth by the LDS Church is the only valid one?
- How he felt uneasy and shaken as he broadened his study of the Mormon faith
- His description of his transitioning process, his fears of leaving the LDS Church, and “coming out” as a non-believer to those in his faith community
- How as his transition progressed, his view towards people became more kind, warm, and compassionate
- His studies of Buddhist philosophy and the development of a purpose-driven life by integrating Buddhist teachings, modern science, humanism, and humor
In this episode of Mormon Stories, we interview Noah Rasheta — the Executive Director of the Foundation for Mindful Living and host of the Secular Buddhism podcast. This meaningful and compelling interview covers:
- Noah’s early life as an orthodox Mormon believer and his struggle with the thought that with all of the good in the world, is it possible that the path set forth by the LDS Church is the only valid one?
- How he felt uneasy and shaken as he broadened his study of the Mormon faith
- His description of his transitioning process, his fears of leaving the LDS Church, and “coming out” as a non-believer to those in his faith community
- How as his transition progressed, his view towards people became more kind, warm, and compassionate
- His studies of Buddhist philosophy and the development of a purpose-driven life by integrating Buddhist teachings, modern science, humanism, and humor
In this episode of Mormon Stories, we interview Noah Rasheta — the Executive Director of the Foundation for Mindful Living and host of the Secular Buddhism podcast. This meaningful and compelling interview covers:
- Noah’s early life as an orthodox Mormon believer and his struggle with the thought that with all of the good in the world, is it possible that the path set forth by the LDS Church is the only valid one?
- How he felt uneasy and shaken as he broadened his study of the Mormon faith
- His description of his transitioning process, his fears of leaving the LDS Church, and “coming out” as a non-believer to those in his faith community
- How as his transition progressed, his view towards people became more kind, warm, and compassionate
- His studies of Buddhist philosophy and the development of a purpose-driven life by integrating Buddhist teachings, modern science, humanism, and humor
In this episode of Mormon Stories, we interview Noah Rasheta — the Executive Director of the Foundation for Mindful Living and host of the Secular Buddhism podcast. This meaningful and compelling interview covers:
- Noah’s early life as an orthodox Mormon believer and his struggle with the thought that with all of the good in the world, is it possible that the path set forth by the LDS Church is the only valid one?
- How he felt uneasy and shaken as he broadened his study of the Mormon faith
- His description of his transitioning process, his fears of leaving the LDS Church, and “coming out” as a non-believer to those in his faith community
- How as his transition progressed, his view towards people became more kind, warm, and compassionate
- His studies of Buddhist philosophy and the development of a purpose-driven life by integrating Buddhist teachings, modern science, humanism, and humor
Panelists Wendy & Thomas Montgomery and Daniel Parkinson delve into topics related to Utah’s escalating suicide crisis and the feeling of despair that many LDS LGBT individuals experience.
Part 1: In this episode, the panel discusses appropriate guidelines when discussing suicide and work to identify possible correlates unique to Utah and the broader LDS LGBT community.
Part 2: In this episode, the panel discusses the perceived “whiplash” of mixed messaging from LDS Church leadership about LGBT people. They also discuss how to communicate and address the possible causes of the escalating suicide crisis, without violating the guidelines shared in episode 1.
Panelists Wendy & Thomas Montgomery and Daniel Parkinson delve into topics related to Utah’s escalating suicide crisis and the feeling of despair that many LDS LGBT individuals experience.
Part 1: In this episode, the panel discusses appropriate guidelines when discussing suicide and work to identify possible correlates unique to Utah and the broader LDS LGBT community.
Part 2: In this episode, the panel discusses the perceived “whiplash” of mixed messaging from LDS Church leadership about LGBT people. They also discuss how to communicate and address the possible causes of the escalating suicide crisis, without violating the guidelines shared in episode 1.
SUPER honored/proud to release my latest interview with Heidi Nielson Packard and Dr. Josh Packard. This powerful, informative, and in-depth interview covers:
- Heidi and Josh’s very orthodox Mormon upbringing and early years as Mormons. For those interested, Heidi’s brother is Christian Nielson, who is married to Stephanie Nielson of the NieNie Dialogues blog (sister to Courtney Clark Kendrick or CJane)
- Their faith crisis involving science and LDS history (reading Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling), which resulted in Josh asking to be released from the bishopric,
- How Heidi and Josh found value in secular humanism as a way to raise their children after Mormonism,
- How the military community has helped to meet there social needs after leaving Mormonism, and
- How they overcame early “mistakes” in communicating with believing family, resulting in more loving, respectful relationships with believing family members today.
SUPER honored/proud to release my latest interview with Heidi Nielson Packard and Dr. Josh Packard. This powerful, informative, and in-depth interview covers:
- Heidi and Josh’s very orthodox Mormon upbringing and early years as Mormons. For those interested, Heidi’s brother is Christian Nielson, who is married to Stephanie Nielson of the NieNie Dialogues blog (sister to Courtney Clark Kendrick or CJane)
- Their faith crisis involving science and LDS history (reading Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling), which resulted in Josh asking to be released from the bishopric,
- How Heidi and Josh found value in secular humanism as a way to raise their children after Mormonism,
- How the military community has helped to meet there social needs after leaving Mormonism, and
- How they overcame early “mistakes” in communicating with believing family, resulting in more loving, respectful relationships with believing family members today.
SUPER honored/proud to release my latest interview with Heidi Nielson Packard and Dr. Josh Packard. This powerful, informative, and in-depth interview covers:
- Heidi and Josh’s very orthodox Mormon upbringing and early years as Mormons. For those interested, Heidi’s brother is Christian Nielson, who is married to Stephanie Nielson of the NieNie Dialogues blog (sister to Courtney Clark Kendrick or CJane)
- Their faith crisis involving science and LDS history (reading Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling), which resulted in Josh asking to be released from the bishopric,
- How Heidi and Josh found value in secular humanism as a way to raise their children after Mormonism,
- How the military community has helped to meet there social needs after leaving Mormonism, and
- How they overcame early “mistakes” in communicating with believing family, resulting in more loving, respectful relationships with believing family members today.
SUPER honored/proud to release my latest interview with Heidi Nielson Packard and Dr. Josh Packard. This powerful, informative, and in-depth interview covers:
- Heidi and Josh’s very orthodox Mormon upbringing and early years as Mormons. For those interested, Heidi’s brother is Christian Nielson, who is married to Stephanie Nielson of the NieNie Dialogues blog (sister to Courtney Clark Kendrick or CJane)
- Their faith crisis involving science and LDS history (reading Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling), which resulted in Josh asking to be released from the bishopric,
- How Heidi and Josh found value in secular humanism as a way to raise their children after Mormonism,
- How the military community has helped to meet there social needs after leaving Mormonism, and
- How they overcame early “mistakes” in communicating with believing family, resulting in more loving, respectful relationships with believing family members today.
In this two-part episode, Dr. John Dehlin and his wife Margi hold a panel discussion with Kristin Marie, Michelle Ross, Paul Smith, and Ryan Stott. The panel navigates topics that include sexuality/purity messaging for the youth of the church, its impacts, and suggestions for approaching sexuality in healthy ways.
Part 1: The panel discusses the purity messaging they received as youth in the church and its impact on their sexual education and emotional well-being.
Part 2: The panel discusses healthy sexuality topics including developing your own definition of intimacy, negotiating your sexual experiences, and consent.
In this two-part episode, Dr. John Dehlin and his wife Margi hold a panel discussion with Kristin Marie, Michelle Ross, Paul Smith, and Ryan Stott. The panel navigates topics that include sexuality/purity messaging for the youth of the church, its impacts, and suggestions for approaching sexuality in healthy ways.
Part 1: The panel discusses the purity messaging they received as youth in the church and its impact on their sexual education and emotional well-being.
Part 2: The panel discusses healthy sexuality topics including developing your own definition of intimacy, negotiating your sexual experiences, and consent.
In this four-part episode, Trevor Haugen shares and analyzes his experience meeting with LDS General Authority Don R. Clarkeand LDS church historian Dr. Matthew J. Grow as they attempt to address his mounting concerns with deeply troubling Mormon history and doctrine.
Part 1: Trevor discusses his life as an orthodox Mormon believer, including his mission service and temple marriages.
Parts 2, 3 & 4: Trevor and Dr. John Dehlin discusses the meeting, and particularly analyze the apologetics offered by Elder Clarke and Dr. Matthew Grow.
In this four-part episode, Trevor Haugen shares and analyzes his experience meeting with LDS General Authority Don R. Clarkeand LDS church historian Dr. Matthew J. Grow as they attempt to address his mounting concerns with deeply troubling Mormon history and doctrine.
Part 1: Trevor discusses his life as an orthodox Mormon believer, including his mission service and temple marriages.
Parts 2, 3 & 4: Trevor and Dr. John Dehlin discusses the meeting, and particularly analyze the apologetics offered by Elder Clarke and Dr. Matthew Grow.
In this four-part episode, Trevor Haugen shares and analyzes his experience meeting with LDS General Authority Don R. Clarkeand LDS church historian Dr. Matthew J. Grow as they attempt to address his mounting concerns with deeply troubling Mormon history and doctrine.
Part 1: Trevor discusses his life as an orthodox Mormon believer, including his mission service and temple marriages.
Parts 2, 3 & 4: Trevor and Dr. John Dehlin discusses the meeting, and particularly analyze the apologetics offered by Elder Clarke and Dr. Matthew Grow.
In this four-part episode, Trevor Haugen shares with us his experience meeting with LDS General Authority Don R. Clarke and LDS church historian Dr. Matthew J. Grow as they attempt to address his mounting concerns with deeply troubling Mormon history and doctrine.
Part 1: Trevor discusses his life as an orthodox Mormon believer, including his mission service and temple marriages.
Parts 2, 3, & 4: Trevor and John Dehlin discuss the apologetics offered by Elder Clarke and Dr. Matthew Grow.
A two-part interview with the founders of MormonLeaks: Ryan McKnight and Scott K. Fausett.
A two-part interview with the founders of MormonLeaks: Ryan McKnight and Scott K. Fausett.
In part 2 of this two-part series, we discuss death, loss, and grief. Co-hosts are John and Margi Dehlin. Today’s Panelists: Emily Celis and Aimee Heffernan.
In part 1 of this two-part series, we discuss death, loss, and grief. Co-hosts are John and Margi Dehlin. Today’s Panelists: Emily Celis and Aimee Heffernan.
We are a group of women 40+ with longer life experiences. We are grandmothers, mothers, aunts, single, divorced, widowed or married. We are LGBT friendly and feminists! Many of us are just learning feminism. Having felt the pain of patriarchy, but not having a “language” to describe our experiences, we are giving ourselves permission to flourish and grow with no limitations or constructs.
Many of us are at the beginning of a life we never imagined. We have had to make tough decisions, been tried by our choices, and some of us have lost important connections along the way. Being of a “certain age” makes it harder to make friends and to find a community of like-minded souls with whom to move forward with love, joy and friendship. We realize that our decisions can affect many generations, so our time is spent fostering relationships with our loved ones and excelling in our careers, businesses, and at home, all of which leaves little time and opportunity to make new friends.
This group is for “women of a certain age” or lovingly called WOCA (Wah-kah). We also have a group for “women of a certain age” and under. This age group, affectionally known as the UNDERS is from 30-40. The final group under the umbrella of WOCA are the COCAs. These are “Couples of a Certain Age” for those wishing to participate as couples. And housed inside of COCA is the “men only” group which meet regularly in men-only events.
WOCA activities are NOT within the paradigm of our former religious background, although themes from our lived experiences may come up. We have transitioned from our former organized religious choices and wish to create wonderful spaces where ALL people with commonalities can come together, share and find community.
If you would like to join us, please contact, from the list below, the appropriate person from your geographical area by way of Facebook messenger.
Wasatch (The Mother Ship): Christine Elkington & Kim Turner
COCA: Brett Nord
UNDERS: Ruth Tyson
Phoenix: Amy Grubbs
Boston: Amy Grubbs
Las Vegas: Christine Elkington
Bay Area: Kim Turner
Texas: Lisa Keyes
So-Cal: Lisa Durtschi
Idaho: Lisa Keyes
Sacramento: Lisa Keyes
Seattle: Nicole Bruderer
Cedar City/St. George: Nicole Bruderer
Denver: Ruth Tyson
Florida: Kim Turner
Oregon: Kim Turner
And if where you live isn’t on the list, please join our ONLINE group and be with women around the world just like you!
ONLINE: Kim Turner & Christine Elkington
Marco Meiling, active and believing LDS church member in the Netherlands, reports on the beginning of a major contraction of the LDS Church in Europe.
From Marco's original message to me:
Have you heard yet about a big push to consolidate the units in Europe.
We are having closing after closing being announced. Yesterday a closing was announced, and the Stake President stated there are 800 units in Europe which are considered too weak and would need to merge. We have 1163 units in Western Europe acc to Cumorah.com.Holland with 34 wards will close 5 at least this year. In Holland the Church is phasing out all wards which don´t have a purpose-built Chapel.
Temple-attendance here is down 60% compared to 2000. However the amount of recommendholders went up 200%. So what do we make of this: A Temple is a way for the Church to increase revenue. So even with less people, the Church can make a higher turnover.
The main reason given is that these units are too weak to run programmes aimed at the youth. and small units demand too much from the few members. Research has shown that people and families benefit form larger wards, and families are less burdened. That why the policy direction. Of course the longer travel will cause problems for some menbers. Assistance will be needed.
Kim Sandberg Turner is the founder of Women of a Certain Age (WOCA) - a network of support groups for 40+ post-Mormon women. In this four part episode, Kim discusses:
- Part 1: Her years growing up as a faithful Mormon in Salt Lake City, meeting and marrying Terry (her childhood sweetheart and husband of 42 years), and the many years her family lived in Bolivia as devout Mormons (Terry serving as a Mormon bishop twice, and Kim in multiple Relief Society Presidencies).
- Part 2: How Kim and Terry's Mormon faith began to unravel as their son Josh came out to them as gay, and as they began studying LDS church history in depth.
- Part 3: Kim discusses how she and Terry navigated their faith transition as parents and grandparents, exploring topics such as how they dealt with their Draper ward once they decided to leave the church, how they have handled parenting and grandparenting through a faith transition, what they do and don't believe today, and the importance of community in their transition.
- Part 4: Kim shares the story of how she founded WOCA, how WOCA operates, and what WOCA means to her and to the other WOCA women.
Kim Sandberg Turner is the founder of Women of a Certain Age (WOCA) - a network of support groups for 40+ post-Mormon women. In this four part episode, Kim discusses:
- Part 1: Her years growing up as a faithful Mormon in Salt Lake City, meeting and marrying Terry (her childhood sweetheart and husband of 42 years), and the many years her family lived in Bolivia as devout Mormons (Terry serving as a Mormon bishop twice, and Kim in multiple Relief Society Presidencies).
- Part 2: How Kim and Terry's Mormon faith began to unravel as their son Josh came out to them as gay, and as they began studying LDS church history in depth.
- Part 3: Kim discusses how she and Terry navigated their faith transition as parents and grandparents, exploring topics such as how they dealt with their Draper ward once they decided to leave the church, how they have handled parenting and grandparenting through a faith transition, what they do and don't believe today, and the importance of community in their transition.
- Part 4: Kim shares the story of how she founded WOCA, how WOCA operates, and what WOCA means to her and to the other WOCA women.
Kim Sandberg Turner is the founder of Women of a Certain Age (WOCA) - a network of support groups for 40+ post-Mormon women. In this four part episode, Kim discusses:
- Part 1: Her years growing up as a faithful Mormon in Salt Lake City, meeting and marrying Terry (her childhood sweetheart and husband of 42 years), and the many years her family lived in Bolivia as devout Mormons (Terry serving as a Mormon bishop twice, and Kim in multiple Relief Society Presidencies).
- Part 2: How Kim and Terry's Mormon faith began to unravel as their son Josh came out to them as gay, and as they began studying LDS church history in depth.
- Part 3: Kim discusses how she and Terry navigated their faith transition as parents and grandparents, exploring topics such as how they dealt with their Draper ward once they decided to leave the church, how they have handled parenting and grandparenting through a faith transition, what they do and don't believe today, and the importance of community in their transition.
- Part 4: Kim shares the story of how she founded WOCA, how WOCA operates, and what WOCA means to her and to the other WOCA women.
Kim Sandberg Turner is the founder of Women of a Certain Age (WOCA) - a network of support groups for 40+ post-Mormon women. In this four part episode, Kim discusses:
- Part 1: Her years growing up as a faithful Mormon in Salt Lake City, meeting and marrying Terry (her childhood sweetheart and husband of 42 years), and the many years her family lived in Bolivia as devout Mormons (Terry serving as a Mormon bishop twice, and Kim in multiple Relief Society Presidencies).
- Part 2: How Kim and Terry's Mormon faith began to unravel as their son Josh came out to them as gay, and as they began studying LDS church history in depth.
- Part 3: Kim discusses how she and Terry navigated their faith transition as parents and grandparents, exploring topics such as how they dealt with their Draper, Utah ward once they decided to leave the church, how they have handled parenting and grandparenting through a faith transition, what they do and don't believe today, and the importance of community in their transition.
- Part 4: Kim shares the story of how she founded WOCA, how WOCA operates, and what WOCA means to her and to the other WOCA women.
In this episode, an all-star panel reviews a recently leaked presentation created by the quorum of the twelve apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The presentation is entitled "Area Business Weekends," is dated December 8, 2015, and lays out the process for local LDS stakes and areas to request special training meetings from the LDS quorum of the 12 (e.g., Boise Rescue, Elder Ballard's Young Single Adult stake in Utah County).
Within the presentation the LDS Q12 reveals its view on the external causes for people leaving the LDS church, which explicitly name individuals such as John Dehlin, Denver Snuffer, and Robert Norman, along with other broader trends, movements, and ideas such as secularism, Ordain Women, support for same-sex marriage (entitled "Disagree with current policies"), chastity, pornography, lack of commitment, failure to observe the sabbath, those fascinated with the "last days/end of world" (i.e., Preppers/Julie Rowe), "false prophets," and anyone who feels they need "something more" from the church.
In no instance does the Quorum of the 12 demonstrate introspection as to what they or the church might be doing to contribute to disaffection from the Mormon church.
Today's panel includes Dr. Gina Colvin (A Thoughtful Faith Podcast and KiwiMormon), Lindsay Hansen Park (Sunstone), Pastor John Hamer (Toronto Community of Christ), Jesse Stay, and Ryan McKnight (Mormon Leaks).
In this three-part interview, we honor Grant Palmer, former LDS seminary/institute instructor, and author of "An Insider's View of Mormon Origins" - which provides a plausible explanation for how the Book of Mormon was authored by Joseph Smith.
This interview has three parts:
Part 1: Grant reflects on his experience authoring An Insider's View of Mormon origins, discusses his disfellowshipment and ultimate decision to resign from the LDS (after threats of excommunication). Grant also reflects upon the impact of An Insider's View on the LDS church.
Part 2: Grant discusses his new, yet-to-be-published book, "Restoring Christ." Within the book he discusses why he continues to believe, how he justifies belief in Christ and the Bible after losing faith in the LDS church and in the Book of Mormon, what the atonement does and doesn't mean to him, how he deals with the God of the Old Testament, etc. He also discusses in-depth his conversation with an LDS general authority who claims that modern LDS apostles receive $1 million once they become apostles, and that many of them do not believe the LDS church to be true (a claim that I challenge).
Part 3: Participants in the evening share with Grant what his work has meant to them. In addition, Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees) sings two songs in honor of Grant from his new album, Excommunication.
In this three-part interview, we honor Grant Palmer, former LDS seminary/institute instructor, and author of "An Insider's View of Mormon Origins" - which provides a plausible explanation for how the Book of Mormon was authored by Joseph Smith.
This interview has three parts:
Part 1: Grant reflects on his experience authoring An Insider's View of Mormon origins, discusses his disfellowshipment and ultimate decision to resign from the LDS (after threats of excommunication). Grant also reflects upon the impact of An Insider's View on the LDS church.
Part 2: Grant discusses his new, yet-to-be-published book, "Restoring Christ." Within the book he discusses why he continues to believe, how he justifies belief in Christ and the Bible after losing faith in the LDS church and in the Book of Mormon, what the atonement does and doesn't mean to him, how he deals with the God of the Old Testament, etc. He also discusses in-depth his conversation with an LDS general authority who claims that modern LDS apostles receive $1 million once they become apostles, and that many of them do not believe the LDS church to be true (a claim that I challenge).
Part 3: Participants in the evening share with Grant what his work has meant to them. In addition, Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees) sings two songs in honor of Grant from his new album, Excommunication.
In this three-part interview, we honor Grant Palmer, former LDS seminary/institute instructor, and author of "An Insider's View of Mormon Origins" - which provides a plausible explanation for how the Book of Mormon was authored by Joseph Smith.
This interview has three parts:
Part 1: Grant reflects on his experience authoring An Insider's View of Mormon origins, discusses his disfellowshipment and ultimate decision to resign from the LDS (after threats of excommunication). Grant also reflects upon the impact of An Insider's View on the LDS church.
Part 2: Grant discusses his new, yet-to-be-published book, "Restoring Christ." Within the book he discusses why he continues to believe, how he justifies belief in Christ and the Bible after losing faith in the LDS church and in the Book of Mormon, what the atonement does and doesn't mean to him, how he deals with the God of the Old Testament, etc. He also discusses in-depth his conversation with an LDS general authority who claims that modern LDS apostles receive $1 million once they become apostles, and that many of them do not believe the LDS church to be true (a claim that I challenge).
Part 3: Participants in the evening share with Grant what his work has meant to them. In addition, Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees) sings two songs in honor of Grant from his new album, Excommunication.
Nadine McCombs Hansen has been championing progressive causes within Mormonism for over three decades. Some of her efforts include:
- Supporting the Equal Rights Amendment as a Mormon mother, including interactions with Sonia Johnson.
- Speaking out in favor of female priesthood ordination within Mormonism.
- Opposing Proposition 22 and Proposition 8 in California, in support of same-sex marriage.
- Working as an attorney in support of children of FLDS families.
In this 4-part series, Nadine discusses her evolution and reflects on her life as a progressive Mormon pioneer.
Nadine McCombs Hansen has been championing progressive causes within Mormonism for over three decades. Some of her efforts include:
- Supporting the Equal Rights Amendment as a Mormon mother, including interactions with Sonia Johnson.
- Speaking out in favor of female priesthood ordination within Mormonism.
- Opposing Proposition 22 and Proposition 8 in California, in support of same-sex marriage.
- Working as an attorney in support of children of FLDS families.
In this 4-part series, Nadine discusses her evolution and reflects on her life as a progressive Mormon pioneer.
Nadine McCombs Hansen has been championing progressive causes within Mormonism for over three decades. Some of her efforts include:
- Supporting the Equal Rights Amendment as a Mormon mother, including interactions with Sonia Johnson.
- Speaking out in favor of female priesthood ordination within Mormonism.
- Opposing Proposition 22 and Proposition 8 in California, in support of same-sex marriage.
- Working as an attorney in support of children of FLDS families.
In this 4-part series, Nadine discusses her evolution and reflects on her life as a progressive Mormon pioneer.
Nadine McCombs Hansen has been championing progressive causes within Mormonism for over three decades. Some of her efforts include:
- Supporting the Equal Rights Amendment as a Mormon mother, including interactions with Sonia Johnson.
- Speaking out in favor of female priesthood ordination within Mormonism.
- Opposing Proposition 22 and Proposition 8 in California, in support of same-sex marriage.
- Working as an attorney in support of children of FLDS families.
In this 4-part series, Nadine discusses her evolution and reflects on her life as a progressive Mormon pioneer.
A bit of sad news, and a bit of happy news. First the sad.
Grant Palmer, author of An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins – certainly one of the most important books in 20th/21st century Mormonism, is dying of cancer. I confirmed this with Grant yesterday – when he related to me that he likely only has weeks/months to live. This information moves many of us deeply, since Grant’s courageous scholarship over the years (which has come at a great personal cost to him) has been instrumental in helping tens of thousands of Mormons understand their church history more accurately. I dare say that projects like Mormon Stories Podcast, Mormon Think, Letter to a CES Director, and even the recent LDS Church Gospel Topics Essays would not exist without the courage and scholarship of Grant Palmer.
Now for the happy news. Mormon Stories Podcast and the Open Stories Foundation, along with a few supporters, will be holding a private event in Grant Palmer’s honor on the evening of February 15, 2017* in Utah – with the plan of live-streaming the event to all who are interested in showing support for Grant. The event will include:
- An interview with Grant, wherein he will discuss his most recent book, along with reflections on his life.
- A chance for some of those who are grateful for Grant’s work to express appreciation for him.
If you are interested in participating in this tribute/celebration, there are a few things you can do to participate:
- Record a brief Facebook or Youtube video expressing your gratitude to Grant (and his positive impact on your life), and post the link as a comment here.
- Write a text-based tribute to Grant in the comments section here.
- Send an email to mormonstories@gmail.com with “Grant Pamer” in the subject line, wherein you express to Grant your gratitude for the positive impact that his work has had on your life.
Feel free to use the hash tag #grantpalmer for any of the tributes you share on social media. Finally, these emails, blog comments, and videos will be gathered and shared with Grant at the live-steamed, worldwide event in honor of him.
Thanks for taking the time to honor Grant with us, and we very much look forward to the evening of February 15th wherein we hope to show Grant how much we love and appreciate him! Date subject to how Grant is doing/feeling.
Noah Rasheta is the CEO of iStabilizer, and the founder of Secular Buddhism podcast.
Noah was raised in the LDS church with a U.S.-born father and a Mexican-born mother - living many years of his life both in Mexico and in the United States. Noah served an LDS mission and was married in an LDS temple to his wife, Giselle. Several years ago Noah experienced a major betrayal of trust by a loved one, which led to a deep exploration of Joseph Smith, LDS Church doctrine, and LDS Church history. By the end of his exploration, Noah lost his belief in fundamental LDS Church doctrine and truth claims, but found great solace and strength in the teachings of secular Buddhism.
Today Noah remains semi-active in the LDS church as part of a mixed-faith marriage, and teaches the principles of Secular Buddhism via his podcast, his new book, and occasional workshops. For those seeking to either supplement or replace LDS-based spirituality, or who are looking for a fabulous framework for positive mental health and well-being (before, during, or after a religious faith crisis) the teachings of Secular Buddhism can be extremely valuable for you.
Noah Rasheta is the CEO of iStabilizer, and the founder of Secular Buddhism podcast.
Noah was raised in the LDS church with a U.S.-born father and a Mexican-born mother - living many years of his life both in Mexico and in the United States. Noah served an LDS mission and was married in an LDS temple to his wife, Giselle. Several years ago Noah experienced a major betrayal of trust by a loved one, which led to a deep exploration of Joseph Smith, LDS Church doctrine, and LDS Church history. By the end of his exploration, Noah lost his belief in fundamental LDS Church doctrine and truth claims, but found great solace and strength in the teachings of secular Buddhism.
Today Noah remains semi-active in the LDS church as part of a mixed-faith marriage, and teaches the principles of Secular Buddhism via his podcast, his new book, and occasional workshops. For those seeking to either supplement or replace LDS-based spirituality, or who are looking for a fabulous framework for positive mental health and well-being (before, during, or after a religious faith crisis) the teachings of Secular Buddhism can be extremely valuable for you.
Is the LDS Church in decline, or one of the fastest growing churches in the world? Please join us today at Noon (Mountain) as sociologists Ryan Cragun and Rick Phillips review LDS Church growth statistics for 2016.
We will be reviewing Matt Martinich’s recent article entitled “Top 10 Encouraging and Discouraging LDS Growth and Missionary Developments in 2016.”
Is the LDS Church in decline, or one of the fastest growing churches in the world? Please join us today at Noon (Mountain) as sociologists Ryan Cragun and Rick Phillips review LDS Church growth statistics for 2016.
We will be reviewing Matt Martinich’s recent article entitled “Top 10 Encouraging and Discouraging LDS Growth and Missionary Developments in 2016.” (link below).
In this episode, recorded January 11, 2017, we discuss tips on communicating with orthodox/believing Mormons. Co-hosts are John and Margi Dehlin. Panelists include Amy Grubbs, Shandi Hill, Brynne and Jared Grant, and Tanner Gilliland.
An introduction to Mormon Transitions Live! podcast, hosted by John and Margi Dehlin. Panelists on today’s episode include Amy Grubbs, Shandi Hill, Marco Perez and Dan Wotherspoon.
As the first interview for the new Mormon Transitions project, I am incredibly pleased to interview my dear wife of 23 years, Margaret (Margi) Weber Dehlin. In this three-part interview, I ask Margi a series of 46 questions focusing on thee parts:
- Part 1: Margi's life as a believing Mormon. This includes questions about how her family joined the LDS church in Washington D.C. during the 1970s, reflections on her own "conversion" to the church, Margi's favorite parts about being a believing, active Mormon, and the most challenging parts as well.
- Part 2: Margi's faith crisis and transition away from Mormon orthodoxy, including our time trying to remain LDS as semi-believers, and her experiences and reflections on my excommunication. Topics include the impetus for Margi's faith transition, how she/we "came out" to our children parents, extended family, etc. as unorthodox Mormons, and what the most difficult and rewarding parts of the transition were.
- Part 3: Margi's life and perspective now, as a post-Mormon, including reflections on her current beliefs and non-beliefs, her approach to nurturing a healthy/happy family without religion, how she approaches raising children without the church, and why she feels as though she and our family are happier and healthier than ever before after leaving the church.
The plan for Mormon Transitions podcast is as follows:
- We plan to conduct somewhere between 20 and 30 of these interviews, and to share them at http://mormontransitions.org. We also plan to "chop" these interviews up by question, so that people can peruse the interview by topic (e.g., raising children after a faith crisis, how to "come out" to family and friends, secular spirituality, dealing with death).
- We plan to host a weekly call-in show where people can call with their questions/concerns and receive feedback from a mental health professional and/or expert.
- We plan to compile all the advice and perspective over 2017 into a book entitled something to the effect of, "Navigating a Mormon Transition."
- We plan to continue hosting Mormon Transition Events across the U.S. See our Mormon Transitions event calendar for events as they are scheduled.
If you support Mormon Stories, Mormon Transitions, Mormon Matters, A Thoughtful Faith, or any of the Open Stories Foundation projects, please consider a donation today. You can donate via any of the "donate" buttons on any of the pages.
As the first interview for the new Mormon Transitions project, I am incredibly pleased to interview my dear wife of 23 years, Margaret (Margi) Weber Dehlin. In this three-part interview, I ask Margi a series of 46 questions focusing on thee parts:
- Part 1: Margi's life as a believing Mormon. This includes questions about how her family joined the LDS church in Washington D.C. during the 1970s, reflections on her own "conversion" to the church, Margi's favorite parts about being a believing, active Mormon, and the most challenging parts as well.
- Part 2: Margi's faith crisis and transition away from Mormon orthodoxy, including our time trying to remain LDS as semi-believers, and her experiences and reflections on my excommunication. Topics include the impetus for Margi's faith transition, how she/we "came out" to our children parents, extended family, etc. as unorthodox Mormons, and what the most difficult and rewarding parts of the transition were.
- Part 3: Margi's life and perspective now, as a post-Mormon, including reflections on her current beliefs and non-beliefs, her approach to nurturing a healthy/happy family without religion, how she approaches raising children without the church, and why she feels as though she and our family are happier and healthier than ever before after leaving the church.
The plan for Mormon Transitions podcast is as follows:
- We plan to conduct somewhere between 20 and 30 of these interviews, and to share them at http://mormontransitions.org. We also plan to "chop" these interviews up by question, so that people can peruse the interview by topic (e.g., raising children after a faith crisis, how to "come out" to family and friends, secular spirituality, dealing with death).
- We plan to host a weekly call-in show where people can call with their questions/concerns and receive feedback from a mental health professional and/or expert.
- We plan to compile all the advice and perspective over 2017 into a book entitled something to the effect of, "Navigating a Mormon Transition."
- We plan to continue hosting Mormon Transition Events across the U.S. See our Mormon Transitions event calendar for events as they are scheduled.
If you support Mormon Stories, Mormon Transitions, Mormon Matters, A Thoughtful Faith, or any of the Open Stories Foundation projects, please consider a donation today. You can donate via any of the "donate" buttons on any of the pages.
As the first interview for the new Mormon Transitions project, I am incredibly pleased to interview my dear wife of 23 years, Margaret (Margi) Weber Dehlin. In this three-part interview, I ask Margi a series of 46 questions focusing on thee parts:
- Part 1: Margi's life as a believing Mormon. This includes questions about how her family joined the LDS church in Washington D.C. during the 1970s, reflections on her own "conversion" to the church, Margi's favorite parts about being a believing, active Mormon, and the most challenging parts as well.
- Part 2: Margi's faith crisis and transition away from Mormon orthodoxy, including our time trying to remain LDS as semi-believers, and her experiences and reflections on my excommunication. Topics include the impetus for Margi's faith transition, how she/we "came out" to our children parents, extended family, etc. as unorthodox Mormons, and what the most difficult and rewarding parts of the transition were.
- Part 3: Margi's life and perspective now, as a post-Mormon, including reflections on her current beliefs and non-beliefs, her approach to nurturing a healthy/happy family without religion, how she approaches raising children without the church, and why she feels as though she and our family are happier and healthier than ever before after leaving the church.
The plan for Mormon Transitions podcast is as follows:
- We plan to conduct somewhere between 20 and 30 of these interviews, and to share them at http://mormontransitions.org. We also plan to "chop" these interviews up by question, so that people can peruse the interview by topic (e.g., raising children after a faith crisis, how to "come out" to family and friends, secular spirituality, dealing with death).
- We plan to host a weekly call-in show where people can call with their questions/concerns and receive feedback from a mental health professional and/or expert.
- We plan to compile all the advice and perspective over 2017 into a book entitled something to the effect of, "Navigating a Mormon Transition."
- We plan to continue hosting Mormon Transition Events across the U.S. See our Mormon Transitions event calendar for events as they are scheduled.
If you support Mormon Stories, Mormon Transitions, Mormon Matters, A Thoughtful Faith, or any of the Open Stories Foundation projects, please consider a donation today. You can donate via any of the "donate" buttons on any of the pages.
Sara Stanley Urquhart was the founding director of Altitude Summit, the premiere conference for creative entrepreneurs, stylish social media influencers, and bloggers. Past speakers at the conference include Martha Stewart, Ben Silbermann (Pinterest founder), Jessica Alba, Jordan Ferney (Oh Happy Day!), Liz Stanley (Say Yes), and Heather Armstrong (Dooce).
Sara created this successful business as a means to generate income when her husband, Stephen H. Urquhart, decided to run for the Utah State Legislature.
In this two-part interview, Sara discusses:
- Part 1: How she created Altitude Summit as a stay-at-home Mom with four children. She also discusses the design blogging industry as a whole.
- Part 2: Her Mormon faith transition.
Additional Bio: Sara runs an eponymous consulting business. She sits on the Salt Lake City Planning Commission and board of directors for the Women’s Resource Center at the University of Utah. She is the founding board president of the St. George Family Support Center (2007-09). She was a member and board chair of the St. George Art Around the Corner Foundation (1998-2009). Sara has her bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and her Masters of Emergency Planning from Jacksonville State University. Sara and Stephen have four children.
Sara Stanley Urquhart was the founding director of Altitude Summit, the premiere conference for creative entrepreneurs, stylish social media influencers, and bloggers. Past speakers at the conference include Martha Stewart, Ben Silbermann (Pinterest founder), Jessica Alba, Jordan Ferney (Oh Happy Day!), Liz Stanley (Say Yes), and Heather Armstrong (Dooce).
Sara created this successful business as a means to generate income when her husband, Stephen H. Urquhart, decided to run for the Utah State Legislature.
In this two-part interview, Sara discusses:
- Part 1: How she created Altitude Summit as a stay-at-home Mom with four children. She also discusses the design blogging industry as a whole.
- Part 2: Her Mormon faith transition.
Additional Bio: Sara runs an eponymous consulting business. She sits on the Salt Lake City Planning Commission and board of directors for the Women’s Resource Center at the University of Utah. She is the founding board president of the St. George Family Support Center (2007-09). She was a member and board chair of the St. George Art Around the Corner Foundation (1998-2009). Sara has her bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and her Masters of Emergency Planning from Jacksonville State University. Sara and Stephen have four children.
Stephen Urquhart was raised in Houston, Texas, where he and his family converted to the LDS church after the suicide of his older brother. After serving an LDS mission in Brazil, Steve married Sara Stanley and graduated from BYU Law School -- ultimately settling in St. George, Utah.
After developing a successful law career in St. George, Stephen served for 16 years in the Utah State Legislature, representing Washington County. In total, Stephen served 8 years in the Utah House of Representatives, and 8 years in the Utah Senate.
During this vast legislative career, Stephen championed legislation on several issues crucial to Utahns, including: public land use, water rights, death penalty, increasing citizen access to legal services, numerous initiatives to improve K-12 and higher education in Utah, and most recently -- anti-discrimination and hate crimes legislation (LGBT), as well as the legalization of medical marijuana.
In this two-part episode, Stephen discusses:
- Part 1: His early years in the LDS Church, and his legal and legislative careers in Utah.
- Part 2: His experiences and reflections on the powerful influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the Utah legislative process, and his loss of LDS faith after witnessing the negative impact of LDS LGBT policies on several people close to him.
Stephen Urquhart was raised in Houston, Texas, where he and his family converted to the LDS church after the suicide of his older brother. After serving an LDS mission in Brazil, Steve married Sara Stanley and graduated from BYU Law School -- ultimately settling in St. George, Utah.
After developing a successful law career in St. George, Stephen served for 16 years in the Utah State Legislature, representing Washington County. In total, Stephen served 8 years in the Utah House of Representatives, and 8 years in the Utah Senate.
During this vast legislative career, Stephen championed legislation on several issues crucial to Utahns, including: public land use, water rights, death penalty, increasing citizen access to legal services, numerous initiatives to improve K-12 and higher education in Utah, and most recently -- anti-discrimination and hate crimes legislation (LGBT), as well as the legalization of medical marijuana.
In this two-part episode, Stephen discusses:
- Part 1: His early years in the LDS Church, and his legal and legislative careers in Utah.
- Part 2: His experiences and reflections on the powerful influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the Utah legislative process, and his loss of LDS faith after witnessing the negative impact of LDS LGBT policies on several people close to him.
Lance Allred's Mormon story is fascinating for so many reasons.
- He is the grandson of assassinated Mormon fundamentalist prophet Rulon Allred.
- He was born deaf, and stands 6'11" tall.
- He was a star basketball player for East High school (SLC, Utah), and played college basketball both at the University of Utah and Weber State University.
- Lance developed scrupulosity (religious OCD), at least partially as a result of both perfectionism, and guilt/shame relating to matters of sexuality.
- NCAA legend Rick Marjerus was fired as University of Utah basketball coach because of his verbal abuse of Lance.
- After college, Lance went on to play 10 years of professional basketball (mostly overseas), including playing a year for the Cleveland Cavaliers with Lebron James (pre-Miami), amongst other teams (he even met Larry Bird!).
- Lance become a popular public speaker, perhaps most recently known for his "What is Your Polygamy" TEDx talk.
- Lance has fascinating insights on faith, doubt, and disbelief.
Lance's web site can be found here: http://www.lanceallred41.com
Lance Allred's Mormon story is fascinating for so many reasons.
- He is the grandson of assassinated Mormon fundamentalist prophet Rulon Allred.
- He was born deaf, and stands 6'11" tall.
- He was a star basketball player for East High school (SLC, Utah), and played college basketball both at the University of Utah and Weber State University.
- Lance developed scrupulosity (religious OCD), at least partially as a result of both perfectionism, and guilt/shame relating to matters of sexuality.
- NCAA legend Rick Marjerus was fired as University of Utah basketball coach because of his verbal abuse of Lance.
- After college, Lance went on to play 10 years of professional basketball (mostly overseas), including playing a year for the Cleveland Cavaliers with Lebron James (pre-Miami), amongst other teams (he even met Larry Bird!).
- Lance become a popular public speaker, perhaps most recently known for his "What is Your Polygamy" TEDx talk.
- Lance has fascinating insights on faith, doubt, and disbelief.
Lance's web site can be found here: http://www.lanceallred41.com
Rulon Clark Allred (March 29, 1906 – May 10, 1977) was a homeopath and chiropractor in Salt Lake City and the founder/leader of what is now the Apostolic United Brethren, a breakaway sect of polygamous Mormon fundamentalists in Utah, Colorado, Montana, and Arizona, United States. He was murdered on the orders of Ervil LeBaron, the head of a rival polygamous sect (Wikipedia).
Vance Allred is Rulon's Allred's son, and at one point was a chief apologist for Mormon fundamentalist polygamy, and was being groomed to succeed his father as prophet of the AUB. In this three part series, Vance Allred discusses:
- Part 1: His father's rise to power, via the founding of the Apostolic United Brethren, and Vance's early years as the son of a polygamist prophet.
- Part 2: The events leading up to Rulon Allred's assassination, and Vance's candid critique of his father's work, and
- Part 3: The sexual abuse in the AUB that led Vance to leave the AUB, and the events that led Vance to join the LDS church (requiring an interview with two LDS apostles). Finally, Vance discusses the factors that led to him becoming inactive LDS.
Rulon Clark Allred (March 29, 1906 – May 10, 1977) was a homeopath and chiropractor in Salt Lake City and the founder/leader of what is now the Apostolic United Brethren, a breakaway sect of polygamous Mormon fundamentalists in Utah, Colorado, Montana, and Arizona, United States. He was murdered on the orders of Ervil LeBaron, the head of a rival polygamous sect (Wikipedia).
Vance Allred is Rulon's Allred's son, and at one point was a chief apologist for Mormon fundamentalist polygamy, and was being groomed to succeed his father as prophet of the AUB. In this three part series, Vance Allred discusses:
- Part 1: His father's rise to power, via the founding of the Apostolic United Brethren, and Vance's early years as the son of a polygamist prophet.
- Part 2: The events leading up to Rulon Allred's assassination, and Vance's candid critique of his father's work, and
- Part 3: The sexual abuse in the AUB that led Vance to leave the AUB, and the events that led Vance to join the LDS church (requiring an interview with two LDS apostles). Finally, Vance discusses the factors that led to him becoming inactive LDS.
Rulon Clark Allred (March 29, 1906 – May 10, 1977) was a homeopath and chiropractor in Salt Lake City and the founder/leader of what is now the Apostolic United Brethren, a breakaway sect of polygamous Mormon fundamentalists in Utah, Colorado, Montana, and Arizona, United States. He was murdered on the orders of Ervil LeBaron, the head of a rival polygamous sect (Wikipedia).
Vance Allred is Rulon's Allred's son, and at one point was a chief apologist for Mormon fundamentalist polygamy, and was being groomed to succeed his father as prophet of the AUB. In this three part series, Vance Allred discusses:
- Part 1: His father's rise to power, via the founding of the Apostolic United Brethren, and Vance's early years as the son of a polygamist prophet.
- Part 2: The events leading up to Rulon Allred's assassination, and Vance's candid critique of his father's work, and
- Part 3: The sexual abuse in the AUB that led Vance to leave the AUB, and the events that led Vance to join the LDS church (requiring an interview with two LDS apostles). Finally, Vance discusses the factors that led to him becoming inactive LDS.
Jesse Stay worked for three years as leader of the LDS Church's social media initiatives. He was the first LDS Church employee with the name "social media" in his title. His work primarily involved formulating the early Facebook and Twitter strategies for the church (including for LDS general authorities). Jesse also provided social media support to various LDS Church departments including the missionary department, public relations, genealogy, the Joseph Smith Papers project, and the "I'm a Mormon" PR campaign.
In this two-part episode, Jesse discusses:
- Part 1: The evolution of Jesse's LDS testimony, as he became aware of factual LDS history, saw the inner-workings of LDS Church headquarters, and as he struggled with the LDS church's November LGBT policy and its direct impact on family and friends.
- Part 2: Jesse discusses in-depth his experiences working two years for the LDS church as Senior Advisor of Social Media, and for one year as Director of Social Media at Deseret Digital Media.
Currently, Jesse is the founder and principal of Stay N Alive, a social media advertising and marketing agency.
Jesse Stay worked for three years as leader of the LDS Church's social media initiatives. He was the first LDS Church employee with the name "social media" in his title. His work primarily involved formulating the early Facebook and Twitter strategies for the church (including for LDS general authorities). Jesse also provided social media support to various LDS Church departments including the missionary department, public relations, genealogy, the Joseph Smith Papers project, and the "I'm a Mormon" PR campaign.
In this two-part episode, Jesse discusses:
- Part 1: The evolution of Jesse's LDS testimony, as he became aware of factual LDS history, saw the inner-workings of LDS Church headquarters, and as he struggled with the LDS church's November LGBT policy and its direct impact on family and friends.
- Part 2: Jesse discusses in-depth his experiences working two years for the LDS church as Senior Advisor of Social Media, and for one year as Director of Social Media at Deseret Digital Media.
Currently, Jesse is the founder and principal of Stay N Alive, a social media advertising and marketing agency.
Amy McPhie Allebest is a lifelong member of the Church, a returned missionary, a temple-married wife and mother of four, and a graduate student at Stanford University. Last month, her article "Dear Mormon Man..." went viral and caught Mormon Stories' attention as a unique voice in Mormon Feminism.
In this episode, we discuss Amy's trajectory from her unquestioningly trusting childhood through her tumultuous, prolonged faith transition, brought on by the problematic language of the temple and a deep dive into Church History, to her current commitment to remain active in the Church despite her rejection of Patriarchy. Check out more of Amy's writing in this month's Exponent II, and on http://mormondom.com, a publication on Medium.com.
Amy McPhie Allebest is a lifelong member of the Church, a returned missionary, a temple-married wife and mother of four, and a graduate student at Stanford University. Last month, her article "Dear Mormon Man..." went viral and caught Mormon Stories' attention as a unique voice in Mormon Feminism.
In this episode, we discuss Amy's trajectory from her unquestioningly trusting childhood through her tumultuous, prolonged faith transition, brought on by the problematic language of the temple and a deep dive into Church History, to her current commitment to remain active in the Church despite her rejection of Patriarchy. Check out more of Amy's writing in this month's Exponent II, and on http://mormondom.com, a publication on Medium.com.
As part 3 in our series on Mormons in the U.K. we interview BBC TV Star Alex Winters - who worked for seven years as a presenter on the BBC Children's channel CBeebies (the U.K. equivalent to Nick Jr or Disney).
Alex was raised as a devout Mormon in Wales, U.K., served an honorable mission, and was married in the London temple. Throughout his adult life Alex has served in several significant ward and stake callings including ward bishopric and stake high council. As his acting career developed, Alex was so popular as a media celebrity within the U.K. that the LDS Church offered him a major role in their "I'm a Mormon" PR campaign (which he declined for professional reasons).
Over the past year or two Alex developed questions and concerns about LDS church doctrine (e.g., November 2015 LGBT policy) and history (e.g., Joseph Smith's treasure digging, seer stone use, polygamy and polyandry) which led to his loss of faith in Mormonism.
This is Alex's story.
As part 3 in our series on Mormons in the U.K. we interview BBC TV Star Alex Winters - who worked for seven years as a presenter on the BBC Children's channel CBeebies (the U.K. equivalent to Nick Jr or Disney).
Alex was raised as a devout Mormon in Wales, U.K., served an honorable mission, and was married in the London temple. Throughout his adult life Alex has served in several significant ward and stake callings including ward bishopric and stake high council. As his acting career developed, Alex was so popular as a media celebrity within the U.K. that the LDS Church offered him a major role in their "I'm a Mormon" PR campaign (which he declined for professional reasons).
Over the past year or two Alex developed questions and concerns about LDS church doctrine (e.g., November 2015 LGBT policy) and history (e.g., Joseph Smith's treasure digging, seer stone use, polygamy and polyandry) which led to his loss of faith in Mormonism.
This is Alex's story.
In this two-part episode we interview Stephen Bloor. Stephen discusses his experiences growing up as a Mormon in the U.K. including serving an LDS mission and being married in the Frankfurt, Germany temple. Eventually Stephen served as an LDS Bishop in the U.K. for 7 years.
While serving as bishop Stephen learned of troubling issues with LDS Church history including Joseph Smith's polygamy, his marriage to other men's wives (polyandry), and his sexual relationships with underaged girls. Unable to reconcile these problems, Stephen eventually resigned from his position as LDS bishop.
After resigning as bishop, Stephen was told by his LDS leaders that he was not allowed to return to church, and would not be allowed to discuss any of his issues or concerns with other LDS church members (by threat of excommunication). Through these actions, Stephen was effectively cut off from the community he served for decades.
Over time, Stephen became involved in former U.K. Stake President Top Phillips's law suit against the LDS church for fraud. Within the past year Stephen was excommunicated from the LDS church without his knowledge/participation - in violation of the LDS church's own requirement to hold a disciplinary council prior to a member's excommunication.
Stephen's continued interest in the LDS Church is to raise awareness about issues in the LDS narrative and to promote openness, honesty, transparency and acceptance of those who question.
This is Stephen's story.
In this two-part episode we interview Stephen Bloor. Stephen discusses his experiences growing up as a Mormon in the U.K. including serving an LDS mission and being married in the Frankfurt, Germany temple. Eventually Stephen served as an LDS Bishop in the U.K. for 7 years.
While serving as bishop Stephen learned of troubling issues with LDS Church history including Joseph Smith's polygamy, his marriage to other men's wives (polyandry), and his sexual relationships with underaged girls. Unable to reconcile these problems, Stephen eventually resigned from his position as LDS bishop.
After resigning as bishop, Stephen was told by his LDS leaders that he was not allowed to return to church, and would not be allowed to discuss any of his issues or concerns with other LDS church members (by threat of excommunication). Through these actions, Stephen was effectively cut off from the community he served for decades.
Over time, Stephen became involved in former U.K. Stake President Top Phillips's law suit against the LDS church for fraud. Within the past year Stephen was excommunicated from the LDS church without his knowledge/participation - in violation of the LDS church's own requirement to hold a disciplinary council prior to a member's excommunication.
Stephen's continued interest in the LDS Church is to raise awareness about issues in the LDS narrative and to promote openness, honesty, transparency and acceptance of those who question.
This is Stephen's story.
For my first interview in our "Mormons in the U.K." series, I interview my dear friend Nathan Lisgo. In this two part series Nathan discusses:
1) Growing up in Lancaster, England, serving a mission, getting married in the temple, etc.
2) His faith transition, largely caused by questions/concerns regarding the LDS Church's history regarding African Americans and the priesthood. And
3) How Nathan has navigated a nuanced testimony and a mixed-faith marriage with his wife and three children.
For my first interview in our "Mormons in the U.K." series, I interview my dear friend Nathan Lisgo. In this two part series Nathan discusses:
1) Growing up in Lancaster, England, serving a mission, getting married in the temple, etc.
2) His faith transition, largely caused by questions/concerns regarding the LDS Church's history regarding African Americans and the priesthood. And
3) How Nathan has navigated a nuanced testimony and a mixed-faith marriage with his wife and three children.
In part two of my interview with Amy and Jake Malouf, we discuss the verdict from their October 11, 2016 Mormon Disciplinary Council on charges of Apostasy, along with their reactions to the verdict.
- This is a link to the recent article from the Anchorage Press about Amy and Jake's disciplinary council.
- This is a link to the letter Amy and Jake read during their disciplinary council.
On a recent trip from New Jersey to Vermont with Mormon Therapist Natasha Helfer Parker and Dr. Gina Colvin we decided to have a rough, unplanned, unrehearsed, and VERY informal first discussion about post-Mormon polyamory and non-monogamy.
For those who care deeply about this issue, there are a few very important things we would like to emphasize:
- This is a rough, free-form, first discussion about orthodox, transitioning, and post-Mormon non-monogamy and polyamory. This is not meant to be a pre-planned, comprehensive, uber-professional treatment of the topic. If you are looking for such a treatment, please do not listen.
- For those of you who are very knowledgable about and/or experienced with polyamory and non-monogamy, we openly acknowledge that we likely (or most definitely) employed several incorrect or improper terms, stereotypes, and biases in this discussion. We do this partially on purpose - because it gives us/you a chance to explore and correct common mistakes or misperceptions used regarding these sensitive and important topics.
- For those of you who are interested in this topic, or who were frustrated in any way by this first treatment/discussion - we hope that you will give us your thoughts, perspective, and respectful criticisms in the blog comments. Then, please know what we 100% plan to have at least a few future guests on Mormon Stories Podcast to explore this topic more in-depth, and in more serious ways. If you have participated in polyamory and/or non-monogamy as an active, transitioning, or post-Mormon, we invite you to contact us about appearing in a future episode. mormonstories@gmail.com
Thanks for your patience, understanding, support, participation, and good will as we begin to explore this important topic that affects many people in orthodox, transitioning, and post-Mormonism.
Elna Baker is the author of the highly acclaimed The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir. She is also a contributor to the podcast This American Life.
As part of the 2016 New York City Mormon Transitions Retreat Elna shares experiences regarding her faith transition away from Mormonism.
As part of the 2016 Mormon Transitions New York Retreat we interview journalists Abby Huntsman and Carrie Sheffield. In this interview they discuss their transitions out of Mormonism.
Dr. Greg Prince is best known within Mormonism as the author of three books:
- Power from on High: The Development of Mormon Priesthood
- David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism
- Leonard Arrington and the Writing of Mormon History
In this three-part series we discuss the following:
-
Part 1: Greg's early years as a Mormon in the Los Angeles area, his graduate work as a dentist and as a pathologist, and his role in developing a cure for RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection), which has saved tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of infant lives.
-
Part 2: Greg discusses the challenges of raising a son (Madison) with autism, then discusses how he developed a gospel framework that allowed him to avoid a faith crisis, which led to his entree into Mormon history authorship. We focus on his Priesthood book.
-
Part 3: Greg goes deep into how he maintains faith/belief and activity in God/Christ/the LDS Church as a scientist, and after knowing so much troubling LDS history. He also lays out in detail his nuanced LDS testimony.
Dr. Greg Prince is best known within Mormonism as the author of three books:
- Power from on High: The Development of Mormon Priesthood
- David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism
- Leonard Arrington and the Writing of Mormon History
In this three-part series we discuss the following:
-
Part 1: Greg's early years as a Mormon in the Los Angeles area, his graduate work as a dentist and as a pathologist, and his role in developing a cure for RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection), which has saved tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of infant lives.
-
Part 2: Greg discusses the challenges of raising a son (Madison) with autism, then discusses how he developed a gospel framework that allowed him to avoid a faith crisis, which led to his entree into Mormon history authorship. We focus on his Priesthood book.
-
Part 3: Greg goes deep into how he maintains faith/belief and activity in God/Christ/the LDS Church as a scientist, and after knowing so much troubling LDS history. He also lays out in detail his nuanced LDS testimony.
Dr. Greg Prince is best known within Mormonism as the author of three books:
- Power from on High: The Development of Mormon Priesthood
- David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism
- Leonard Arrington and the Writing of Mormon History
In this three-part series we discuss the following:
-
Part 1: Greg's early years as a Mormon in the Los Angeles area, his graduate work as a dentist and as a pathologist, and his role in developing a cure for RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection), which has saved tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of infant lives.
-
Part 2: Greg discusses the challenges of raising a son (Madison) with autism, then discusses how he developed a gospel framework that allowed him to avoid a faith crisis, which led to his entree into Mormon history authorship. We focus on his Priesthood book.
-
Part 3: Greg goes deep into how he maintains faith/belief and activity in God/Christ/the LDS Church as a scientist, and after knowing so much troubling LDS history. He also lays out in detail his nuanced LDS testimony.
Amy and Jake Malouf have been devout LDS church members for their entire lives – living the past 14+ years in Anchorage, Alaska. They have served in high-level callings in their Anchorage ward, and are very well-respected and well-liked in their Alaska LDS community.
Two years ago Amy and Jake began to have doubts about the truthfulness of the LDS Church. As they began to share their questions/doubts/concerns about LDS doctrine and policy on Facebook (e.g., the November 2015 policy against LGBT Mormons and their children), their posts were monitored by ward and stake members and reported to the stake leadership. When they were directly asked by their stake president to remain silent about their questions/concerns/doubts/disbelief – they declined as a matter of conscience. Recently when they spoke out publicly on Facebook against the November, 2015 LGBT policy (out of concern for LDS LGBT youth suicides) they were informed by their LDS stake president that they will soon be excommunicated. The date/time of their disciplinary council is October 11, 2016 at 9pm Utah time.
This is their story.
P.S. Amy is a fabulous artist. Her artwork can be found here! www.amymalouf.com
Dr. Omar Kader was born in Provo, Utah to Palestinian immigrants. HIs father was a devout Muslim and a disabled World War I vet who owned a successful Provo fruit farm. During Omar's childhood he and his family were called the n-word by fellow Provoans, but fought to earn the respect of his community. Omar and his father were close friends of Dr. Hugh Nibley, who liked to practice his Arabic skills with Omar's dad.
In this epic multi-part series, we hear several inspiring stories, including:
- How Omar escaped Palestine after being sent back there by his father to prevent him from marrying a Utah woman.
- How Dr. Hugh Nibley fought to help Omar enroll in Brigham Young University.
- How Omar met, courted, and married his amazing wife Nancy - a brilliant Mormon girl from Ogden, UT (this courtship included his conversion to the LDS faith). We also touch on what it was like to enter into a multi-cultural marriage in Utah during the 1960s.
- Omar's draft into the Vietnam War (serving in Germany)
- How Omar and Nancy risked expulsion from BYU for fighting against the Vietnam war and for supporting the BYU Student Democratic Party during the Earnest L. Wilkinson administration -- and how Hugh Nibley came to their rescue.
- Omar's experiences obtaining a Ph.D. in International Relations at USC, along with his 10 year career at BYU wherein he faced both considerable racism and heroic support from certain BYU faculty and administrators.
- Nancy's work with the Democratic party in Utah, which included interactions with actor Robert Redford.
- Omar's decision to leave BYU and move to Washington D.C.
- Omar's work as a lobbyist for Arab-Americans, which included meetings with Yasser Arafat and King Hussein of Jordan.
- The part Omar played in helping BYU obtain the land to build the BYU Jerusalem center, which he later grew to regret.
- Omar's scorching critiques of LDS apostles Ezra Taft Benson and Jeffrey R. Holland.
- Omar's work as a successful businessman in Washington D.C. against all odds as an Arab-American.
- Nancy's trial of faith after befriending Kate Kelly in her Virginia ward, and then watching her friend get excommunicated.
- Where Omar and Nancy now stand with the LDS church, and with matters of faith.
Dr. Omar Kader was born in Provo, Utah to Palestinian immigrants. HIs father was a devout Muslim and a disabled World War I vet who owned a successful Provo fruit farm. During Omar's childhood he and his family were called the n-word by fellow Provoans, but fought to earn the respect of his community. Omar and his father were close friends of Dr. Hugh Nibley, who liked to practice his Arabic skills with Omar's dad.
In this epic multi-part series, we hear several inspiring stories, including:
- How Omar escaped Palestine after being sent back there by his father to prevent him from marrying a Utah woman.
- How Dr. Hugh Nibley fought to help Omar enroll in Brigham Young University.
- How Omar met, courted, and married his amazing wife Nancy - a brilliant Mormon girl from Ogden, UT (this courtship included his conversion to the LDS faith). We also touch on what it was like to enter into a multi-cultural marriage in Utah during the 1960s.
- Omar's draft into the Vietnam War (serving in Germany)
- How Omar and Nancy risked expulsion from BYU for fighting against the Vietnam war and for supporting the BYU Student Democratic Party during the Earnest L. Wilkinson administration -- and how Hugh Nibley came to their rescue.
- Omar's experiences obtaining a Ph.D. in International Relations at USC, along with his 10 year career at BYU wherein he faced both considerable racism and heroic support from certain BYU faculty and administrators.
- Nancy's work with the Democratic party in Utah, which included interactions with actor Robert Redford.
- Omar's decision to leave BYU and move to Washington D.C.
- Omar's work as a lobbyist for Arab-Americans, which included meetings with Yasser Arafat and King Hussein of Jordan.
- The part Omar played in helping BYU obtain the land to build the BYU Jerusalem center, which he later grew to regret.
- Omar's scorching critiques of LDS apostles Ezra Taft Benson and Jeffrey R. Holland.
- Omar's work as a successful businessman in Washington D.C. against all odds as an Arab-American.
- Nancy's trial of faith after befriending Kate Kelly in her Virginia ward, and then watching her friend get excommunicated.
- Where Omar and Nancy now stand with the LDS church, and with matters of faith.
Dr. Omar Kader was born in Provo, Utah to Palestinian immigrants. HIs father was a devout Muslim and a disabled World War I vet who owned a successful Provo fruit farm. During Omar's childhood he and his family were called the n-word by fellow Provoans, but fought to earn the respect of his community. Omar and his father were close friends of Dr. Hugh Nibley, who liked to practice his Arabic skills with Omar's dad.
In this epic multi-part series, we hear several inspiring stories, including:
- How Omar escaped Palestine after being sent back there by his father to prevent him from marrying a Utah woman.
- How Dr. Hugh Nibley fought to help Omar enroll in Brigham Young University.
- How Omar met, courted, and married his amazing wife Nancy - a brilliant Mormon girl from Ogden, UT (this courtship included his conversion to the LDS faith). We also touch on what it was like to enter into a multi-cultural marriage in Utah during the 1960s.
- Omar's draft into the Vietnam War (serving in Germany)
- How Omar and Nancy risked expulsion from BYU for fighting against the Vietnam war and for supporting the BYU Student Democratic Party during the Earnest L. Wilkinson administration -- and how Hugh Nibley came to their rescue.
- Omar's experiences obtaining a Ph.D. in International Relations at USC, along with his 10 year career at BYU wherein he faced both considerable racism and heroic support from certain BYU faculty and administrators.
- Nancy's work with the Democratic party in Utah, which included interactions with actor Robert Redford.
- Omar's decision to leave BYU and move to Washington D.C.
- Omar's work as a lobbyist for Arab-Americans, which included meetings with Yasser Arafat and King Hussein of Jordan.
- The part Omar played in helping BYU obtain the land to build the BYU Jerusalem center, which he later grew to regret.
- Omar's scorching critiques of LDS apostles Ezra Taft Benson and Jeffrey R. Holland.
- Omar's work as a successful businessman in Washington D.C. against all odds as an Arab-American.
- Nancy's trial of faith after befriending Kate Kelly in her Virginia ward, and then watching her friend get excommunicated.
- Where Omar and Nancy now stand with the LDS church, and with matters of faith.
Dr. Omar Kader was born in Provo, Utah to Palestinian immigrants. HIs father was a devout Muslim and a disabled World War I vet who owned a successful Provo fruit farm. During Omar's childhood he and his family were called the n-word by fellow Provoans, but fought to earn the respect of his community. Omar and his father were close friends of Dr. Hugh Nibley, who liked to practice his Arabic skills with Omar's dad.
In this epic multi-part series, we hear several inspiring stories, including:
- How Omar escaped Palestine after being sent back there by his father to prevent him from marrying a Utah woman.
- How Dr. Hugh Nibley fought to help Omar enroll in Brigham Young University.
- How Omar met, courted, and married his amazing wife Nancy - a brilliant Mormon girl from Ogden, UT (this courtship included his conversion to the LDS faith). We also touch on what it was like to enter into a multi-cultural marriage in Utah during the 1960s.
- Omar's draft into the Vietnam War (serving in Germany)
- How Omar and Nancy risked expulsion from BYU for fighting against the Vietnam war and for supporting the BYU Student Democratic Party during the Earnest L. Wilkinson administration -- and how Hugh Nibley came to their rescue.
- Omar's experiences obtaining a Ph.D. in International Relations at USC, along with his 10 year career at BYU wherein he faced both considerable racism and heroic support from certain BYU faculty and administrators.
- Nancy's work with the Democratic party in Utah, which included interactions with actor Robert Redford.
- Omar's decision to leave BYU and move to Washington D.C.
- Omar's work as a lobbyist for Arab-Americans, which included meetings with Yasser Arafat and King Hussein of Jordan.
- The part Omar played in helping BYU obtain the land to build the BYU Jerusalem center, which he later grew to regret.
- Omar's scorching critiques of LDS apostles Ezra Taft Benson and Jeffrey R. Holland.
- Omar's work as a successful businessman in Washington D.C. against all odds as an Arab-American.
- Nancy's trial of faith after befriending Kate Kelly in her Virginia ward, and then watching her friend get excommunicated.
- Where Omar and Nancy now stand with the LDS church, and with matters of faith.
In this epic, three-part interview with Paul, Lisa, and Kyle, we learn about one ordinary Mormon family’s extraordinary Mormon transition. Topics covered in this episode include:
- Living as an orthodox Mormon family in rural Utah.
- Dealing with a crisis of faith in a large, orthodox Mormon family.
- Living in a mixed-faith marriage.
- How to ineffectively and effectively communicate with believing family members (siblings, extended family).
- Dealing with a missionary in the field while the family is having a crisis of faith.
- Supporting a gay child.
- Leaving the church after decades of service, and in mid-life.
- As a parent, sitting outside your own child’s wedding.
- Finding communities of support (and joy) after leaving the church.
In this epic, three-part interview with Paul, Lisa, and Kyle, we learn about one ordinary Mormon family’s extraordinary Mormon transition. Topics covered in this episode include:
- Living as an orthodox Mormon family in rural Utah.
- Dealing with a crisis of faith in a large, orthodox Mormon family.
- Living in a mixed-faith marriage.
- How to ineffectively and effectively communicate with believing family members (siblings, extended family).
- Dealing with a missionary in the field while the family is having a crisis of faith.
- Supporting a gay child.
- Leaving the church after decades of service, and in mid-life.
- As a parent, sitting outside your own child’s wedding.
- Finding communities of support (and joy) after leaving the church.
In this epic, three-part interview with Paul, Lisa, and Kyle, we learn about one ordinary Mormon family’s extraordinary Mormon transition. Topics covered in this episode include:
- Living as an orthodox Mormon family in rural Utah.
- Dealing with a crisis of faith in a large, orthodox Mormon family.
- Living in a mixed-faith marriage.
- How to ineffectively and effectively communicate with believing family members (siblings, extended family).
- Dealing with a missionary in the field while the family is having a crisis of faith.
- Supporting a gay child.
- Leaving the church after decades of service, and in mid-life.
- As a parent, sitting outside your own child’s wedding.
- Finding communities of support (and joy) after leaving the church.
Sam Young lived as an orthodox Mormon for several decades, including a full term as an LDS bishop and many years as a stake high counselor. After stumbling on the LDS Gospel Topics Essays and learning about Joseph Smith's polyandry, the Book of Abraham translation problems, etc. -- and specifically after the LDS Church November 2015 policy change regarding LGBT members and their children -- Sam experienced an LDS faith crisis.
Over time, Sam developed his own method for expressing concern about LDS policy and administrative problems -- he decided to begin living the Law of Common Consent as found in Doctrine and Covenants 26, which to him means that during every ward, stake and general conference Sam will be voting opposed when asked to sustain the LDS first presidency and the quorum of the 12 apostles. Sam is also inviting other LDS church members to consider a similar approach if they object to recent policy and administrative changes.
This interview includes Jamie Hanis Handy and Sam's 85 year old mother, Bertie, who recently resigned her church membership over similar concerns to Sam.
Jacob realized he was gay only a few months before he left for his LDS mission. He served in the San Jose, Costa Rica mission from August 2012 to September 2013.
While serving in Costa Rica, a zone leader became attracted to Jacob, and as they began to do "splits," During these splits, Jacob and his ZL would occasionally "cuddle" in bed - but did not engage in any overt sexual behaviors.
This is Jacob's mission story.
Rose Sorenson was raised in a devout LDS household (Idaho Falls, ID), but began having doubts as a 12 year old. Although she continued to struggle with perfectionism and doubts as a teenager, Rose decided that the LDS church's decision in 2013 to lower the missionary age for women was a "sign" that she should serve a mission to strengthen her testimony.
She served in the Georgia Atlanta North Mission from March 2013 to August 2014.
After a year of struggling with her testimony, including bouts of depression and anxiety -- and after reading the Book of Mormon four times without receiving a spiritual witness that the book was true -- Rose decided that she was an atheist, but remained determined to complete her mission.
This is Rose's story.
Tre Shortland was raised in Oakland, CA as a bi-racial Mormon (Filipino mother and New Zealander/Maori father). While he was very committed doctrinally to Mormonism, he was not crazy about Mormon culture, and was taught the fundamentals of critical thinking from a young age. Prior to and during his mission, Tre was tormented by doubts, along with teachings and rules regarding "self abuse." For over a year on his mission Tre was taught that lack of success on his mission was due to these practices/weaknesses. After becoming zone leader, Tre became aware of a sex scandal that reached the highest levels of missionary leadership. This is Tre’s story.
The music for today's episode is from Tre's band: http://www.Seaviewmusic.com. The song is called "Relativity."
Mike Woodruff knew that he was attracted to men by age 14. After consulting with his LDS bishop, he was told that his “same-sex attraction” would “resolve itself” once he served an LDS mission. His LDS patriarchal blessing also assured him that he would serve a complete LDS mission.
After being called to the Leeds, England mission, Mike was physically and emotionally abused by his first companion. Suffering with severe PTSD symptoms, he tried for two months to remain in the mission, but did not receive appropriate mental health care. Instead, his mission-assigned therapist focused primarily on encouraging Mike to read his scriptures and pray more, which only reinforced his feelings of shame/blame as an abuse victim. In addition, Mike’s abusive companion was never punished for the abuse (to his knowledge), and was simply reassigned to other missionaries.
Mike ended up returning home early from his mission (after 3 months of service), and spent several years trying to reconcile the shame/guilt that he felt, heal from his PTSD, and reconcile his same-sex sexuality. Mike consulted North Star LDS to help him manage his sexuality and remain faithful LDS, but this approach ultimately led him to a suicide attempt.
Mike ultimately found peace and mental health by leaving the LDS church, and coming out as a gay man.
Today's interviewee was a graduate of Dartmouth University and a regular listener to Mormon Stories podcast when she decided to serve an LDS mission in 2012. Towards the latter half of her mission she began to experience depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, due in part to a culture of perfectionism within Mormonism, along with doubts she began to experience as a missionary (primarily around LGBT and historical issues). When she informed her mission president of her depressive symptoms, he allowed her only three visits to a talk therapist.
Over time on her mission, she began to experience significant suicidal ideation, and on the final month of her mission was self-admitted to a psychiatric behavioral health unit/hospital. After her stay in the hospital, she decided that she no longer believed the church to be true, and terminated her mission service early (a few weeks shy of completion). While the LDS church attempted to make her parents pay her hospital bills while a missionary, her parents declined and threatened to sue the church if they continued with such insistences.
Eventually she decided to leave the LDS church, and has experienced significant improvement in her mental health, and elimination of her suicidality, as a result of this decision. At present, she is engaged to be married and works as a nurse at Planned Parenthood in California.
Joshua Tesch served in the California Roseville Mission from 2013 to 2015. When the LDS church introduced the use of Facebook and iPads to missionaries, Elder Tesch was asked by his mission president to become one of the "Tech Missionaries" to help the mission adopt the new technology. Through this new program Elder Tesch was exposed to credible information critical of the LDS church, including the http://cesletter.org. Over time Elder Tesch developed a faith crisis and turned to the Mormon Stories Podcast Community on Facebook for support. Ultimately his involvement in the MSPC was reported to his mission president and his iPad was taken away. He continued as a missionary until his final month, when his mission president sent him home dishonorably for openly sharing his doubts.
John Dehlin answers questions from a live audience via Facebook Live! This episode was recorded on July 20, 2016.
Elder Steven E. Snow candidly explains why the LDS Gospel Topics Essays are not publicized by the LDS Church.
In this episode we invite Mica McGriggs, Dr. Darron Smith, and Dr. Fatimah Salleh to discuss the recent (and continual) loss of black lives in America due to to police action.
In this episode Gina Colvin, Ph.D., Dan Wotherspoon, Ph.D., and Thomas McConkie explore the path of staying active in the LDS Church as an unorthodox member. This episode was recorded live at Studio at 50 West in Salt Lake City on June 15, 2016.
Summer 2016 Mormon Transitions Events: Phoenix, Salt Lake City/Park City, Dallas, Los Angeles/Las Vegas
In 2002 anthropologist Thomas Murphy, Ph.D. published the first peer reviewed academic journal article on DNA and the Book of Mormon, demonstrating that DNA evidence (at the time) did not support the Book of Mormon's historical claims. Dr. Murphy was subsequently summoned to an LDS disciplinary council for apostasy, but the disciplinary council was "called off" at the last minute, and he has not been pursued since.
In this podcast series, Dr. Murphy discusses:
- His early years in the LDS church.
- His loss of LDS belief as a young adult as a result of military service, demonstrated lack of inspiration on the part of his church leaders, and information he learned as an anthropologist working primarily amongst native Americans.
- His research and publication regarding DNA and the Book of Mormon.
- His work as an anthropologist in Latin America, including work in Mexico and Guatemala.
In 2002 anthropologist Thomas Murphy, Ph.D. published the first peer reviewed academic journal article on DNA and the Book of Mormon, demonstrating that DNA evidence (at the time) did not support the Book of Mormon's historical claims. Dr. Murphy was subsequently summoned to an LDS disciplinary council for apostasy, but the disciplinary council was "called off" at the last minute, and he has not been pursued since.
In this podcast series, Dr. Murphy discusses:
- His early years in the LDS church.
- His loss of LDS belief as a young adult as a result of military service, demonstrated lack of inspiration on the part of his church leaders, and information he learned as an anthropologist working primarily amongst native Americans.
- His research and publication regarding DNA and the Book of Mormon.
- His work as an anthropologist in Latin America, including work in Mexico and Guatemala.
55 The Line February 18, 2016
“I was so thirsty and hungry after the truth, my whole body aching for answers.” Hans Mattsson, LDS Church leader 2000-05
This week we have a story about a big group of people with the same questions. Difficult, complicated, heartbreaking ones. These people all have one thing in common — they’re Mormons. Reporter Karen Duffin tells their story.
Further Reading Mormon Stories Podcast
New York Times story, “Some Mormons Search the Web and Find Doubt”
New Essays on LDS Church Website
The Facts Our theme song is by The Mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder.
Our ad music is by Build Buildings.
The Mama Dragons group consists of almost 1,000 Mormon, post-Mormon, and now never-Mormon women who are dedicated to:
1) Loving their LGBT children.
2) Preventing LGBT youth suicide.
3) Supporting parents of LGBT children to better love and support their children.
4) Rescuing rejected LGBT children from homelessness and abuse.
5) Attending funerals of deceased LGBT youth in support of the surviving families.
The Mama Dragons Story Project attempts to collect portraits and autobiographical essays from mothers with LGBT children for their children.
In this episode Dr. John Dehlin and Lindsay Hansen Park (Feminist Mormon Housewives, Sunstone, Year of Polygamy, Color of Heaven) host a panel discussion about rape within Mormon culture. The panel features Aubri Parameter, an assault survivor, Kathryn Jones-Porter, a victim's advocate in Salt Lake County, and Donna Kelly, who has worked as a prosecutor for the last twenty-four years, devoting much of her time to working with victims of sex crimes.
In this episode 5 Mormons (Dr. Jana Riess, Dr. Kristy Money, Samy Galvez, Derrick Clements, and Samantha Louise Shelley) discuss, explore, and interpret Tyler Glenn's new and controversial music video entitled "Trash."
Trash Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNqnLdX4TM8
Trash Lyrics:
http://genius.com/Tyler-glenn-trash-lyrics
In December, 2015 Mormon Stories interviewed Clay Christensen and his brother-in-law Matt Elggren about Matt's loss of LDS faith in 2003, and Clay's subsequent loss of LDS faith in October of 2015 after 50 years active LDS membership, and after 7 years as a high-level LDS Church employee.
In April, 2016 Clay was contacted by his stake president and invited to a disciplinary council to be excommunicated for apostasy. This is Clay's update since his December, 2015 interview.
Tyler Glenn is best known as the lead singer of the multi-platinum alternative pop band Neon Trees.
Tyler was raised LDS/Mormon in Temecula, California. After discovering a love for music in high school and serving an LDS mission, Tyler moved to Provo, UT with his buddy Chris to form Neon Trees (named after the trees on the In and Out signs). Neon Trees signed with Mercury Records in 2009 and went on to release three successful alternative pop albums: Habits (2010), Picture Show (2012), and Pop Psychology (2014).
Tyler knew he was gay as a child, but struggled as a teen and adult to reconcile his sexuality with his LDS faith. These struggles took Tyler to some sad/dark places, which were only exacerbated by his fame as a pop star. At age 27 (around the release of Picture Show), Tyler seriously contemplated ending his life.
In spite of these struggles, Tyler remained a full and literal believer in the LDS Church. In 2014 Tyler decided that being a closeted gay man was contributing to his suicidality. Consequently he came out as gay to his family, band, friends -- and to the world in Rolling Stone magazine -- prior to the release of Pop Psychology. From this point forward it was Tyler's full intent to find and marry a gay man, and to raise children in the LDS church as a gay married Mormon.
Then, in November of 2015, the LDS church released its new policy branding same-sex married Mormons as immediate apostates, and prohibiting children of same-sex married couples from being baptized. This policy change sent Tyler into a tailspin, ultimately shattering his plans as a believing, gay Mormon.
In this three part interview, we explore:
- Part 1: Tyler's early years as a young Mormon struggling with his sexuality.
- Part 2: Tyler's ascent (along with Neon Trees) into stardom...and the sadness/despair that followed.
- Part 3: Tyler's faith crisis instigated by the LDS policy change, along with his current beliefs/views regarding the LDS Church.
Tyler Glenn is best known as the lead singer of the multi-platinum alternative pop band Neon Trees.
Tyler was raised LDS/Mormon in Temecula, California. After discovering a love for music in high school and serving an LDS mission, Tyler moved to Provo, UT with his buddy Chris to form Neon Trees (named after the trees on the In and Out signs). Neon Trees signed with Mercury Records in 2009 and went on to release three successful alternative pop albums: Habits (2010), Picture Show (2012), and Pop Psychology (2014).
Tyler knew he was gay as a child, but struggled as a teen and adult to reconcile his sexuality with his LDS faith. These struggles took Tyler to some sad/dark places, which were only exacerbated by his fame as a pop star. At age 27 (around the release of Picture Show), Tyler seriously contemplated ending his life.
In spite of these struggles, Tyler remained a full and literal believer in the LDS Church. In 2014 Tyler decided that being a closeted gay man was contributing to his suicidality. Consequently he came out as gay to his family, band, friends -- and to the world in Rolling Stone magazine -- prior to the release of Pop Psychology. From this point forward it was Tyler's full intent to find and marry a gay man, and to raise children in the LDS church as a gay married Mormon.
Then, in November of 2015, the LDS church released its new policy branding same-sex married Mormons as immediate apostates, and prohibiting children of same-sex married couples from being baptized. This policy change sent Tyler into a tailspin, ultimately shattering his plans as a believing, gay Mormon.
In this three part interview, we explore:
- Part 1: Tyler's early years as a young Mormon struggling with his sexuality.
- Part 2: Tyler's ascent (along with Neon Trees) into stardom...and the sadness/despair that followed.
- Part 3: Tyler's faith crisis instigated by the LDS policy change, along with his current beliefs/views regarding the LDS Church.
Tyler Glenn is best known as the lead singer of the multi-platinum alternative pop band Neon Trees.
Tyler was raised LDS/Mormon in Temecula, California. After discovering a love for music in high school and serving an LDS mission, Tyler moved to Provo, UT with his buddy Chris to form Neon Trees (named after the trees on the In and Out signs). Neon Trees signed with Mercury Records in 2009 and went on to release three successful alternative pop albums: Habits (2010), Picture Show (2012), and Pop Psychology (2014).
Tyler knew he was gay as a child, but struggled as a teen and adult to reconcile his sexuality with his LDS faith. These struggles took Tyler to some sad/dark places, which were only exacerbated by his fame as a pop star. At age 27 (around the release of Picture Show), Tyler seriously contemplated ending his life.
In spite of these struggles, Tyler remained a full and literal believer in the LDS Church. In 2014 Tyler decided that being a closeted gay man was contributing to his suicidality. Consequently he came out as gay to his family, band, friends -- and to the world in Rolling Stone magazine -- prior to the release of Pop Psychology. From this point forward it was Tyler's full intent to find and marry a gay man, and to raise children in the LDS church as a gay married Mormon.
Then, in November of 2015, the LDS church released its new policy branding same-sex married Mormons as immediate apostates, and prohibiting children of same-sex married couples from being baptized. This policy change sent Tyler into a tailspin, ultimately shattering his plans as a believing, gay Mormon.
In this three part interview, we explore:
- Part 1: Tyler's early years as a young Mormon struggling with his sexuality.
- Part 2: Tyler's ascent (along with Neon Trees) into stardom...and the sadness/despair that followed.
- Part 3: Tyler's faith crisis instigated by the LDS policy change, along with his current beliefs/views regarding the LDS Church.
John Dehlin and Lindsay Hansen Park interview Mica McGriggs, Samy Galvez, and Tinesha Zandamela about race relations in the Mormon church, and their experiences growing up as people of color in a predominately white church.
In this special episode of Mormon Stories podcast Lindsay Hansen Park (Sunstone, Year of Polygamy, Color of Heaven) interviews Edyka Chilome about Mormons and Colonization.
Edyka's bio:
Edyka Chilomé, born Erica Granados - De La Rosa, is a queer woman of color writer, artist, social justice educator, and spiritual activist. She is the daughter of Salvadorian and Mexican spiritual, intellectual, and community leaders. Her many years of experience passionately walking and building with women, young people, and communities of color in the U.S. and Latin America have deeply informed her fusion of art, scholarship, and what she defines as her spiritual {art}ivism. Edyka has published numerous articles, essays, and poems including a collection of poetry that explores queer mestizaje in the diaspora entitled She Speaks | Poetry, praised by the founder of Democracy Now en Español as "...a must read for those yearning to discover new ways to open up to deep personal and global transformation." She has been invited to share her spoken word poetry and speak on social justice issues around the country including The Texas Democratic Convention, TEDx, National Public Radio, and the Huffington Post. Edyka currently serves on the steering committee for Human Rights Dallas and is an instructor for Free Minds Dallas at El Centro College, host of the presidential award winning initiative The National Clemente Course for the Humanities.
When Race, Religion, and Sport Collide tells the story of Brandon Davies’ dismissal from Brigham Young University’s NCAA playoff basketball team to illustrate the thorny intersection of religion, race, and sport at BYU and beyond. Author Darron T. Smith analyzes the athletes dismissed through BYU’s honor code violations and suggests that they are disproportionately African American, which has troubling implications. He ties these dismissals to the complicated history of negative views towards African Americans in the LDS faith. These honor code dismissals elucidate the challenges facing black athletes at predominantly white institutions. Weaving together the history of the black athlete in America and the experience of blackness in Mormon theology, When Race, Religion, and Sport Collide offers a timely and powerful analysis of the challenges facing African American athletes in the NCAA today.
Dr. Darron T. Smith is a frequent political and cultural commentator on various issues of U.S. based issues of race, racism, and discrimination in forums ranging from Religion Dispatches, The New York Times and Chicago Tribune op-ed to ESPN's Outside the Lines. His research spans a wide myriad of topics on race including healthcare disparities, Religious studies, Race & Sports, and Race, Adoption and the Black Family. His current research focuses on health care workforce discrimination involving African American physicians and physician assistants. He is the co-author of White Parents, Black Children: Experiencing Transracial Adoption and co-editor of Black and Mormon. His current book, When Race & Religion Collide: Black Athletics at BYU and Beyond was released in 2015.
When Race, Religion, and Sport Collide tells the story of Brandon Davies’ dismissal from Brigham Young University’s NCAA playoff basketball team to illustrate the thorny intersection of religion, race, and sport at BYU and beyond. Author Darron T. Smith analyzes the athletes dismissed through BYU’s honor code violations and suggests that they are disproportionately African American, which has troubling implications. He ties these dismissals to the complicated history of negative views towards African Americans in the LDS faith. These honor code dismissals elucidate the challenges facing black athletes at predominantly white institutions. Weaving together the history of the black athlete in America and the experience of blackness in Mormon theology, When Race, Religion, and Sport Collide offers a timely and powerful analysis of the challenges facing African American athletes in the NCAA today.
Dr. Darron T. Smith is a frequent political and cultural commentator on various issues of U.S. based issues of race, racism, and discrimination in forums ranging from Religion Dispatches, The New York Times and Chicago Tribune op-ed to ESPN's Outside the Lines. His research spans a wide myriad of topics on race including healthcare disparities, Religious studies, Race & Sports, and Race, Adoption and the Black Family. His current research focuses on health care workforce discrimination involving African American physicians and physician assistants. He is the co-author of White Parents, Black Children: Experiencing Transracial Adoption and co-editor of Black and Mormon. His current book, When Race & Religion Collide: Black Athletics at BYU and Beyond was released in 2015.
This is a recording of my interview with Alex Cooper recorded on March 16, 2016 at Velour in Provo, Utah. Alex Cooper, along with Dr. Joanna Brooks, are the co-authors of the new book Saving Alex. Alex was accompanied in this interview by her attorney, Paul Burke. We were also honored to have Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees) perform three musical numbers for us on this special night. Audio/video from this interview can be found below.
A description of the book follows:
When Alex Cooper was fifteen years old, life was pretty ordinary in her sleepy suburban town and nice Mormon family. At church and at home, Alex was taught that God had a plan for everyone. But something was gnawing at her that made her feel different. These feelings exploded when she met Yvette, a girl who made Alex feel alive in a new way, and with whom Alex would quickly fall in love.
Alex knew she was holding a secret that could shatter her family, her church community, and her life. Yet when this secret couldn’t be hidden any longer, she told her parents that she was gay, and the nightmare began. She was driven from her home in Southern California to Utah, where, against her will, her parents handed her over to fellow Mormons who promised to save Alex from her homosexuality.
For eight harrowing months, Alex was held captive in an unlicensed “residential treatment program” modeled on the many “therapeutic” boot camps scattered across Utah. Alex was physically and verbally abused, and many days she was forced to stand facing a wall wearing a heavy backpack full of rocks. Her captors used faith to punish and terrorize her. With the help of a dedicated legal team in Salt Lake City, Alex eventually escaped and made legal history in Utah by winning the right to live under the law’s protection as an openly gay teenager.
Alex is not alone; the headlines continue to splash stories about gay conversion therapy and rehabilitation centers that promise to “save” teenagers from their sexuality. Saving Alex is a courageous memoir that tells Alex’s story in the hopes that it will bring awareness and justice to this important issue. A bold, inspiring story of one girl’s fight for freedom, acceptance, and truth.
This is a recording of my interview with Alex Cooper recorded on March 16, 2016 at Velour in Provo, Utah. Alex Cooper, along with Dr. Joanna Brooks, are the co-authors of the new book Saving Alex. Alex was accompanied in this interview by her attorney, Paul Burke. We were also honored to have Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees) perform three musical numbers for us on this special night. Audio/video from this interview can be found below.
A description of the book follows:
When Alex Cooper was fifteen years old, life was pretty ordinary in her sleepy suburban town and nice Mormon family. At church and at home, Alex was taught that God had a plan for everyone. But something was gnawing at her that made her feel different. These feelings exploded when she met Yvette, a girl who made Alex feel alive in a new way, and with whom Alex would quickly fall in love.
Alex knew she was holding a secret that could shatter her family, her church community, and her life. Yet when this secret couldn’t be hidden any longer, she told her parents that she was gay, and the nightmare began. She was driven from her home in Southern California to Utah, where, against her will, her parents handed her over to fellow Mormons who promised to save Alex from her homosexuality.
For eight harrowing months, Alex was held captive in an unlicensed “residential treatment program” modeled on the many “therapeutic” boot camps scattered across Utah. Alex was physically and verbally abused, and many days she was forced to stand facing a wall wearing a heavy backpack full of rocks. Her captors used faith to punish and terrorize her. With the help of a dedicated legal team in Salt Lake City, Alex eventually escaped and made legal history in Utah by winning the right to live under the law’s protection as an openly gay teenager.
Alex is not alone; the headlines continue to splash stories about gay conversion therapy and rehabilitation centers that promise to “save” teenagers from their sexuality. Saving Alex is a courageous memoir that tells Alex’s story in the hopes that it will bring awareness and justice to this important issue. A bold, inspiring story of one girl’s fight for freedom, acceptance, and truth.
In this Mormon Stories Live! episode recorded at Club/Cafe at 50 West on March 9, 2016, I interviewed Kate Kelly about the following:
- Life since her excommunication, including her divorce from Neil Ransom and her new relationship with Jack Waters.
- Thoughts on the Ordain Women movement -- past, present and future.
- Kate's new position with Planned Parenthood, which includes advocating for:
- The basic role/function of Planned Parenthood
- Women's Reproductive Rights (e.g., abortion)
- Contraception and safe sex
Elizabeth Grimshaw was raised Mormon. She knew she was lesbian as a teenager, but spent her earl years (teens and 20s) attempting to date men and to marry a man. In her early 30s, after many attempts to be "straight," she came out as a lesbian, stopped attending the LDS church, and began dating women. Elizabeth found a committed partner 10 years ago, and married her partner 8 years ago. They are currently raising a daughter.
Even though Elizabeth has not attended an LDS congregation since her early 30s, she was recently approached by her bishop (whom she'd never met) in her driveway, and told that: 1) she needed to pray to God about whether or not to leave her wife and child, and that 2) if she wouldn't divorce her wife and child, that she would face excommunication from the LDS church.
This is Elizabeth's story.
In this episode recorded February 17, 2016 we discuss the recent Utah Medical Marijuana legislation from the patient perspective. This is a sobering, heartfelt, and extremely compelling panel.
We also briefly discuss the medical/scientific justifications for medical marijuana, and LDS Church participation in attempting to defeat this legislation.
Panel participants include: Enedina Stanger, Dallas Sainsbury, Aaron Campbell, Brian Stoll, Dr. Legrande Belnap, and activist David Kirkham
Huge thanks to DJ Schanz and Christine Stenquist for organizing this panel, and to Club/Cafe and 50 West for providing the venue and audio/visual services.
On February 8, 2016, Jeremy Runnells received notice from his stake president, Mark Ivins, that he would face excommunication (a disciplinary council) on February 14, 2016 for publishing his "Letter to a CES Director." This press conference was held in support of Jeremy. The next morning after the press conference, Jeremy's disciplinary council was postponed until late March, 2016.
This press conference was held at the Club/Cafe at 50 West in downtown Salt Lake City.
This episode is re-broadcast of the Mormons Building Bridges Community Conversation featuring Dr. Bill Bradshaw and Dr. John Parkinson Dehlin as they summarized the major findings from their 2011 survey of LGBTQ Latter-day Saints. The discussion was recorded on February 3, 2016.
Background: An on-line survey was conducted in the fall of 2011, under the auspices of Utah State University, which yielded 1612 participants - LGBTQ Latter-day Saints (current and former members of the Church). Responses to the large number questions produced a wealth of data regarding such topics as sexual identity development, religious identity development, interventions engaged in for the purpose of coping with or changing one’s sexual orientation, mental health outcomes, and religiosity and religious trajectories. Seven published papers reporting this work have now appeared in prominent academic journals, with others in preparation.
Speaker: Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Title: The Free Exercise of Religion in Our Time
Date: February 9 2016
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Description: Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. Yet in many seen and unseen ways its validity is challenged at the margins every day. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will speak about the importance of maintaining and protecting religious liberty in the international sphere. After his remarks he will field questions in an audience Q&A.
Source: This presentation was recorded by Andrew Evans in accordance with District of Columbia law.
Note: As the final question of the evening, Andrew Evans asked Elder Oaks the following question:
Andrew's Question: "Less than a year ago, right here in Washington, DC, my friend killed himself. He was Mormon and gay. You've gone on record that, 'the Church does not give apologies'. Does religious freedom absolve you from responsibility in the gay Mormon suicide crisis?" Elder Oaks' Response: "I think that's a question that will be answered on judgment day. I can't answer that beyond what has already been said. I know that those tragic events happen. And it's not unique simply to the question of sexual preference. There are other cases where people have taken their own lives and blamed a church--my church--or a government, or somebody else for their taking their own lives, and I think those things have to be judged by a higher authority than exists on this earth, and I am ready to be accountable to that authority, but I think part of what my responsibility extends to, is trying to teach people to be loving, and civil and sensitive to one another so that people will not feel driven, whatever the policy disagreements, whatever the rules of the church, or the practices of a church, or any other organization, if they are administered with kindness, at the highest level or at the level of the congregation or the ward, they won't drive people to take those extreme measures; that's part of my responsibility to teach that. And beyond that, I will be accountable to higher authority for that. That's the way I look on that. Nobody is sadder about a case like that than I am. Maybe that's a good note to end on."
Speaker: Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Title: The Free Exercise of Religion in Our Time
Date: February 9 2016
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Description: Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. Yet in many seen and unseen ways its validity is challenged at the margins every day. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will speak about the importance of maintaining and protecting religious liberty in the international sphere. After his remarks he will field questions in an audience Q&A.
Source: This presentation was recorded by Andrew Evans in accordance with District of Columbia law.
Note: As the final question of the evening, Andrew Evans asked Elder Oaks the following question:
Andrew's Question: "Less than a year ago, right here in Washington, DC, my friend killed himself. He was Mormon and gay. You've gone on record that, 'the Church does not give apologies'. Does religious freedom absolve you from responsibility in the gay Mormon suicide crisis?" Elder Oaks' Response: "I think that's a question that will be answered on judgment day. I can't answer that beyond what has already been said. I know that those tragic events happen. And it's not unique simply to the question of sexual preference. There are other cases where people have taken their own lives and blamed a church--my church--or a government, or somebody else for their taking their own lives, and I think those things have to be judged by a higher authority than exists on this earth, and I am ready to be accountable to that authority, but I think part of what my responsibility extends to, is trying to teach people to be loving, and civil and sensitive to one another so that people will not feel driven, whatever the policy disagreements, whatever the rules of the church, or the practices of a church, or any other organization, if they are administered with kindness, at the highest level or at the level of the congregation or the ward, they won't drive people to take those extreme measures; that's part of my responsibility to teach that. And beyond that, I will be accountable to higher authority for that. That's the way I look on that. Nobody is sadder about a case like that than I am. Maybe that's a good note to end on."
On February 1, 2016 the LDS Church re-released a media statement originally released in 2013 entitled “Effectiveness of Church Approach to Preventing Child Abuse.” In this press release (authored by Kirton & McConkie partner and LDS 1st Quorum of the 70 member Elder Von G. Keetch) the LDS Church claimed that "no religious organization has done more" to prevent child abuse, and touted their child abuse approach as "the gold standard" amongst all churches.
Immediately the Mormon Internet exploded with the stories of past and present victims of LDS-related sexual abuse, expressing sadness, frustration, feelings of invalidation, sickness, and (at times) horror over the church's statement/claims. For examples, see here, here, and here.
In this episode of Mormon Stories we interview Matt Long -- a criminal defense and victim's rights attorney who has considerable experience prosecuting (and defending) perpetrators of child abuse in Arizona -- many of which were within the LDS church system.
- In part 1 of this episode we discuss the mindset and techniques of child/sex abusers.
- In part 2 we discuss the recent LDS Church new release, and Matt's perspective on what the LDS Church could do to improve its approach to child/sex abuse.
More on Matt: Matt uses the skills he developed as a sex crimes prosecutor to protect victims' rights and represent victims in lawsuits against offenders and institutions, such as fraternities, schools, businesses, or churches, that allowed abuse to occur. When he's not arguing in court, Matt argues with the other infants on the infants on thrones podcast at infantsonthrones.com. You can reach Matt at 480-833-1113 or e-mail his paralegal at kristin@azlegal.com with any questions about victim representation.
On February 1, 2016 the LDS Church re-released a media statement originally released in 2013 entitled “Effectiveness of Church Approach to Preventing Child Abuse.” In this press release (authored by Kirton & McConkie partner and LDS 1st Quorum of the 70 member Elder Von G. Keetch) the LDS Church claimed that "no religious organization has done more" to prevent child abuse, and touted their child abuse approach as "the gold standard" amongst all churches.
Immediately the Mormon Internet exploded with the stories of past and present victims of LDS-related sexual abuse, expressing sadness, frustration, feelings of invalidation, sickness, and (at times) horror over the church's statement/claims. For examples, see here, here, and here.
In this episode of Mormon Stories we interview Matt Long -- a criminal defense and victim's rights attorney who has considerable experience prosecuting (and defending) perpetrators of child abuse in Arizona -- many of which were within the LDS church system.
- In part 1 of this episode we discuss the mindset and techniques of child/sex abusers.
- In part 2 we discuss the recent LDS Church new release, and Matt's perspective on what the LDS Church could do to improve its approach to child/sex abuse.
More on Matt: Matt uses the skills he developed as a sex crimes prosecutor to protect victims' rights and represent victims in lawsuits against offenders and institutions, such as fraternities, schools, businesses, or churches, that allowed abuse to occur. When he's not arguing in court, Matt argues with the other infants on the infants on thrones podcast at infantsonthrones.com. You can reach Matt at 480-833-1113 or e-mail his paralegal at kristin@azlegal.com with any questions about victim representation.
In 2003, Matt Elggren and I met while working at Microsoft. Together, along with others, we discovered troubling things about LDS Church history.
For most of the past thirteen years, Matt has not attended church and has more or less quietly supported his believing wife and children. For fear of losing his family, Matt chose silence....as did his extended family. It was basically thirteen years of "don't ask don't tell" with no hope of resolution for Matt.
This changed in October of 2015 when Matt's brother-in-law, Clay Christensen, began a 6-week slide into total disbelief after 51 years of devout membership, which included 7 years as a high-level LDS Church employee. After losing his faith, Clay didn't choose silence.
This is Matt and Clay's story of family, faith, doubt, and hope.
In 2003, Matt Elggren and I met while working at Microsoft. Together, along with others, we discovered troubling things about LDS Church history.
For most of the past thirteen years, Matt has not attended church and has more or less quietly supported his believing wife and children. For fear of losing his family, Matt chose silence....as did his extended family. It was basically thirteen years of "don't ask don't tell" with no hope of resolution for Matt.
This changed in October of 2015 when Matt's brother-in-law, Clay Christensen, began a 6-week slide into total disbelief after 51 years of devout membership, which included 7 years as a high-level LDS Church employee. After losing his faith, Clay didn't choose silence.
This is Matt and Clay's story.
On Home of the Brave podcast, Peabody Award winning producer Scott Carrier interviews Brand Thornton, a believing LDC church member and a member of the Bundy militia, who explains the Mormon/religious/spiritual justifications for the occupation. Brand says, "Absolutely, God told us to do this," and quotes from the Doctrine and Covenants in his justifications.
As parts 3 and 4 in our series reviewing the events of Mormonism in 2015, we assemble another all-star panel including Lindsay Hansen Park, Dr. Gina Colvin, Dr. Kristy Money, and Sean Carter. Some of the topics discussed included:
- The state of the Mormon Internet (blogs, podcast, social media)
- Social group formations in progressive and post-Mormonism
- The state of Mormon Feminism
- The impact of disciplinary councils and excommunication on modern Mormonism (hint: it isn't good)
- The state of Progressive Mormonism
- Issues of race and multi-culturalism within modern Mormon culture (LDS and post-Mormon)
- The state of Mormon Studies
- Retrenchment/leadership crisis/corporatism in the modern LDS Church
We hope you enjoy it!!!!
As parts 3 and 4 in our series reviewing the events of Mormonism in 2015, we assemble another all-star panel including Lindsay Hansen Park, Dr. Gina Colvin, Dr. Kristy Money, and Sean Carter. Some of the topics discussed included:
- The state of the Mormon Internet (blogs, podcast, social media)
- Social group formations in progressive and post-Mormonism
- The state of Mormon Feminism
- The impact of disciplinary councils and excommunication on modern Mormonism (hint: it isn't good)
- The state of Progressive Mormonism
- Issues of race and multi-culturalism within modern Mormon culture (LDS and post-Mormon)
- The state of Mormon Studies
- Retrenchment/leadership crisis/corporatism in the modern LDS Church
We hope you enjoy it!!!!
In this episode we assemble an all-star panel to discuss the events of Mormonism in 2015. Panelists include Dr. J. Nelson Seawright, John Hamer, Jamie Hanis-Handy, and Marisa Calderwood.
Topics discussed include:
- The impact of Kate Kelly's excommunication on Mormon feminism and the events of 2015.
- The increase of excommunications for apostasy, including those of John Dehlin, Rock Waterman, and Marisa and Carson Calderwood.
- The death of three LDS apostles, including Boyd K. Packer.
- The November 2015 LDS policy change naming same-sex married individuals as mandatory apostates, and preventing their children from membership in the church.
- The release of the LDS Gospel Topics essays, and their impact on LDS activity/inactivity/apostasy
- The status of Mormon apologetics
- The status of progressive Mormonism
In this episode we assemble an all-star panel to discuss the events of Mormonism in 2015. Panelists include Dr. J. Nelson Seawright, John Hamer, Jamie Hanis-Handy, and Marisa Calderwood.
Topics discussed include:
- The impact of Kate Kelly's excommunication on Mormon feminism and the events of 2015.
- The increase of excommunications for apostasy, including those of John Dehlin, Rock Waterman, and Marisa and Carson Calderwood.
- The death of three LDS apostles, including Boyd K. Packer.
- The November 2015 LDS policy change naming same-sex married individuals as mandatory apostates, and preventing their children from membership in the church.
- The release of the LDS Gospel Topics essays, and their impact on LDS activity/inactivity/apostasy
- The status of Mormon apologetics
- The status of progressive Mormonism
From Canada to Norway: A multicultural journey through Mormonism, Islam, and the European perspective, with Claudia Fox Reppen In this first installment of Mormon Stories Europe, Henning Müller of Mormon Stories Germany interviews Canadian-born Claudia Fox Reppen about her multi-ethnic heritage, emigration to Norway, and Mormon faith transition.
Claudia and Henning examine the following topics in this three-part series: – The interesting story about Claudia’s upbringing and how Claudia’s family became members of the LDS Church – Growing up in the Church as a young tomboy, how she was affected by Mormonism’s teachings on gender roles, and how it contributed to her struggles with anxiety and depression – Opening “Pandora’s Box” of uncorrelated Mormon History, the question of homosexuality, and American Mormon politics – Claudia’s positive and negative experiences working with asylum seekers in Norway – The cultural similarities between Muslims and Mormons and the stark similarities in rhetoric employed by conservative LDS leaders and radical Islamists with regards to the role of women – Why the European Mormon perspective is unique and important, our hopes for attracting more European voices and establishing a bridge of discourse between a European and North American audience.
Join the discussion and follow Mormon Stories Europe on Facebook here!
https://www.facebook.com/mormonstorieseurope/
From Canada to Norway: A multicultural journey through Mormonism, Islam, and the European perspective, with Claudia Fox Reppen In this first installment of Mormon Stories Europe, Henning Müller of Mormon Stories Germany interviews Canadian-born Claudia Fox Reppen about her multi-ethnic heritage, emigration to Norway, and Mormon faith transition.
Claudia and Henning examine the following topics in this three-part series: – The interesting story about Claudia’s upbringing and how Claudia’s family became members of the LDS Church – Growing up in the Church as a young tomboy, how she was affected by Mormonism’s teachings on gender roles, and how it contributed to her struggles with anxiety and depression – Opening “Pandora’s Box” of uncorrelated Mormon History, the question of homosexuality, and American Mormon politics – Claudia’s positive and negative experiences working with asylum seekers in Norway – The cultural similarities between Muslims and Mormons and the stark similarities in rhetoric employed by conservative LDS leaders and radical Islamists with regards to the role of women – Why the European Mormon perspective is unique and important, our hopes for attracting more European voices and establishing a bridge of discourse between a European and North American audience. Join the discussion and follow Mormon Stories Europe on Facebook here!
https://www.facebook.com/mormonstorieseurope/
From Canada to Norway: A multicultural journey through Mormonism, Islam, and the European perspective, with Claudia Fox Reppen In this first installment of Mormon Stories Europe, Henning Müller of Mormon Stories Germany interviews Canadian-born Claudia Fox Reppen about her multi-ethnic heritage, emigration to Norway, and Mormon faith transition.
Claudia and Henning examine the following topics in this three-part series: – The interesting story about Claudia’s upbringing and how Claudia’s family became members of the LDS Church – Growing up in the Church as a young tomboy, how she was affected by Mormonism’s teachings on gender roles, and how it contributed to her struggles with anxiety and depression – Opening “Pandora’s Box” of uncorrelated Mormon History, the question of homosexuality, and American Mormon politics – Claudia’s positive and negative experiences working with asylum seekers in Norway – The cultural similarities between Muslims and Mormons and the stark similarities in rhetoric employed by conservative LDS leaders and radical Islamists with regards to the role of women – Why the European Mormon perspective is unique and important, our hopes for attracting more European voices and establishing a bridge of discourse between a European and North American audience. Join the discussion and follow Mormon Stories Europe on Facebook here!
https://www.facebook.com/mormonstorieseurope/
In December of 2015 Jake Ricks was informed that he would be facing an LDS disciplinary council for apostasy, based on a series of benign Facebook posts he made during the previous year. On January 3rd, 2016 the disciplinary council was held (with Jake and his wife, Hannah, in attendance), and the decision of “no action” was determined by his stake president. This is Jake and Hannah’s Story. (audio version to come)
Part 1: Jake and Hannah’s LDS background, and the events leading up to Jake’s disciplinary council for apostasy held on January 3rd, 2016.
Part 2: Jake and Hannah Discuss the Outcome of Jake’s January 3rd, 2016 LDS Disciplinary Council for apostasy.
In December of 2015 Jake Ricks was informed that he would be facing an LDS disciplinary council for apostasy, based on a series of benign Facebook posts he made during the previous year. On January 3rd, 2016 the disciplinary council was held (with Jake and his wife, Hannah, in attendance), and the decision of “no action” was determined by his stake president. This is Jake and Hannah’s Story. (audio version to come)
Part 1: Jake and Hannah’s LDS background, and the events leading up to Jake’s disciplinary council for apostasy held on January 3rd, 2016.
Part 2: Jake and Hannah Discuss the Outcome of Jake’s January 3rd, 2016 LDS Disciplinary Council for apostasy.
In this episode we interview Utah attorney Mark Pugsley. Mark specializes in securities litigation, and discusses the culture of financial fraud within Utah Mormonism.
In this episode Jamie Hanis Handy assembles an amazing panel (Natasha Helfer Parker, Dr. Kristy Money, and Dr. Gina Colvin) to discuss the recent LDS church essay entitled: "Joseph Smith’s Teachings about Priesthood, Temple, and Women."
As progressive and post-Mormons continue to leave the LDS church in increasing numbers, many former LDS church members miss the sense of community that they once enjoyed as active Mormons.
Oasis is a network of secular communities that meet weekly (on Sundays), organized according to the following values:
1) People are more important than beliefs.
2) Reality is known through reason.
3) Meaning comes from making a difference
4) Human hands solve human problems.
5) Be accepting and be accepted.
Currently the Oasis Network has two thriving communities:
Houston Oasis: http://houstonoasis.org
Kansas City Oasis: http://KCoasis.org
Also, a new community in under development in Boston: http://bostonoasis.org
In this episode we interview the two founders of Oasis: Mike Aus of Oasis Houston, and Helen Stringer of Oasis Kansas City.
Daniel Miller worked for the LDS Church for two years as a Program Manager in the Publishing Services Department. During this time he oversaw all media production for seminary and institute (CES portfolio, broadcasts). In this three-part series, Daniel and his wife AnnaMarie discuss his early years as a church member in Idaho and as a missionary in Japan, his time as an LDS Church employee, and the factors that led him and his family away from LDS Church activity.
Daniel Miller worked for the LDS Church for two years as a Program Manager in the Publishing Services Department. During this time he oversaw all media production for seminary and institute (CES portfolio, broadcasts). In this three-part series, Daniel and his wife AnnaMarie discuss his early years as a church member in Idaho and as a missionary in Japan, his time as an LDS Church employee, and the factors that led him and his family away from LDS Church activity.
Daniel Miller worked for the LDS Church for two years as a Program Manager in the Publishing Services Department. During this time he oversaw all media production for seminary and institute (CES portfolio, broadcasts). In this three-part series, Daniel and his wife AnnaMarie discuss his early years as a church member in Idaho and as a missionary in Japan, his time as an LDS Church employee, and the factors that led him and his family away from LDS Church activity.
On September 27, 2015 the first Community of Good Sunday meeting was held in Logan, UT at the Cache Valley Unitarian Universalist church building. This post includes audio from this first meeting, including a presentation by Dr. John Dehlin, wherein he lays out a starting vision for the Community of Good.
This podcast is Part 3 of a Mormon Stories and A Thoughtful Faith Collaboration.
Mindy Gledhill is an American indie pop music singer-song writer. She has five albums, the Sum of all Grace, Anchor, Winter Moon and Pocketful of Poetry and has collaborated on many others. Mindy’s music appears in film, television and commercials. Its has been described as ‘tender, emotional, intelligent, and touchingly auto-biographical, fun flirty and heartfelt.’
Her vocal style is warm and rich; each of her songs attest to the tremendous talent she has as both a musician and a lyricist. She’s also innovative and entrepreneurial and in 2012 was recognized as one of “Utah’s 40 Under 40” in the Utah Valley Business Q Magazine.
But Mindy also has a rich life story. Born into a large Mormon family she grew up in a faith tradition that could not keep up with her growing awareness of gender inequality and patriarchy.
Mindy joins Gina to discuss her life, her work, her family and her personal gender politics.
In Parts One and Two of the series John Dehlin interviewed pop artist Mindy Gledhill and classical pianist Dustin Gledhill regarding their new electronic synth-pop project called Hive Riot. In Part 3 A Thoughtful Faith podcast host Gina Colvin interviews Mindy about her faith, women’s issues, and other dimensions of Mindy’s experiences as a woman, mother, wife, pop artist, Mormon, and human.
In Part 1 John explores Mindy and Dustin’s respective stories as Mormons, along with their careers as successful musical performing artists. Dustin also discusses his difficulties as a gay Mormon (including his attempts to change his sexual orientation, driving him to the point of suicide), and Mindy discusses her journey to become an LGBT ally (partially through Dustin’s influence). In Part 2we discuss the Hive Riot project (which is the perfect Christmas Gift for this holiday season…along with Mindy’s Christmas album).
Jared Anderson speaks on the topic of Religious Humanism at the Community of Good - Cache Valley Sunday service on 12/6/2015.
In this three-part series I interview Mindy and Dustin Gledhill about their new electronic synth-pop album/project called "Hive Riot."
In Part 1 we explore Mindy and Dustin's stories and careers as Mormons and as performing artists.
In Part 2 we discuss the Hive Riot project.
In Part 3, A Thoughtful Faith podcast host Gina Colvin interviews Mindy about her faith, women's issues, and other dimensions of Mindy's experiences.
In this three-part series I interview Mindy and Dustin Gledhill about their new electronic synth-pop album/project called "Hive Riot."
In Part 1 we explore Mindy and Dustin's stories and careers as Mormons and as performing artists.
In Part 2 we discuss the Hive Riot project.
In Part 3, A Thoughtful Faith podcast host Gina Colvin interviews Mindy about her faith, women's issues, and other dimensions of Mindy's experiences.
In this episode former LDS Bishop Bill Reel returns to Mormon Stories to discuss his falling out with the LDS apologetic group FAIR (including his conflict with pugilistic apologist Brian Hales), and his faithful dissent from the LDS Church over its recent policy regarding "Same-Gender Relationships."
Bill Reel is the host of Mormon Discussion podcast.
Alison Udall is the co-founder and main force behind Mormon Spectrum - a web site dedicated to supporting Mormons across the belief spectrum with content and community. Mormon Spectrum can accessed here: http://mormonspectrum.org.
Alison Udall is the co-founder and main force behind Mormon Spectrum - a web site dedicated to supporting Mormons across the belief spectrum with content and community. Mormon Spectrum can accessed here: http://mormonspectrum.org.
On today's Savage Lovecast (hosted by Dan Savage), LDS Jeopardy champion Ken Jennings publicly denounced the recent LDS Church policy changes regarding same-gender relationships and children. This is the excerpt.
For this Mormon Stories Podcast episode a distinguished panel reviews a newly released LDS mission memoir entitled, "The Book of A Mormon," co-written by world renowned psychologists Dr. Scott Miller and Dr. Mark Hubble. This enjoyable and thoughtful book chronicles Dr. Miller's mission to Sweden in the late 1970s, and is a fascinating and detailed history of correlation-era LDS missionary service.
Joining us to review the book are several panelists: Hans Mattsson (former LDS Area Authority from Sweden), Julienna Viegas-Haws (native of Belgium), Jennie Dendy (served mission in Finland), and Kirk Kinsey (Mark's son).
We all consider this to be a very important book, and we hope you enjoy reading.
In this three-part podcast I interview Stephen M. Veazey, prophet-president of Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).
In this three-part podcast I interview Stephen M. Veazey, prophet-president of Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).
In this three-part podcast I interview Stephen M. Veazey, prophet-president of Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).
Laura Roper Andreasen is the granddaughter of LDS Apostle M. Russell Ballard. Recently Laura resigned her membership in the LDS Church after struggling unsuccessfully for decades to find happiness and health as an active, believing Latter-day Saint (e.g., serving an LDS mission, marrying in the temple, having children). In this vulnerable, thoughtful, respectful, and heartfelt two-part interview, Laura discusses the following:
- The deep love and respect she has for her parents, grandparents, and Mormon heritage.
- Her struggles as a child, teenager, and adult with:
- What she experienced to be a culture of perfectionism and shame in the LDS church.
- A family and church culture of avoiding emotional vulnerability and the open discussion of difficult topics.
- The added difficulty/burden/pressure of being a direct descendant of Hyrum Smith and the grandchild of an LDS Apostle (within LDS culture).
- Her struggle with low self worth, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation for multiple decades.
- Her complex relationship with Grandpa Ballard, who (from her perspective) struggled to balance his role as an apostle with his role as grandfather.
- Her perspective on what it is like to be an LDS Apostle, answering many questions for Mormon Stories listeners.
- Her reasons for leaving the LDS Church after being unable to find joy within it.
To read from Laura's blog, click here.
Part 1 (Laura's Story):
Part 2 (Q&A):
Laura Roper Andreasen is the granddaughter of LDS Apostle M. Russell Ballard. Recently Laura resigned her membership in the LDS Church after struggling unsuccessfully for decades to find happiness and health as an active, believing Latter-day Saint (e.g., serving an LDS mission, marrying in the temple, having children). In this vulnerable, thoughtful, respectful, and heartfelt two-part interview, Laura discusses the following:
- The deep love and respect she has for her parents, grandparents, and Mormon heritage.
- Her struggles as a child, teenager, and adult with:
- What she experienced to be a culture of perfectionism and shame in the LDS church.
- A family and church culture of avoiding emotional vulnerability and the open discussion of difficult topics.
- The added difficulty/burden/pressure of being a direct descendant of Hyrum Smith and the grandchild of an LDS Apostle (within LDS culture).
- Her struggle with low self worth, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation for multiple decades.
- Her complex relationship with Grandpa Ballard, who (from her perspective) struggled to balance his role as an apostle with his role as grandfather.
- Her perspective on what it is like to be an LDS Apostle, answering many questions for Mormon Stories listeners.
- Her reasons for leaving the LDS Church after being unable to find joy within it.
To read from Laura's blog, click here.
Part 1 (Laura's Story):
Part 2 (Q&A):
Today the LDS Church released a clarification to the new policies on same-gender marriage and children. Michael Otterson (Managing Director of LDS Church Public Relations) also released a memo entitled "Understanding the Handbook."
To analyze the clarification and memo, have have assembled a panel of brilliant humans: John Hamer, Debra Jensen, James Ord, and Daniel Parkinson.
Today the LDS Church released a clarification to the new policies on same-gender marriage and children. Michael Otterson (Managing Director of LDS Church Public Relations) also released a memo entitled "Understanding the Handbook."
To analyze the clarification and memo, have have assembled a panel of brilliant humans: John Hamer, Debra Jensen, James Ord, and Daniel Parkinson.
Eric Reeves is the son of LDS Relief Society General Presidency 2nd counselor Linda S. Reeves.
In this episode Eric discusses:
1) his early years in the church, his loss of faith in the LDS church, and how he handled this process with his family,
2) his analysis of the recent changes, and why he vehemently opposes the parallels made between same-sex marriage and polygamy,
3) why he is speaking out publicly against the new LGBT policies, and
4) why he is encouraging church members to openly oppose these policies.
News broke last week that the LDS Church was adopting new policies aimed at married same-sex couples and their children. Mormons in a same-sex marriage will now be considered apostates and could be subject to disciplinary hearings and excommunication. Their children, meanwhile, will be barred from many of the faith’s sacred rituals, unless they get permission from church’s highest leaders. Monday, a panel of guests joined us to discuss the impacts and ramifications of these new church policies.
GUESTS
- Jennifer Dobner is a journalist at the Salt Lake Tribune where she covers health care reform, Mormonism, polygamy, justice issues and more.
- John Dehlin has a Ph.D. in psychology from Utah State University, focusing on religion, mental health, and the LGBT Mormon experience. he co-led the largest study ever conducted on LGBT Mormons that has been published in numerous scientific, peer reviewed journals, including the APA's Journal of Counseling Psychology. He also produces and hosts the Mormon Stories podcast. He was excommunicated from the LDS Church in January of 2015. He was credited in several news reports for leaking information about the Church’s new policy on married same-sex Mormons and their children.
- Kendall Wilcox is an openly gay and active Mormon. He’s a co-founder of Mormons Building Bridges, a group that works to build understanding between members of the LDS Church and the LGBT community. He’s currently producing a documentary film about the experience of LGBT Mormons. It’s called Far Between.
- Mitch Mayne is an openly gay, active Mormon who served as executive secretary in the LDS bishopric in San Francisco through 2013.
In this episode we discuss the recent changes to LDS Handbook 1 regarding LGBT members who enter into same-gender relationships, and their children. Panelists include Natasha Helfer Parker, Dr. Kristy Money, Dr. J. Nelson Seawright, and Dr. John Dehlin.
In this episode Steve and Chris Holbrook discuss the lessons they have learned in helping to lead/grow the Utah Valley Post-Mormon community to an organization of over 1,400 members, with weekly activities, and very high levels of community support, participation, and satisfaction.
In this episode Steve and Chris Holbrook discuss their early years in the LDS Church, their disaffection from the LDS Church, and their discovery of the Utah Valley Post-Mormon community as a positive influence in their post-Mormon life.
In today's episode a wonderful panel of women review the recent LDS Church "Mother in Heaven" essay. Panelists include: Jamie Hanis Handy, Natasha Helfer Parker, Dr. Kristy Money, and Carol Lynn Pearson.
In this episode sociologist and scholar Mark Juergensmeyer, Ph.D. explains his reasons for boycotting Brigham Y0ung University over its policy to expell LDS students who lose their testimony of the LDS Church's truthfulness.
The text of Dr. Juergensmeyer's letter is as follows:
Prof Elizabeth Clark
Associate Director
International Center for Law and Religion Studies
Brigham Young UniversityDear Elizabeth:
I regret that I will be unable to participate in the Law and Religion Symposium that is being held this week at BYU. It was an honor to be invited to speak at this event, and as you know I made every effort to make room in my schedule to be there on Tuesday. My decision not to participate is an act of conscience based on BYU’s policy of expelling any Mormon student who leaves the faith or converts to another religion.
Alas I was unaware of this policy until this weekend when it was brought to my attention. I have decided that it would be hypocritical of me to participate in a conference in which the issue of religious liberty is paramount when the institution sponsoring it fundamentally violates this principle in its policies towards Mormon students. As I understand it, non-Mormons are allowed to enroll in BYU, and they are welcome to convert to the Mormon faith if they wish, but if Mormon students change their religious affiliation they lose their scholarship, their campus housing and jobs, and are expelled from school even if they are months away from graduation.
In making this decision I mean no disrespect to you, the Center with which you are affiliated, or the other participants in this week’s conference. I know that many faculty members at BYU are opposed to this policy and are quietly working to change it. I applaud them, and hope that my decision will be taken as a sign of support for those within BYU who are seeking change. I appreciation your dilemma and admire your persistence.
Again, thanks for the honor of the invitation. I hope that I will be invited back to BYU and will be able to accept some time in the future when this policy restricting religious freedom is lifted.
Sincerely,
Mark Juergensmeyer
Professor of Sociology and Global Studies
Founding Director and Fellow
Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies
A HUGE thanks to the amazing work of FreeBYU.org for breaking this important story.
Dr. Juergensmeyer is director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, professor of sociology and global studies, and affiliate professor of religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a pioneer in the field of global studies and writes on global religion, religious violence, conflict resolution and South Asian religion and politics. He has published more than three hundred articles and twenty books, including the recent Global Rebellion: Religious Challenges to the Secular State (University of California Press, 2008). Here you can see picturesof Mark, read his full bio , or his wikipedia entry
In this episode an EPIC panel reviews the October 2015 General Conference wherein:
1) the LDS Church misses an incredibly important opportunity to fill 3 vacancies in the quorum of the 12 with a person of color, and instead selects (again) three white males from Utah, and
2) the LDS Church doubles down on its "the Internet is evil," "doubting is bad," "choose to believe," and "stay in the boat" rhetoric.
Panelists for this conference review include Dr. Gina Colvin, Sean Carter, Andrew Ainsworth, and Jamie Hanis Handy. These panelists are incredibly passionate, insightful and witty. I hope you enjoy.
In this episode an EPIC panel reviews the October 2015 General Conference wherein:
1) the LDS Church misses an incredibly important opportunity to fill 3 vacancies in the quorum of the 12 with a person of color, and instead selects (again) three white males from Utah, and
2) the LDS Church doubles down on its "the Internet is evil," "doubting is bad," "choose to believe," and "stay in the boat" rhetoric.
Panelists for this conference review include Dr. Gina Colvin, Sean Carter, Andrew Ainsworth, and Jamie Hanis Handy. These panelists are incredibly passionate, insightful and witty. I hope you enjoy.
In this episode an EPIC panel reviews the October 2015 General Conference wherein:
1) the LDS Church misses an incredibly important opportunity to fill 3 vacancies in the quorum of the 12 with a person of color, and instead selects (again) three white males from Utah, and
2) the LDS Church doubles down on its "the Internet is evil," "doubting is bad," "choose to believe," and "stay in the boat" rhetoric.
Panelists for this conference review include Dr. Gina Colvin, Sean Carter, Andrew Ainsworth, and Jamie Hanis Handy. These panelists are incredibly passionate, insightful and witty. I hope you enjoy.
A presentation entitled "What I've Learned after 15 Years of Mormon Transitioning" delivered by Dr. John Dehlin at Utah Valley University on August 18, 2015. Sponsored by the Utah Valley PostMormons.
In this episode we interview Tanner Gilliland and Samantha Snyder. Tanner was raised as an orthodox Mormon in Tucson, Arizona. Samantha converted to the LDS Church in the U.K. Both lived very orthodox LDS lives as millennials, attending BYU-Idaho as devout members, and interning for Deseret Book after graduating from BYU-I. Samantha co-founded the web site Millennial Mormons.
As Tanner and Samantha began to question the modern LDS Church, they briefly entertained the teachings of Denver Snuffer (Tanner was actually re-baptised according to Snuffer's teachings). Earlier this year, both Tanner and Samantha left the LDS Church, and recently co-founded the new post-Mormon millennial blog called ZelphOnTheShelf.com.
As recent reports suggest that the LDS Church is losing its Millennial members at a rapid pace (see here and here), this interview begins to explore why.
In this episode we interview Tanner Gilliland and Samantha Snyder. Tanner was raised as an orthodox Mormon in Tucson, Arizona. Samantha converted to the LDS Church in the U.K. Both lived very orthodox LDS lives as millennials, attending BYU-Idaho as devout members, and interning for Deseret Book after graduating from BYU-I. Samantha co-founded the web site Millennial Mormons.
As Tanner and Samantha began to question the modern LDS Church, they briefly entertained the teachings of Denver Snuffer (Tanner was actually re-baptised according to Snuffer's teachings). Earlier this year, both Tanner and Samantha left the LDS Church, and recently co-founded the new post-Mormon millennial blog called ZelphOnTheShelf.com.
As recent reports suggest that the LDS Church is losing its Millennial members at a rapid pace (see here and here), this interview begins to explore why.
Healing and Growth after an LDS Crisis of Faith: Weekend Retreat
with John Dehlin, Ph.D.
- Who: Progressive, Inactive, and Post-Mormons. Couples and individuals welcome.
- When: October 23-25, 2015 (Starts at 6pm on 10/23, ends at 4pm on 10/25)
- Where: Park City, UT
- Purposes of Retreat
- Tips on healing and thriving after a loss of LDS faith. Major topics include:
- Rebuilding identity, morality, mental health, meaning, and purpose after losing faith.
- Healthy communications with believing family and friends after losing faith.
- Strengthening marriages after losing faith.
- Raising children after losing faith.
- Rebuilding friendships and community after losing faith.
- Finding joy, meaning, and fulfillment after losing faith.
- Building relationships and community with others like you.
- Tips on healing and thriving after a loss of LDS faith. Major topics include:
- Cost:
- Suggested donation: $350/person. Donation does not cover meals/lodging.
- Scholarships available based on need – please do NOT stay away because of financial need. We will do our best to accommodate those who want to attend (until the slots fill up). Email mormontransitions@gmail.com to request scholarship information.
- All proceeds go to support Mormon Transitions.
To reserve your spot, visit: http://mormontransitions.org
In this episode, three geneticists respond to the LDS Essay "Book of Mormon and DNA Studies," and to Apologist Michael Ash's article entitled "The DNA Challenge to the Book of Mormon that Fizzled." The respondents are as follows:
Jamie Hanis Handy has a B.S. in Zoology and an M.S. in Biological Science Education and Genetics from Brigham Young University. She is the mother of 5, a pianist, a photographer, and a lover of science, truth, and sensibility. Jamie is the author of a recent article entitled "DNA and Mormonism."
Simon Southerton completed a PhD in plant science at the University of Sydney in 1989. For 15 years he worked at CSIRO, Australia’s national research organization, where he
led its forest genomics team. In 2014, in partnership with his brother Bob, he formed a CSIRO spin off company named Gondwana Genomics. Gondwana provides DNA testing services to tree breeders to enable them to select better trees when they are seedlings. Simon first encountered DNA research on Native Americans and Polynesians in 1998
while serving as a bishop in Brisbane, Australia. In response to Mormon apologetics in 2004 he published Losing a Lost Tribe, which explores the origins of Amerindian and Polynesian DNA and its implications for LDS beliefs arising from the Book of Mormon. Simon is married to Jane who is an English teacher/librarian. They live in Canberra along with their five wonderful offspring. Simon's blog on DNA and Mormonism can be found here.
Eric Fairfield has a Ph.D. in moleular biology from State University of New York at Stony Brook. He is currently founder and owner of Cognitive Architectures for Learning, a company that understands cell by cell and synapse by synapse what learning and memory are and how to build devices from this knowledge. Eric has also run a number of church courses and seminar series bringing together science and religion. He is the proud father of a female nanotech physicist. He is also a geneticist and biochemist with expertise in genes and their enzymes across many organisms. When there is time, Eric is a swimmer, photographer and chef.
In this two-part episode John Dehlin is interviewed by Dan Wotherspoon about his evolving perspectives on Mormonism, and on his upcoming "Mormon Transitions" project.
In this two-part episode John Dehlin is interviewed by Dan Wotherspoon about his evolving perspectives on Mormonism, and on his upcoming "Mormon Transitions" project.
Dan Wotherspoon, host of Mormon Matters podcast, reflects on 15 years of helping people try to find rich spirituality within Mormonism.
Dan Wotherspoon, host of Mormon Matters podcast, reflects on 15 years of helping people try to find rich spirituality within Mormonism.
In this episode we interview Dr. Scott Miller. Aside from being a world-renowned psychologist, Scott recently penned a fabulous book about his mission experience to Sweden in the 1970s. The book is called "The Book of a Mormon: The Real Life and Strange Times of an LDS Missionary."
In this episode Scott discusses:
- His early years in the church.
- His mission experience to Sweden in the 1970s.
- His path out of Mormonism after returning from his mission.
- His work as a psychologist today.
- His recommendations for healthy Mormon transitions, and for thriving as a post-Mormon.
In one month we will be re-launching "Mormon Stories Book Club," and will invite Dr. Miller back to Mormon Stories to discuss his book, along with former Swedish Area Authority Hans Mattsson and a panel of other listeners/readers. If you are interested in the book, or in being part of the book club discussion, please purchase it at Amazon.com, read it over the coming weeks, please consider writing an Amazon review for the book, and then join us for our discussion of the book in one month's time. Can't wait!
Julie Rowe is an active, believing Mormon, and is the author of two books: "A Greater Tomorrow: My Journey Beyond the Veil" and "The Time is Now." In these books, Julie details her near-death experiences, wherein she claims to have received divinely inspired visions of the past, present, and future.
Julie and her peers/followers are heavily focused on the "Latter-day" aspects of Mormonism and Christianity, with a heavy emphasis on predicting pending global disasters in the United States and abroad. Julie's prophesies (along with those of her peers) have led upwards of 10,000+ believing Mormons to make somewhat drastic life decisions including selling their homes, selling off their 401Ks, purchasing gold, and purchasing thousands of dollars worth of "preparatory materials" (e.g., food storage, tents, trailers, guns, ammunition) for the pending global demise, which is scheduled to begin in earnest in September of 2015.
In this 2015 Sunstone Symposium presentation, Lindsay Hansen Park interviews me (John Dehlin) on the 10 year anniversary of Mormon Stories podcast. Warning -- I get a bit emotion during this one....so listeners beware!
Gina Colvin Interviews me (John Dehlin) on the 10th Anniversary of Mormon Stories Podcast. We discuss my early years growing up in the church, my mission experience in Guatemala, my time at BYU during the early 1990s, my faith crisis while working at Microsoft, my 10 year journey with Mormon Stories Podcast, my excommunication earlier this year, and my thoughts/plans about the future (with Mormon Stories and Mormon Transitions).
Gina Colvin Interviews me (John Dehlin) on the 10th Anniversary of Mormon Stories Podcast. We discuss my early years growing up in the church, my mission experience in Guatemala, my time at BYU during the early 1990s, my faith crisis while working at Microsoft, my 10 year journey with Mormon Stories Podcast, my excommunication earlier this year, and my thoughts/plans about the future (with Mormon Stories and Mormon Transitions).
Gina Colvin Interviews me (John Dehlin) on the 10th Anniversary of Mormon Stories Podcast. We discuss my early years growing up in the church, my mission experience in Guatemala, my time at BYU during the early 1990s, my faith crisis while working at Microsoft, my 10 year journey with Mormon Stories Podcast, my excommunication earlier this year, and my thoughts/plans about the future (with Mormon Stories and Mormon Transitions).
J Seth Anderson and Michael Adam Ferguson were catapulted into the public spotlight when they became the first same-sex couple to be legally married by the state of Utah. Seth and Michael both grew up in LDS homes, completed full-time missions for the Church, and throughout their twenties, undertook tortuous journeys to renegotiate their relationships with both the institution and with the faith of their childhoods.
Seth and Michael recently completed their graduate work at the University of Utah--Seth finishing his master's degree in social history focusing on the history of sexuality in the Western United States, and Michael defending his PhD dissertation in bioengineering in which he developed new analytical methods for monitoring brain activity using fMRI.
Since November 2012, Seth and Michael have been embroiled in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against a gay conversion therapy organization in New Jersey named JONAH: Jews Offering New Alternatives to Healing (formerly Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality), filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center. On June 25, 2015, a New Jersey jury unanimously found JONAH liable for multiple counts of consumer fraud and unconscionable business practices.
Seth and Michael are actively involved in education and advocacy on behalf of LGBT and queer individuals, including the project Team Truth--a grassroots campaign they are creating with advocates and allies to end the lies and harm of gay conversion therapy.
J Seth Anderson and Michael Adam Ferguson were catapulted into the public spotlight when they became the first same-sex couple to be legally married by the state of Utah. Seth and Michael both grew up in LDS homes, completed full-time missions for the Church, and throughout their twenties, undertook tortuous journeys to renegotiate their relationships with both the institution and with the faith of their childhoods.
Seth and Michael recently completed their graduate work at the University of Utah--Seth finishing his master's degree in social history focusing on the history of sexuality in the Western United States, and Michael defending his PhD dissertation in bioengineering in which he developed new analytical methods for monitoring brain activity using fMRI.
Since November 2012, Seth and Michael have been embroiled in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against a gay conversion therapy organization in New Jersey named JONAH: Jews Offering New Alternatives to Healing (formerly Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality), filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center. On June 25, 2015, a New Jersey jury unanimously found JONAH liable for multiple counts of consumer fraud and unconscionable business practices.
Seth and Michael are actively involved in education and advocacy on behalf of LGBT and queer individuals, including the project Team Truth--a grassroots campaign they are creating with advocates and allies to end the lies and harm of gay conversion therapy.
Building Progressive and Post-Mormon Communities based on Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind with Dr. Dave Christian.
Dr. Dave Christian has served as a psychologist to believing and post-Mormons for decades.
In this episode, Dave begins by discussing his LDS pioneer ancestry, and his early years in the LDS church as a faithful, science-loving boy from St. George. He then discusses early doubts he began to have regarding his LDS faith as he explored the field of epistemology (the study of how we know things). In spite of these doubts, Dave chose to serve an LDS mission in the Australia Sydney Mission (1979 to 1981 timeframe), and during this time struggled with the pressure tactics employed by his mission president (Orson Wright). Ultimately, to Dave's surprise, Orson Wright was removed from the mission for propositioning the sister missionaries of the mission to be his polygamous wives -- and the reasons for President Wright's removal from the mission were covered up by LDS Church leadership including Thomas S. Monson and Joseph B. Wirthlin.
This episode provides a fascinating look into the issues of: 1) how we come to feel as though we "know" things, and 2) how LDS church members (and members of other religious faiths) can be manipulated into claiming religious knowledge through emotional means.
Dr. Christian is available to provide psychotherapy in Utah, and Skype-based coaching outside of Utah. To contact Dr. Christian for an appointment, check out his contact information here.
Julienna Viegas-Haws has a fascinating story. Her mother is from the Belgian Congo. She was raised in Belgium. Her mother converted to the LDS Church when Julienna was a child, and credits the LDS church with saving her life. Julienna was raised a highly devout Mormon girl in Belgium, and served a mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.
After a life of full devotion to the LDS Church, Julinenna began to experience cracks in her orthodoxy testimony when her husband began questioning/doubting the LDS Church's truth claims.
While Julienna remains committed to LDS Church activity, she recently penned an article with the Salt Lake Tribune entitled "What do progressive Mormons want? A dialogue about change."
In this two-part episode for Mormon Stories Podcast Julienna tells her story, and discusses possible changes that the LDS Church can make to become a healthier organization for its members.
Julienna Viegas-Haws has a fascinating story. Her mother is from the Belgian Congo. She was raised in Belgium. Her mother converted to the LDS Church when Julienna was a child, and credits the LDS church with saving her life. Julienna was raised a highly devout Mormon girl in Belgium, and served a mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.
After a life of full devotion to the LDS Church, Julinenna began to experience cracks in her orthodoxy testimony when her husband began questioning/doubting the LDS Church's truth claims.
While Julienna remains committed to LDS Church activity, she recently penned an article with the Salt Lake Tribune entitled "What do progressive Mormons want? A dialogue about change."
In this two-part episode for Mormon Stories Podcast Julienna tells her story, and discusses possible changes that the LDS Church can make to become a healthier organization for its members.
On August 2, 2015 I was asked to deliver the sermon for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, Utah. The topic was my experiences as a Mormon that led up to my excommunication.
My appearance on the Friendly Atheist podcast with Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke.
Hemant Mehta is the editor of Friendly Atheist, appears on the Atheist Voice channel on YouTube, and co-hosts the uniquely-named Friendly Atheist Podcast. He is a former National Board Certified high school math teacher in the suburbs of Chicago, where he taught for seven years.
Jessica Bluemke is a contributor to Friendly Atheist and a graduate of Ball State University. She lives on the north side of Chicago and performs stand-up comedy in her free time.
For decades, and heavily over the past ten years, Mormon historians, podcasters, and critics have been urging the LDS Church to be more open and honest about Joseph Smith's use of folk magic and a peep stone/hat in his production of the Book of Mormon text.
On August 4th, 2015 the LDS Church released the third volume of the Joseph Smith Papers, which includes the printer's manuscript of the Book of Mormon. It also released photos of the seer stone that Joseph Smith used as a scryer to search for buried treasure, and that he also placed in a hat to produce the text for the Book of Mormon. (for detailed discussions of Joseph's use of a seer stone in the Book of Mormon's creation, see CES Letter, Mormon Think, or D. Michael Quinn's "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View."
An October 2015 Ensign article is set to appear called "Joseph the Seer" which attempts to explain Joseph's practice of using a seer stone.
In this episode John Hamer, J. Seawright, Micah Nickolaisen, Jamie Hanis Handy, and Jonathan Streeter join us to analyze these events.
In this episode we interview Lindsay Hansen Park to discuss her experiences producing the Year of Polygamy podcast.
Kristy Money is impressive on so many levels.
- She graduated from BYU at age 19, completing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at age 25 (dissertation on LDS suicide)
- She serves on the Ordain Women board of directors as a co-founder of OW, assembled the famous "6 discussions" for Ordain Women, and is the host of Ordain Women podcast.
- She has authored three incredibly influential op-eds for the Salt Lake Tribune:
- LDS Church should make clear Smith was wrong to take 14-year-old wife
- Think, seminary teachers, before acceding to church essay on Joseph Smith’s polygamy
- LDS Church should go further to disavow racist priesthood ban
- She is the creator of the http://voicesoflove.org project (in support of same-sex love within Mormonism), which is a response to Ty Mansfield's Voice of Hope project (promoting either mixed-orientation marriages or celibacy).
- She is currently serving on the Mormon Mental Health Association Board of Directors.
- Her journey has been featured in the New York Times and in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- She is currently facing church discipline for her efforts with Ordain Women, and for speaking openly in her congregation about matters of racial injustice.
In this 3-part interview we discuss her early years growing up in the church in South Carolina, her intellectual awakening at BYU, her experiences as a psychologist, and her various efforts of Mormon activism, culminating in her now being silenced by her bishop, and threatened with church discipline. She also discusses the incredibly high personal price she's paid for her work, which has led to almost complete isolation from her parents and siblings.
Kristy Money is impressive on so many levels.
- She graduated from BYU at age 19, completing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at age 25 (dissertation on LDS suicide)
- She serves on the Ordain Women board of directors as a co-founder of OW, assembled the famous "6 discussions" for Ordain Women, and is the host of Ordain Women podcast.
- She has authored three incredibly influential op-eds for the Salt Lake Tribune:
- LDS Church should make clear Smith was wrong to take 14-year-old wife
- Think, seminary teachers, before acceding to church essay on Joseph Smith’s polygamy
- LDS Church should go further to disavow racist priesthood ban
- She is the creator of the http://voicesoflove.org project (in support of same-sex love within Mormonism), which is a response to Ty Mansfield's Voice of Hope project (promoting either mixed-orientation marriages or celibacy).
- She is currently serving on the Mormon Mental Health Association Board of Directors.
- Her journey has been featured in the New York Times and in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- She is currently facing church discipline for her efforts with Ordain Women, and for speaking openly in her congregation about matters of racial injustice.
In this 3-part interview we discuss her early years growing up in the church in South Carolina, her intellectual awakening at BYU, her experiences as a psychologist, and her various efforts of Mormon activism, culminating in her now being silenced by her bishop, and threatened with church discipline. She also discusses the incredibly high personal price she's paid for her work, which has led to almost complete isolation from her parents and siblings.
Kristy Money is impressive on so many levels.
- She graduated from BYU at age 19, completing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at age 25 (dissertation on LDS suicide)
- She serves on the Ordain Women board of directors as a co-founder of OW, assembled the famous "6 discussions" for Ordain Women, and is the host of Ordain Women podcast.
- She has authored three incredibly influential op-eds for the Salt Lake Tribune:
- LDS Church should make clear Smith was wrong to take 14-year-old wife
- Think, seminary teachers, before acceding to church essay on Joseph Smith’s polygamy
- LDS Church should go further to disavow racist priesthood ban
- She is the creator of the http://voicesoflove.org project (in support of same-sex love within Mormonism), which is a response to Ty Mansfield's Voice of Hope project (promoting either mixed-orientation marriages or celibacy).
- She is currently serving on the Mormon Mental Health Association Board of Directors.
- Her journey has been featured in the New York Times and in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- She is currently facing church discipline for her efforts with Ordain Women, and for speaking openly in her congregation about matters of racial injustice.
In this 3-part interview we discuss her early years growing up in the church in South Carolina, her intellectual awakening at BYU, her experiences as a psychologist, and her various efforts of Mormon activism, culminating in her now being silenced by her bishop, and threatened with church discipline. She also discusses the incredibly high personal price she's paid for her work, which has led to almost complete isolation from her parents and siblings.
On June 25th My Book of Mormon podcast host David Michael came to Salt Lake City to discuss the conclusion of his reading the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. The event was held at Squatter's Pub and was so heavily attended that people had to be turned away at the door.
An audio recording of a meeting held June 13th, 2015. Dallin H Oaks and Richard E Turley Jr. spoke to a congregation about church history and apostasy.
On June 3rd, 2015 Alan Rock Waterman (blogger at Pure Mormonism) was excommunicated from the LDS (Mormon) Church for blogging about his beliefs and differences with LDS Church policies. In this episode Rock and his wife Connie retell the experience of his disciplinary council.
Rock Waterman is a prominent Mormon blogger who maintains belief in all of the fundamental LDS Church truth claims (e.g., God, Jesus, Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon). His beliefs are similar to those of Denver Snuffer, in that he believes that the modern, corporate LDS Church is failing to follow the teachings of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, and consequently has strayed from Christ's and Joseph Smith's core teachings.
In this episode we discuss Rock Waterman's recent notice that he will be facing an LDS disciplinary council for apostasy on Wednesday evening June 3, 2015 at 7:30p.m. at the stake center at 2745 Eastern Ave. Sacramento, CA 95821.
Interestingly, Rock has been told by his church leaders to stop blogging at his blog (Pure Mormonism), but these same leaders have acknowledged that they have not spent much time reading his writings, have been instructed by an LDS area authority to hold a disciplinary council on Rock, but have been unwilling to tell Rock which of his teachings or statements are problematic.
Marisa and Carson tiscuss their excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 21, 2015.
Dr. Gina Colvin is an essential progressive Mormon voice in 2015 for many reasons:
- She is a "multi-generation life long Mormon" with a multi-racial/international perspective on Mormonism. Specifically, she is a New Zealander of Māori, English, Irish, Welsh, German and French descent.
- She is a professor (i.e., lecturer) at the University of Canterbury, with an emphasis on "the history and future of ideas."
- She is an insightful thinker and writer, and writes for a fantastic blog called KiwiMormon. She also hosts the A Thoughtful Faith podcast.
- She is an important and somewhat fearless voice for progressive Mormon thought, and advocates very publicly and strongly for issues such as female ordination (serving on the Ordain Women board), same-sex marriage, and intellectual freedom within the LDS Church. She is also a staunch opponent of polygamy (including Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants), and of the recent round of excommunications within the LDS Church.
- While retaining her activity in the LDS Church, she is an unflinching supporter of "Mormon heresy," and openly expresses doubt and/or disbelief regarding various orthodox LDS teachings including the idea of an anthropomorphic God, the LDS Church as the "One True Church," exclusive LDS priesthood authority, and the historicity of the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham.
- She also has an incredibly fascinating story, which includes an adolescence of considerable trouble-making, a scandalous early divorce from her own bishop/husband, and several other stories of general delight and intrigue.
This is Gina's story. I am certain that you will enjoy it immensely.
Dr. Gina Colvin is an essential progressive Mormon voice in 2015 for many reasons:
- She is a "multi-generation life long Mormon" with a multi-racial/international perspective on Mormonism. Specifically, she is a New Zealander of Māori, English, Irish, Welsh, German and French descent.
- She is a professor (i.e., lecturer) at the University of Canterbury, with an emphasis on "the history and future of ideas."
- She is an insightful thinker and writer, and writes for a fantastic blog called KiwiMormon. She also hosts the A Thoughtful Faith podcast.
- She is an important and somewhat fearless voice for progressive Mormon thought, and advocates very publicly and strongly for issues such as female ordination (serving on the Ordain Women board), same-sex marriage, and intellectual freedom within the LDS Church. She is also a staunch opponent of polygamy (including Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants), and of the recent round of excommunications within the LDS Church.
- While retaining her activity in the LDS Church, she is an unflinching supporter of "Mormon heresy," and openly expresses doubt and/or disbelief regarding various orthodox LDS teachings including the idea of an anthropomorphic God, the LDS Church as the "One True Church," exclusive LDS priesthood authority, and the historicity of the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham.
- She also has an incredibly fascinating story, which includes an adolescence of considerable trouble-making, a scandalous early divorce from her own bishop/husband, and several other stories of general delight and intrigue.
This is Gina's story. I am certain that you will enjoy it immensely.
Taylor Knuth-Bishop was an active LDS Church member and seminary graduate who considered himself "heterosexual with same-sex attraction" until he met the love of his life, Sean Knuth-Bishop. Taylor and Sean fell in love and were eventually legally married during the now-famous 2014 Grammy performance wherein Macklemore, Madonna, and Queen Latifa married 33 same-sex couples during the performance of "Same Love."
Taylor and Sean have been living a happy life in New York City in the theatre industry, but recently (after moving home for the summer) Taylor was contacted by his LDS bishop and informed that he will be tried in a disciplinary council for the simple act of being legally same-sex married to Sean. This is Taylor's story.
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Here is a link to the engagement video mentioned in the interview:
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Here is a link to the 2014 Grammy wedding ceremony.
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Here is the letter Taylor received from his bishop, Morgan J. Roberts.
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Here is a link to Taylor's response to his bishop.
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More photos of Taylor, Sean, and Taylor's wonderful family.
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Information about Taylor's Art program for LGBT youth and young adults:
This event, organized by Kate Kelly, was held in New York City on Saturday, April 25th, 6:30pm. Billed as "A Curated Revue of Hilarious Tales from Mormondom," it entailed a delightful evening of Mormon (and post-Mormon) storytelling and humor.
- Sean Carter: Harvard Law graduate and professional legal humorist (www.lawhumorist.com). Sean is the author of the first-ever comedic legal
treatise – “If It Does Not Fit, Must You Acquit?: Your Humorous Guide to the Law.” His syndicated legal humor column has appeared in general circulation newspapers in more than 30 states. Sean was baptized into the Mormon Church in May, 2011. - Jill Wagner: High school Spanish teacher and Story League Legend whose family comes from the Mormon colonies in Juarez, Mexico http://www.storyleague.org/legends/jill/.
- Steven Puente: Licensed social worker practicing in a methadone clinic in Bronx, NY. Steven is a featured performer at The Moth (http://themoth.org/posts/storytellers/steven-puente), and Steven was featured in a New York Times story about young, hip Mormons (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/fashion/young-mormons-find-ways-to-be-hip.html).
- Troy Williams: Returned missionary, Executive Director of Equality Utah and unofficial 'gay Mayor of Salt Lake City.' Troy worked at 90.9 FM KRCL for 10 years and was the executive producer and host of RadioActive. In 2009 he co-wrote the one-woman show, The Passion of Sister Dottie S. Dixon, and was also the producer on the TLC original series Breaking the Faith.
- Sara Burlingame: Faith organizer at the Human Rights Campaign, from Cheyenne, Wyoming and spends more time investing in the Mormon community than any never-mo…EVER! Sara has never been a Mormon, but she has been an artisan bread baker, a poet, a Bahai and an enthusiastic casserole consumer. She is a perma-blogger at Feminist Mormon Housewives, among other fabulous endeavors.
- Elna Baker: writer and performer of humorous stories. Her stories have been featured on radio programs such as NPR’s This American Life, The Moth, BBC Radio 4 and Studio 360. Author of The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir.
In June of 2012 I interviewed Tom Phillips, former LDS church stake president in London, England U.K. In this interview he discusses the following:
- His early experiences as a bishop and stake president in the LDS church, along with is friendship with LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland.
- His experience receiving a secret/sacred LDS church ordinance called the "Second Anointing," wherein he was anointed by the hands of Elder M. Russel Ballard, and assured exaltation in there hereafter.
- His subsequent loss of faith over historical and scientific issues with the church.
- His direct correspondence with then friend, LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, over these troubling issues.
- The pain, suffering, and ultimate divorce that he and his family experienced as a result of his faith crisis.
- Additional detail about Tom's story can be found here.
At the time I conducted this interview I was in deep discussions with my stake president, Mark Jensen, over my status with the church, and my ability to baptize my son. Out of fear of church discipline, and as a sign of good will to President Jensen, I decided to not release this episode via Mormon Stories podcast, and instead granted permission to Tom to do with it as he saw fit.
Over the subsequent months and years I have come to regret this decision made largely out of fear, and want to publicly apologize to Tom for it. I now feel it is appropriate to release this interview, not because I seek to show disrespect for the LDS church or its temple ordinances, but because Tom's story a very poignant example of the pain and suffering that can come about as many LDS members continue to experience legitimate struggles with the LDS church's truth claims.
Since this interview openly discusses secret/sacred LDS temple ordinances, listener discretion is strongly advised.
In June of 2012 I interviewed Tom Phillips, former LDS church stake president in London, England U.K. In this interview he discusses the following:
- His early experiences as a bishop and stake president in the LDS church, along with is friendship with LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland.
- His experience receiving a secret/sacred LDS church ordinance called the "Second Anointing," wherein he was anointed by the hands of Elder M. Russel Ballard, and assured exaltation in there hereafter.
- His subsequent loss of faith over historical and scientific issues with the church.
- His direct correspondence with then friend, LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, over these troubling issues.
- The pain, suffering, and ultimate divorce that he and his family experienced as a result of his faith crisis.
- Additional detail about Tom's story can be found here.
At the time I conducted this interview I was in deep discussions with my stake president, Mark Jensen, over my status with the church, and my ability to baptize my son. Out of fear of church discipline, and as a sign of good will to President Jensen, I decided to not release this episode via Mormon Stories podcast, and instead granted permission to Tom to do with it as he saw fit.
Over the subsequent months and years I have come to regret this decision made largely out of fear, and want to publicly apologize to Tom for it. I now feel it is appropriate to release this interview, not because I seek to show disrespect for the LDS church or its temple ordinances, but because Tom's story a very poignant example of the pain and suffering that can come about as many LDS members continue to experience legitimate struggles with the LDS church's truth claims.
Since this interview openly discusses secret/sacred LDS temple ordinances, listener discretion is strongly advised.
In June of 2012 I interviewed Tom Phillips, former LDS church stake president in London, England U.K. In this interview he discusses the following:
- His early experiences as a bishop and stake president in the LDS church, along with is friendship with LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland.
- His experience receiving a secret/sacred LDS church ordinance called the "Second Anointing," wherein he was anointed by the hands of Elder M. Russel Ballard, and assured exaltation in there hereafter.
- His subsequent loss of faith over historical and scientific issues with the church.
- His direct correspondence with then friend, LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, over these troubling issues.
- The pain, suffering, and ultimate divorce that he and his family experienced as a result of his faith crisis.
- Additional detail about Tom's story can be found here.
At the time I conducted this interview I was in deep discussions with my stake president, Mark Jensen, over my status with the church, and my ability to baptize my son. Out of fear of church discipline, and as a sign of good will to President Jensen, I decided to not release this episode via Mormon Stories podcast, and instead granted permission to Tom to do with it as he saw fit.
Over the subsequent months and years I have come to regret this decision made largely out of fear, and want to publicly apologize to Tom for it. I now feel it is appropriate to release this interview, not because I seek to show disrespect for the LDS church or its temple ordinances, but because Tom's story a very poignant example of the pain and suffering that can come about as many LDS members continue to experience legitimate struggles with the LDS church's truth claims.
Since this interview openly discusses secret/sacred LDS temple ordinances, listener discretion is strongly advised.
In June of 2012 I interviewed Tom Phillips, former LDS church stake president in London, England U.K. In this interview he discusses the following:
- His early experiences as a bishop and stake president in the LDS church, along with is friendship with LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland.
- His experience receiving a secret/sacred LDS church ordinance called the "Second Anointing," wherein he was anointed by the hands of Elder M. Russel Ballard, and assured exaltation in there hereafter.
- His subsequent loss of faith over historical and scientific issues with the church.
- His direct correspondence with then friend, LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, over these troubling issues.
- The pain, suffering, and ultimate divorce that he and his family experienced as a result of his faith crisis.
- Additional detail about Tom's story can be found here.
At the time I conducted this interview I was in deep discussions with my stake president, Mark Jensen, over my status with the church, and my ability to baptize my son. Out of fear of church discipline, and as a sign of good will to President Jensen, I decided to not release this episode via Mormon Stories podcast, and instead granted permission to Tom to do with it as he saw fit.
Over the subsequent months and years I have come to regret this decision made largely out of fear, and want to publicly apologize to Tom for it. I now feel it is appropriate to release this interview, not because I seek to show disrespect for the LDS church or its temple ordinances, but because Tom's story a very poignant example of the pain and suffering that can come about as many LDS members continue to experience legitimate struggles with the LDS church's truth claims.
Since this interview openly discusses secret/sacred LDS temple ordinances, listener discretion is strongly advised.
In June of 2012 I interviewed Tom Phillips, former LDS church stake president in London, England U.K. In this interview he discusses the following:
- His early experiences as a bishop and stake president in the LDS church, along with is friendship with LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland.
- His experience receiving a secret/sacred LDS church ordinance called the "Second Anointing," wherein he was anointed by the hands of Elder M. Russel Ballard, and assured exaltation in there hereafter.
- His subsequent loss of faith over historical and scientific issues with the church.
- His direct correspondence with then friend, LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, over these troubling issues.
- The pain, suffering, and ultimate divorce that he and his family experienced as a result of his faith crisis.
- Additional detail about Tom's story can be found here.
At the time I conducted this interview I was in deep discussions with my stake president, Mark Jensen, over my status with the church, and my ability to baptize my son. Out of fear of church discipline, and as a sign of good will to President Jensen, I decided to not release this episode via Mormon Stories podcast, and instead granted permission to Tom to do with it as he saw fit.
Over the subsequent months and years I have come to regret this decision made largely out of fear, and want to publicly apologize to Tom for it. I now feel it is appropriate to release this interview, not because I seek to show disrespect for the LDS church or its temple ordinances, but because Tom's story a very poignant example of the pain and suffering that can come about as many LDS members continue to experience legitimate struggles with the LDS church's truth claims.
Since this interview openly discusses secret/sacred LDS temple ordinances, listener discretion is strongly advised.
Micah Nickolaisen has been an important participant in the Mormon Internet for the past three years. His activism began in 2012 as co-founder of both the "A Thoughtful Faith" and the "Exploring Sainthood" podcasts/communities - both of which sought to encourage thoughtful and faithful LDS Church activity/participation.
After losing his faith/confidence in the LDS Church in 2013, and in reaction to the Kate Kelly and John Dehlin excommunications in 2014/2015, Micah co-led several projects which sought to bring attention/visibility to problems within in the LDS Church. Micah co-founded the "Strangers in Zion" project, wherein LDS Church members were encouraged to request disciplinary councils (in lieu of resigning their membership). Micah was also a co-founder of the recent "Any Opposed" initiative wherein several LDS Church members expressed vocal opposition to church policies/practices during the April 2015 LDS General Conference.
In this three-part interview Micah discusses his early years of strong devotion to the church. He then discusses his participation as a pro- and then a post-Mormon activist. In the final episode, Micah discusses his newfound interest in the formation of secular communities for post-religious individuals (e.g., Sunday Assembly and Atheism 2.0).
Micah Nickolaisen has been an important participant in the Mormon Internet for the past three years. His activism began in 2012 as co-founder of both the "A Thoughtful Faith" and the "Exploring Sainthood" podcasts/communities - both of which sought to encourage thoughtful and faithful LDS Church activity/participation.
After losing his faith/confidence in the LDS Church in 2013, and in reaction to the Kate Kelly and John Dehlin excommunications in 2014/2015, Micah co-led several projects which sought to bring attention/visibility to problems within in the LDS Church. Micah co-founded the "Strangers in Zion" project, wherein LDS Church members were encouraged to request disciplinary councils (in lieu of resigning their membership). Micah was also a co-founder of the recent "Any Opposed" initiative wherein several LDS Church members expressed vocal opposition to church policies/practices during the April 2015 LDS General Conference.
In this three-part interview Micah discusses his early years of strong devotion to the church. He then discusses his participation as a pro- and then a post-Mormon activist. In the final episode, Micah discusses his newfound interest in the formation of secular communities for post-religious individuals (e.g., Sunday Assembly and Atheism 2.0).
Micah Nickolaisen has been an important participant in the Mormon Internet for the past three years. His activism began in 2012 as co-founder of both the "A Thoughtful Faith" and the "Exploring Sainthood" podcasts/communities - both of which sought to encourage thoughtful and faithful LDS Church activity/participation.
After losing his faith/confidence in the LDS Church in 2013, and in reaction to the Kate Kelly and John Dehlin excommunications in 2014/2015, Micah co-led several projects which sought to bring attention/visibility to problems within in the LDS Church. Micah co-founded the "Strangers in Zion" project, wherein LDS Church members were encouraged to request disciplinary councils (in lieu of resigning their membership). Micah was also a co-founder of the recent "Any Opposed" initiative wherein several LDS Church members expressed vocal opposition to church policies/practices during the April 2015 LDS General Conference.
In this three-part interview Micah discusses his early years of strong devotion to the church. He then discusses his participation as a pro- and then a post-Mormon activist. In the final episode, Micah discusses his newfound interest in the formation of secular communities for post-religious individuals (e.g., Sunday Assembly and Atheism 2.0).
An April 15th, 2015 six board members from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities had a meeting with BYU students to get the the most authentic feedback possible about religious and academic freedom at BYU -- without the administration present. This is a full audio recording of that meeting.
John Larsen is the influential founder and host of Mormon Expression podcast, and of the White Fields Educational Foundation. This is his story.
Kirk and Lindsay Van Allen are facing LDS Church discpline for rejecting the LDS doctrine of polygamy (as found in DYC 132). This is their story.
Marisa Pond Calderwood was raised devoutly LDS in Bellevue, Washington. She was deeply committed to the church as a teen, but she also excelled in school and dreamed of obtaining a Ph.D. in Genetics. After receiving the prestigious Gordon B. Hinckley scholarship at BYU, she married Carson Calderwood after her freshman year. Although she remained devoutly LDS for well over decade, Marisa struggled with feeling like she lost herself and her dreams once she married Carson, especially after going through the LDS temple and receiving the impression that women were less than men in the LDS church. Over the next several years Marisa had four children with Carson, but she also began having chronic headaches, and sinking deeper and deeper into depression. Finally, once Marisa began to allow herself to consider the possibility that the LDS church might not be true, she began feeling better about herself, her headaches subsided, and she and Carson found a happiness and an authenticity in their marriage that they never knew before. Today Marisa and her husband Carson are being threatened with excommunication for speaking openly about their doubts and disbelief. They expect to receive their summons to a disciplinary council within the coming week. This is Marisa's story.
Carson Calderwood is an LDS dentist and father of four living in Maple Valley, Washington. He served an LDS mission in Argentina, married his wife, Marisa, in an LDS temple, recently served as an LDS seminary teacher in Maple valley for two years, and served faithfully in the LDS church for almost two decades. After experiencing significant questions and doubts a few years go, Carson realized how many local LDS church members were struggling over matters of faith, and began trying to help local members of his ward and stake find joy and healing amidst their LDS faith crises.
After showing public support for Ordain Women, and after publicly expressing his doubts about several LDS church truth claims (e.g., polygamy, polyandry, Book of Mormon and Abraham historicity), Carson is now being charged with apostasy by the LDS Church, and by his Maple Valley, Washington stake president. A disciplinary council for Carson is set to be scheduled within the next few days or weeks.
This is Carson's story, wherein he explains why he objects to LDS disciplinary councils for apostasy, and why he would prefer to be excommunicated than to resign his LDS membership and walk away quietly.
Mormon Stories alumnus John Hamer returns to talk about Community of Christ as a viable spiritual home for transitioning Mormons in this two-part video series. John Hamer was raised LDS, but became a doubting teenager and left organized religion altogether as an adult. In 2010, he joined Community of Christ and currently serves as pastor of its congregation in downtown Toronto, Canada. In part 1, John Hamer sits down with John Dehlin and makes the case for "non-literalistic" religion. (The presentation is illustrated with John Hamer's amazing diagrams, so the podcast audience is advised to watch the YouTube version.) John Hamer describes how a church with Restoration roots has evolved beyond doctrine and dogma to become inclusive of the LGBT community and a wide diversity of individual beliefs. In part 2, John Dehlin challenges John Hamer with tough questions, including whether it is possible for some transitioning Mormons who feel real betrayal to join a church that traces its origin to Joseph Smith, or, indeed, any organized religion. The resulting dialogue was wide-ranging and intensely fascinating. Regardless of where you are in your own Mormon journey, you'll surely find John Hamer's case for Community of Christ thought-provoking. In the course of their discussions, John Hamer referenced the "Latter-day Seekers" facebook group and the website Latter-daySeekers.org.
Mormon Stories alumnus John Hamer returns to talk about Community of Christ as a viable spiritual home for transitioning Mormons in this two-part video series. John Hamer was raised LDS, but became a doubting teenager and left organized religion altogether as an adult. In 2010, he joined Community of Christ and currently serves as pastor of its congregation in downtown Toronto, Canada. In part 1, John Hamer sits down with John Dehlin and makes the case for "non-literalistic" religion. (The presentation is illustrated with John Hamer's amazing diagrams, so the podcast audience is advised to watch the YouTube version.) John Hamer describes how a church with Restoration roots has evolved beyond doctrine and dogma to become inclusive of the LGBT community and a wide diversity of individual beliefs. In part 2, John Dehlin challenges John Hamer with tough questions, including whether it is possible for some transitioning Mormons who feel real betrayal to join a church that traces its origin to Joseph Smith, or, indeed, any organized religion. The resulting dialogue was wide-ranging and intensely fascinating. Regardless of where you are in your own Mormon journey, you'll surely find John Hamer's case for Community of Christ thought-provoking. In the course of their discussions, John Hamer referenced the "Latter-day Seekers" facebook group and the website Latter-daySeekers.org.
In this episode, co-released with Mormon Stories, Wendy Williams Montgomery, John Dehlin, and Dan Wotherspoon speak about the difficult dynamics at play in discussing with loved ones, whether family, friends, or ward members, about differences in faith positions after one party or another has shifted. In contrast with the types of challenges presented to people by “outsiders” to their faith, a change in stance and the new worldview presented by those who were once in sync with you (or at least perceived to be in sync) can be far more devastating. Their shifts often feel very personal, a rejection of something we hold most dear. And they have no excuse! They once knew what we know and now challenge and say they are seeing more clearly or experiencing something else more richly? For those who are the ones who have shifted, a loved one’s negative reactions to that person’s change also can feel quite personal. Why don’t they trust me that I’m on a good path, that I have information or insights that open the world to me in new ways? Why are they choosing stubbornness and clinging to ideology and dogma over really exploring and staying in close relationship with me no matter where my faith journey takes me?
How can we see these and other dynamics more clearly? What is “our” responsibility as those who have been the one whose perspectives have shifted? How can both parties better understand the challenges of this situation and learn to have compassion for each other? What are key virtues needed in such relationships? What are some “dos” and “don’ts” for negotiating this difficult interpersonal terrain?
Please listen and then share your stories and insights in the comments section below!
Jedediah Rogers discusses the history of Joseph Smith's "Council of 50" with J. Nelson-Seawright. Jed is a co-editor of the Utah Historical Quarterly and the Senior State Historian at the Utah Division of State History. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brigham Young University and received his doctorate at Arizona State University in 2011. Recently, Jed was the editor of the Signature Book documentary, The Council of 50 - A Documentary History.
The Council of 50 was formed in Nauvoo in 1844 by Joseph Smith Jr. The council provided a pattern for political government through priesthood authority and revelation. “It was, to its members, the nucleus or focus of God’s latter-day kingdom”
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Main Navigati2014 McMurrin Lecture on Religion and Culture with Kathleen Flake "The LDS Intellectual Tradition: A Study on Three Lives"April 11, 2014 Symposium: "Faith and Reason, Conscience and Conflict: The Paths of Lowell Bennion, Sterling McMurrin, and Obert Tanner"April 12, 2014
McMurrin Lecture: In her lecture, Flake defines an intellectual as one who loves and is committed to the life of the mind, one for whom thought is both a delight and a necessity, a source as well as means for human flourishing. This does not mean a life without conflicts, as illustrated by three intellectuals - Lowell Bennion, Sterling McMurrin, and Obert Tanner. Flake will consider their intellectual lives in relation to the religious culture from which they came. Doing so will tell us something about whether there is a Mormon intellectual tradition and, if so, what are its distinctive features.
Kathleen Flake holds the Richard L. Bushman Chair of Mormon Studies at the University of Virginia. She is the author of The Politics of American Religious Identity: The Seating of Senator Reed Smoot, Mormon Apostle (University of North Carolina Press, 2004).
Professor Flake has been awarded grants from the Mellon Foundation, Lily Endowment, Pew Charitable Trusts, and American Philosophical Society. She has held office in the American Academy of Religion, the American Society of Church History, and the Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion. Frequently invited to comment on Mormonism in the news, she is also a panelist for the Washington Post/Newsweek "On Faith" blog.
Symposium: Mormonism is often seen as a religion of conformity, with a hierarchy in tight control of members’ beliefs and behavior. Yet this perspective misses a rich tradition of intellectual independence and principled dissent. With an eye to the present and future, the Tanner Humanities Center will offer a unique symposium on the lives and legacies of Sterling M. McMurrin, Obert C. Tanner, and Lowell L. Bennion. Their stories reveal the tensions between faith and reason, conformity and dissent. This symposium will mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Obert C. and Grace A. Tanner Humanities Center.
Panels include “Challenge of Conscience: Sterling M. McMurrin” (9:00-10:30 AM), with Bob Goldberg (Chair), Jack Newell, James Clayton, and Brian Birch; “Challenge of Loyalty: Lowell Bennion” (11:00 AM-12:30 PM), with Irene Fisher (Chair), Greg Prince, Tony Morgan, Sam Allen, and Emma Lou Thayne; and “Challenge of Faith: Obert C. Tanner” (1:30-3:00 PM), with Greg Thompson (Chair), Kent Murdock, Bob Goldberg, and Grethe Peterson. A concluding panel, titled “Public Men and the Challenge of Their Private Worlds” (3:30-5:00 PM), will focus upon the personal, intellectual, and working relationships that existed among these men, with panelists Linda King Newell (Chair), Carolyn Tanner Irish, Ellen Bennion Stone, Charlotte Hansen Terry, and Bill McMurrin.
These three intellectuals who shared a determination to act were rooted in Mormonism, but possessed distinctive visions that penetrated beyond their treasured religious heritage and drove them to embrace—and respond to—the pressing social, cultural, and political issues of their time. With mutual respect, but using distinctive methods, Tanner, McMurrin and Bennion shared a passion for justice and impatience with racial discrimination in their church and across American society. At various points in their careers, they served the LDS Church, the University of Utah, their state, and the nation in pursuit of their visions of a more enlightened and humane society.
Pursuing justice and adhering to conscience brought its own rewards, but also exacted a cost. As Director of the University of Utah’s LDS Institute of Religion, Lowell Bennion chafed at supporting church authorities in their denial of the priesthood to African American men. Largely over this issue, he surrendered this post, swallowed his disappointment, and vigorously channeled his religious instincts into serving the needy in Salt Lake City. Sterling McMurrin chose to proclaim himself a heretic and relished that identity, but lost friendships and some sense of community. Obert Tanner, a closet skeptic, muffled his doubt and kept his silence to play prominent roles in the life of his country, state, and city.
Symposium speakers and panelists will not only examine the specific, contemporary impacts of Lowell Bennion, Sterling McMurrin, and O.C. Tanner, but also consider their enduring legacies on the issues facing the Mormon Church today: the inclusion of women more fully in church leadership circles, the need to face painful facets of church history more honestly, the challenge of retaining the engagement or affiliation of socially and culturally liberal members and young adults, the quest to understand the effects of new technologies on Mormon practices and beliefs, and other concerns of our time. A concluding panel will focus upon the personal, intellectual, and working relationships that existed among these men.
The Tanner Center is partnering with the College of Humanities, Smith-Pettit Foundation, and Michael Morris to bring you this event.
As John Dehlin faces a disciplinary council for his work on Mormon Stories, more than two dozen past participants offer their thoughts on what John and the podcast have meant to them and to Mormonism. These reflections include faithful, orthodox Latter-Day Saints and ex-Mormons; famous scholars and private individuals; and social activists and theologians. They reflect the inclusiveness of the Mormon Stories project, past, present, and future --- and the many ways lives have been changed and improved by involvement with John's work. We invite listeners to share their own reflections about the importance of Mormon Stories in the comments section to this post.
520: John Dehlin's TribTalk with Jennifer Napier-Pearce about Disciplinary Council recorded January 22, 2015.
In this hilarious and touching episode of Mormon Stories, John Dehlin interviews Clark Johnson, an original cast member in the hit Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon.
In part one, Clark shares his experience as a young gay Mormon coming from a conservative LDS background, his mission to Mexico, and how he and his family came to terms with his decision to leave the church.
In part two, Clark recounts the events and his favorite memories leading him to join The Book of Mormon cast; from the dance department at BYU to the Broadway stage. He goes on to share scene by scene and song by song, themes from the musical that relate to his life and experience with the world.
Warning - Because of the language contained in the Book of Mormon Musical, listener discretion is advised.
In this hilarious and touching episode of Mormon Stories, John Dehlin interviews Clark Johnson, an original cast member in the hit Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon.
In part one, Clark shares his experience as a young gay Mormon coming from a conservative LDS background, his mission to Mexico, and how he and his family came to terms with his decision to leave the church.
In part two, Clark recounts the events and his favorite memories leading him to join The Book of Mormon cast; from the dance department at BYU to the Broadway stage. He goes on to share scene by scene and song by song, themes from the musical that relate to his life and experience with the world.
Warning - Because of the language contained in the Book of Mormon Musical, listener discretion is advised.
The voice of Mormon Apologetics in the past has been predomintely male. In this episode we explore the intersection of gender and Mormon Apologetics. We discuss the reasons that this may be as well as how this tradition is changing and creating a space for more and more women amungst this forum.
In this episode, we are pleased to have with us a strong panal:
- Nancy Ross, Assistant Professor of Art History at Dixie State Universtiy and has a Ph.D. from the university of Cambridge. She has been blogging the Book of Mormon chapter by chapter with a feminist perspective at nickelonthenacle.blogspot.com .
- Kevin Barney, studied classics at BYU, then obtained law degrees from the University of Illinois and DePaul University. He also serves of the board of directors for FAIR Mormon and Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.
- Jessica Finnigan, is a Master's Student at King's College London, where she studies religion in the contemporary world. She recently completed an advanced Diploma in Religious Studies at the University of Cambridge. She earned a Bachelors from BYU in Marriage, Family, and Human Development..
In this episode I address the past, present, and future of Mormon Stories. I also discuss my past interactions with Stake President Bryan King, my current beliefs, my current relationship with the LDS church, and my thoughts about what appears to be a pending disciplinary council.
In this episode J. Nelson-Seawright interviews David Michael about his experience creating his new podcast "My Book of Mormon" where David shares his thoughts and witty comments on each chapter of Mormonism's central book of scripture.
With no background in Mormonism, David is reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover for the first time in an attempt to discover why millions of people have come to believe in its writings.
As a result, David offers an insightful and entertaining "outsider's perspective" on the characters, stories, and lessons he encounters. The two discuss David's christian upbringing, his thoughts on spirituality and religion, his observations on Mormonism, and review his experience reading key stories in the Book of Mormon up to Alma 57.
Recently, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released its long-awaited series of essays on polygamy in Kirtland/Nauvoo, Utah and post-manifesto polygamy, igniting a firestorm of discussion online.
In this second installment, we bring together an all-star cast of Mormon Stories favorites to discuss the Early Utah Polygamy essay:
- Lindsay Hansen Park, who in the middle of an amazing and incredibly exhaustive project for Feminist Mormon Housewives in the Year of Polygamy podcast series.
- Joe Geisner, a long-time Mormon historian who has been assisting Lindsay in her research for the Year of Polygamy project.
- J. Nelson-Seawright, a political science professor at Northwestern University, frequent blogger and commenter on Mormonism and a favorite guest of Mormon Stories.
In the inagural episode of the Mormon Studies Podcast, host Brent Metcalfe interviews Jan Shipps. Jan is professor emeritus of history at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and a former president of the John Whitmer Historical Association (2004–05) and the Mormon History Association (1979–80)—a scholar’s scholar who has influenced a generation of students of Mormonism, often reaching across and even narrowing the chasm between believer and nonbeliever.
Over the past several years Jan has laid the foundation for a forthcoming book on the history of Community of Christ (a.k.a. “prairie saints”; formerly RLDS) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a. “mountain saints”) from the end of World War II to the present. Explicating 1950s strategic missiology and convert retention to 2010s ecclesiastical polity and women’s priesthood, she has new and trenchant insights that she shares with podcast listeners.
In this episode, Daniel Parkinson MD, host of our sister podcast, Gay Mormon Stories, interviews Meg, Jake and Jon Abhau. Meg and Jake were conservative Mormons when their 13 year old son came out to them 18 months ago.
In Part 3, the Abhaus discuss how they have emerged from this journey as passionate activists for the LGBT Mormon cause.
In this episode, Daniel Parkinson MD, host of our sister podcast, Gay Mormon Stories, interviews Meg, Jake and Jon Abhau. Meg and Jake were conservative Mormons when their 13 year old son came out to them 18 months ago.
In Part 2, the Abhaus discuss confronting their relationships with the church after learning about Jon's orientation.
In this episode, Daniel Parkinson MD, host of our sister podcast, Gay Mormon Stories, interviews Meg, Jake Abhau. Meg and Jake were conservative Mormons when their 13 year old son came out to them 18 months ago.
In Part 1, the Abhaus discuss their family, their relationship with their son and coming to terms with their son’s orientation. They also talk about making sure they were protecting him and preparing him for a healthy future.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has long affirmed the importance of religious freedom, even issuing a press release in 2013 declaring that "it is the right to think, express and act upon what you deeply believe, according to the dictates of conscience."
But a group of current and former students is concerned about implications for students who find themselves transitioning away from belief in the church while still enrolled at a church-owned school. It creates, they argue, an impossible situation where students are seemingly forced to choose between their integrity and the education they have worked and payed for.
In this episode, we're joined by several members of Free BYU, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of what they consider a lack of religious freedom within the Church Educational System.
We discuss with Free BYU leaders the Honor Code as it relates to religious freedom, ecclesiastical endorsements and how to handle a faith transition while at a church school. We'll also talk with two current students as they talk about how they are trying to navigate their faith transitions while attending BYU.
In the world of politics and media, Carrie Sheffield is a veritable dynamo. She has appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, PBS, HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, BBC Radio and more, as an expert on politics and the economy. Graduating with a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Harvard, she went on to do stints at Goldman Sachs and the Washington Times before settling in as a public policy analyst all over TV and radio.
But Carrie also has a Mormon story. Growing up in the church, then later leaving and exploring other faiths before finding peace with Stoicism, she is also a sort of rare breed as a post-Mormon who still clings tight to deeply conservative values.
In this episode, we talk about her conservative outlook, how and why she still identifies with conservatism after leaving the church as well as her thoughts on Mitt Romney, the recent mid-term elections and more.
n the world of politics and media, Carrie Sheffield is a veritable dynamo. She has appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, PBS, HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, BBC Radio and more, as an expert on politics and the economy. Graduating with a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Harvard, she went on to do stints at Goldman Sachs and the Washington Times before settling in as a public policy analyst all over TV and radio.
But Carrie also has a Mormon story. Growing up in the church, then later leaving and exploring other faiths before finding peace with Stoicism, she is also a sort of rare breed as a post-Mormon who still clings tight to deeply conservative values.
In this episode, we talk to Carrie about her background in the church, the circumstances that led to her leaving, her journey for truth after Mormonism and her thoughts about finding peace through Stoicism.
In this episode of Mormon Stories, J. Nelson-Seawright interviews David Campbell, Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame and the founding director of the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy, about his celebrated research on religion and politics in America. Professor Campbell argues that the current partisan environment, in which religious people mostly support the Republican Party and less religious people the Democratic Party, is a recent development --- and he explains how this pattern can help explain America's recent rise in irreligiosity.
Campbell also discusses his work on Mormonism and politics. He explains his research about how Mormon identity is different in American context: stronger, more collective, more integrated, and with stricter boundaries. He discusses implications for how Mormonism interacts with politics, and also for the identity and religious options of liberal and disaffected Mormons.
This week The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released its long-awaited series of essays on polygamy in Kirtland/Nauvoo, Utah and post-manifesto polygamy, igniting a firestorm of discussion on online.
In this episode, we bring together an all-star cast of Mormon Stories favorites to discuss the Kirtland/Nauvoo essay:
- Lindsay Hansen Park, who in the middle of an amazing and incredibly exhaustive project for Feminist Mormon Housewives in the Year of Polygamy podcast series.
- John Hamer, a well-known expert on Kirtland- and Nauvoo-period Mormonism, and a member of the Community of Christ
- J. Nelson-Seawright, a political science professor at Northwestern, frequent blogger and commenter on Mormonism and a favorite guest of Mormon Stories.
Kirk Caudle made headlines over the summer when he resigned from the church after working as an online religion instructor for BYU-Idaho. However he still attends church regularly and has strong ties to Mormonism.
In Part 2 of this cross-over episode with A Thoughtful Faith podcast, Kirk talks in detail about his resignation from the church, as well as his Mormon Book Review podcast and its affiliation with BYU's Maxwell Institute. He also dives into his thoughts on a variety of Mormon topics.
Kirk Caudle made headlines over the summer when he resigned from the church after working as an online religion instructor for BYU-Idaho. However he still attends church regularly and has strong ties to Mormonism.
In Part 1 of this cross-over episode with A Thoughtful Faith podcast, Kirk talks about growing up in the church and the influence that had on his pursuit of Mormon Studies. He also talks about his background in religion and history and the lead-up to his work with BYU-Idaho.
In this episode, we talk to Brent about his interactions and run-ins with prominent Mormon apologists like Daniel Peterson, Lou Midgley and others. We also talk about the recent history of BYU's Maxwell Institute and what he sees in its future and in the future of Mormon apologetics overall.
We'll also explore with Brent his ability to construct a healthy and happy life outside of Mormonism.
Be sure not to miss the exciting announcement from Brent toward the end of the episode!
In Part 5 of our interview with Brent Metcalfe, one of the foremost Mormon scholars, we explore the history surrounding Joseph Smith and the Book of Abraham (one of the primary scriptural texts for the LDS Church). We also talk about the concept of translation, Joseph Smith's views on his "translations," the traditional apologetic responses concerning the Book of Abraham (Hugh Nibley, John Gee, and Kerry Muhlestein), as well as the LDS Church's recent essay on the Book of Abraham.
In the highly anticipated follow up to our first interview, Brent Metcalfe continues his story.
In Part 4, Brent examines some of the issues surrounding traditional approaches to the Book of Mormon.
In the highly anticipated follow up to our first interview, Brent Metcalfe continues his story.
- In Part 3, Brent discusses the aftermath of the Hofmann murders, including the trial and Hoffman's eventual plea deal. He also discusses the events leading up to, and including, his excommunication.
In their latest book, The Crucible of Doubt, published by Deseret Book, Fiona and Terryl Givens tackle perhaps their most daunting -- and important -- subject to date: doubt in the context of Mormon faith.
- In Part 2, Terryl and Fiona take us through the book as we discuss the elements of Mormonism that cause some of the biggest doubts and how to approach them with new paradigms.
In their latest book, The Crucible of Doubt, published by Deseret Book, Fiona and Terryl Givens tackle perhaps their most daunting -- and important -- subject to date: doubt in the context of Mormon faith.
- In Part 1, we interview a Mormon Stories listener and contributer, James Patterson, about his struggles with doubt and how the book helped him.
Few people had more of a front-row seat to the goings-on surrounding Mark Hofmann, the "Salamander Letter," and the tragic events of October 1985, what would be dubbed as the "Mormon Murders."As a personal friend and research assistant for both Steve Christensen and Mark Hofmann, Brent Metcalfe watched the whole episode unfold before his eyes.
In Part 2, Brent describes working for and with Steve Christensen and Mark Hofmann, the Salamander Letter episode, and the bombings that took the lives of Steve and Kathy Sheets.
Few people had more of a front-row seat to the goings-on surrounding Mark Hofmann and the tragic events of October 1985, what would be dubbed as the "Mormon Murders."
As a personal friend and research assistant for both Steve Christensen and Mark Hofmann, Brent Metcalfe watched the whole episode unfold before his eyes.
In Part 1, Brent talks about his early days in the Church and his time working for Church security. He also talks about his early forays into Mormon studies.
Since 2011, Mara and Danny Koefed have been blogging about their positive approach to life, even in the face of the sometimes heartbreaking circumstances life seems to have thrown their way. A Blog About Love stands as a the Koefed’s testimony of the human spirit’s ability to transcend despair and difficulty and view life for the positive, uplifting, even loving experience it can be.
In this two-part series, they talk about their lives in Mormonism, meeting each other, starting the blog and their experiences dealing with issues such as infertility, infidelity, divorce and more, and how they keep a loving attitude through it all.
Since 2011, Mara and Danny Koefed have been blogging about their positive approach to life, even in the face of the sometimes heartbreaking circumstances life seems to have thrown their way. A Blog About Love stands as a the Koefed’s testimony of the human spirit’s ability to transcend despair and difficulty and view life for the positive, uplifting, even loving experience it can be.
In this two-part series, they talk about their lives in Mormonism, meeting each other, starting the blog and their experiences dealing with issues such as infertility, infidelity, divorce and more, and how they keep a loving attitude through it all.
In this three-part series we interview Neil Ransom (Kate Kelly's husband, and Ph.D. candidate in anthropology) and we speak with Kate about her excommunication and the aftermath. Some of the fascinating tidbits we explore:
- Neil's early years growing up in Africa
- How Neil's mission, along with his attending BYU-Idaho, actually turned him into a progressive Mormon
- How Kate and Neil met (their love story), and what Neil loves most about Kate
- What Neil is researching for his Ph.D. (hint....it's super cool)
- Has Neil experienced a faith crisis?
- Who "wears the pants" in Kate/Neil's marriage...also what are the traits of a "real man" according to Neil and Kate :)
- Are Kate/Neil planning to have kiddos?
- Kate's detailed account of her interactions with church leaders prior to her excommunication (in response to allegations of dishonesty on her part)
- A deep dive into Kate's beliefs re: Mormonism, Book of Mormon historicity, etc.
- Kate's plans for Ordain Women post-excommunication
- And most importantly....Why does Neil wear that funky hat? :)
In this three-part series we interview Neil Ransom (Kate Kelly's husband, and Ph.D. candidate in anthropology) and we speak with Kate about her excommunication and the aftermath. Some of the fascinating tidbits we explore:
- Neil's early years growing up in Africa
- How Neil's mission, along with his attending BYU-Idaho, actually turned him into a progressive Mormon
- How Kate and Neil met (their love story), and what Neil loves most about Kate
- What Neil is researching for his Ph.D. (hint....it's super cool)
- Has Neil experienced a faith crisis?
- Who "wears the pants" in Kate/Neil's marriage...also what are the traits of a "real man" according to Neil and Kate :)
- Are Kate/Neil planning to have kiddos?
- Kate's detailed account of her interactions with church leaders prior to her excommunication (in response to allegations of dishonesty on her part)
- A deep dive into Kate's beliefs re: Mormonism, Book of Mormon historicity, etc.
- Kate's plans for Ordain Women post-excommunication
- And most importantly....Why does Neil wear that funky hat? :)
In this three-part series we interview Neil Ransom (Kate Kelly's husband, and Ph.D. candidate in anthropology) and we speak with Kate about her excommunication and the aftermath. Some of the fascinating tidbits we explore:
- Neil's early years growing up in Africa
- How Neil's mission, along with his attending BYU-Idaho, actually turned him into a progressive Mormon
- How Kate and Neil met (their love story), and what Neil loves most about Kate
- What Neil is researching for his Ph.D. (hint....it's super cool)
- Has Neil experienced a faith crisis?
- Who "wears the pants" in Kate/Neil's marriage...also what are the traits of a "real man" according to Neil and Kate :)
- Are Kate/Neil planning to have kiddos?
- Kate's detailed account of her interactions with church leaders prior to her excommunication (in response to allegations of dishonesty on her part)
- A deep dive into Kate's beliefs re: Mormonism, Book of Mormon historicity, etc.
- Kate's plans for Ordain Women post-excommunication
- And most importantly....Why does Neil wear that funky hat? :)
Natasha Helfer Parker, John Dehlin, and Margi Dehlin will be hosting a 6 hour workshop for current, mixed-faith, and former Mormon couples who are navigating faith issues, parenting, and sexuality in either a mixed-faith, post-orthodox, or a post-Mormon context. Couples and individuals are welcome to attend, but the content will be oriented towards helping married couples deal with faith transition issues.
In this episode we interview Alex Beam: author of "American Crucifixion: The Murder of Joseph Smith and the Fate of the Mormon Church." Alex provides an extremely insightful and compelling "outsider's view" of Joseph Smith's final years in Nauvoo, along with his murder and legacy.
Christine Jeppsen Clark is a mother of six, a former Mormon Tabernacle Choir member, a Ph.D. graduate student focusing on dementia, and a dear personal friend. She is also the daughter of the late Elder Malcolm S. Jeppsen: former LDS General Authority, personal physician and best friend to Elder Boyd K. Packer, and a GA who was directly involved in the excommunication of Avraham Gileadi (one of the September Six). In this multi-part episode with Christine we discuss:
What it was like to grow up in the 1950s and 1960s in Salt Lake City as a very orthodox, devout member of a somewhat elite LDS family? What it was like to grow up the daughter of an LDS General Authority, who was both a physician to, and best friends with Elder Boyd K. Packer? Elder Jeppsen’s personal and direct involvement in the excommunication of Avraham Giliadi -- one of the September Six. How such an orthodox, committed LDS family including Christine (the daughter of a General Authority), her husband David Clark (former bishop of eight years, recent Stake Presidency member) and four of her six children could ultimately decide to leave the LDS Church, and What it’s like to leave the LDS Church as a grandparent in your 50s and 60s.
Christine Jeppsen Clark is a mother of six, a former Mormon Tabernacle Choir member, a Ph.D. graduate student focusing on dementia, and a dear personal friend. She is also the daughter of the late Elder Malcolm S. Jeppsen: former LDS General Authority, personal physician and best friend to Elder Boyd K. Packer, and a GA who was directly involved in the excommunication of Avraham Gileadi (one of the September Six). In this multi-part episode with Christine we discuss:
What it was like to grow up in the 1950s and 1960s in Salt Lake City as a very orthodox, devout member of a somewhat elite LDS family? What it was like to grow up the daughter of an LDS General Authority, who was both a physician to, and best friends with Elder Boyd K. Packer? Elder Jeppsen’s personal and direct involvement in the excommunication of Avraham Giliadi -- one of the September Six. How such an orthodox, committed LDS family including Christine (the daughter of a General Authority), her husband David Clark (former bishop of eight years, recent Stake Presidency member) and four of her six children could ultimately decide to leave the LDS Church, and What it’s like to leave the LDS Church as a grandparent in your 50s and 60s.
Christine Jeppsen Clark is a mother of six, a former Mormon Tabernacle Choir member, a Ph.D. graduate student focusing on dementia, and a dear personal friend. She is also the daughter of the late Elder Malcolm S. Jeppsen: former LDS General Authority, personal physician and best friend to Elder Boyd K. Packer, and a GA who was directly involved in the excommunication of Avraham Gileadi (one of the September Six). In this multi-part episode with Christine we discuss:
What it was like to grow up in the 1950s and 1960s in Salt Lake City as a very orthodox, devout member of a somewhat elite LDS family? What it was like to grow up the daughter of an LDS General Authority, who was both a physician to, and best friends with Elder Boyd K. Packer? Elder Jeppsen’s personal and direct involvement in the excommunication of Avraham Giliadi -- one of the September Six. How such an orthodox, committed LDS family including Christine (the daughter of a General Authority), her husband David Clark (former bishop of eight years, recent Stake Presidency member) and four of her six children could ultimately decide to leave the LDS Church, and What it’s like to leave the LDS Church as a grandparent in your 50s and 60s.
Christine Jeppsen Clark is a mother of six, a former Mormon Tabernacle Choir member, a Ph.D. graduate student focusing on dementia, and a dear personal friend. She is also the daughter of the late Elder Malcolm S. Jeppsen: former LDS General Authority, personal physician and best friend to Elder Boyd K. Packer, and a GA who was directly involved in the excommunication of Avraham Gileadi (one of the September Six). In this multi-part episode with Christine we discuss:
What it was like to grow up in the 1950s and 1960s in Salt Lake City as a very orthodox, devout member of a somewhat elite LDS family? What it was like to grow up the daughter of an LDS General Authority, who was both a physician to, and best friends with Elder Boyd K. Packer? Elder Jeppsen’s personal and direct involvement in the excommunication of Avraham Giliadi -- one of the September Six. How such an orthodox, committed LDS family including Christine (the daughter of a General Authority), her husband David Clark (former bishop of eight years, recent Stake Presidency member) and four of her six children could ultimately decide to leave the LDS Church, and What it’s like to leave the LDS Church as a grandparent in your 50s and 60s.
In February 2012, Jeremy Runnels experienced a crisis of faith, which subsequently led to a faith transition in the summer of 2012. In the spring of 2013, Jeremy was approached and asked by a Church Education System (CES) Director to share his concerns and questions about the LDS Church’s origins, history, and current practices. In response, Jeremy wrote what later became publicly known as Letter to a CES Director.
Letter to a CES Director very quickly went viral on the internet. The CES Director responded that he read the "very well written" letter and that he would provide Jeremy with a response. No response ever came.
In February 2012, Jeremy Runnels experienced a crisis of faith, which subsequently led to a faith transition in the summer of 2012. In the spring of 2013, Jeremy was approached and asked by a Church Education System (CES) Director to share his concerns and questions about the LDS Church’s origins, history, and current practices. In response, Jeremy wrote what later became publicly known as Letter to a CES Director.
Letter to a CES Director very quickly went viral on the internet. The CES Director responded that he read the "very well written" letter and that he would provide Jeremy with a response. No response ever came.
In February 2012, Jeremy Runnels experienced a crisis of faith, which subsequently led to a faith transition in the summer of 2012. In the spring of 2013, Jeremy was approached and asked by a Church Education System (CES) Director to share his concerns and questions about the LDS Church’s origins, history, and current practices. In response, Jeremy wrote what later became publicly known as Letter to a CES Director.
Letter to a CES Director very quickly went viral on the internet. The CES Director responded that he read the "very well written" letter and that he would provide Jeremy with a response. No response ever came.
LDS Church Spokeswoman Ally Isom responds to Kate Kelly and John Dehlin's interview on RadioWest
In part 4 of a 4 part series, Sandra Tanner discusses her views on being called an "anti-Mormon," her Christian beliefs, her views on the recent candor/openness and future of the LDS church, the passing of her husband (Jerald -- Alzheimer's), and shares her final testimony.
In part 3 of a 4 part series, Sandra discusses several issues including Joseph Smith’s treasure digging, connections between the Masonic Lodge temple ceremony and the LDS Church temple ceremony, polygamy, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, blacks and the LDS priesthood, the Thomas Ferguson story, the Eugene England/Bruce R. McConkie letter exchange, the LDS church’s law suit against UTLM, and the Godmakers film.
In part 2 of our interview with Sandra Tanner, Sandra discusses challenges that she and her late husband had with Joseph Smith’s First Vision, the Book of Mormon, the Book of Abraham, along with her interactions with Joseph Fielding Smith, Legrand Richard, and famous Mormon forger and murderer Mark Hofmann.
Jerald and Sandra Tanner were raised in the LDS faith, both with a strong Mormon family history. Jerald is the great-great-grandson of John Tanner, well known for his sizable financial contributions to Joseph Smith and the LDS church in 1835 when the church was deeply in debt. Sandra Tanner is a great-great-granddaughter of Brigham Young, the second president of the Mormon Church.
As teenagers, before they met, Jerald and Sandra were challenged by different people and events to examine the origins of Mormonism. Soon after their introduction, they jointly began researching Mormonism and became engaged. Both accepted Christ during these early years of study and have left the Mormon church. They are both active members of a local Christian church in Salt Lake City.
This episode explores Sandra and Jerald’s early years before forming Utah Lighthouse Ministries.
Adam Miller has been described as one of the most interesting thoughtful/faithful writers in Mormonism today. In this episode we speak with Adam about his new book, "Letters to a Young Mormon," published by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. According to Adam, this book attempts to address the real beauty and costs of trying to live a Mormon life.
Adam Miller is a professor of philosophy at Collin College in McKinney Texas. He was born and raised in a small Pennsylvania branch, served an LDS mission in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has been married for 15 years to Gwen Miller, has three children, and is currently serving as an adviser in the Teachers Quorum in his ward. Adam is the director of the Mormon Theology Seminar, and is the author of five books including Letters to a Young Mormon.
Adam Miller has been described as one of the most interesting thoughtful/faithful writers in Mormonism today. In this episode we speak with Adam about his new book, "Letters to a Young Mormon," published by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. According to Adam, this book attempts to address the real beauty and costs of trying to live a Mormon life.
Adam Miller is a professor of philosophy at Collin College in McKinney Texas. He was born and raised in a small Pennsylvania branch, served an LDS mission in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has been married for 15 years to Gwen Miller, has three children, and is currently serving as an adviser in the Teachers Quorum in his ward. Adam is the director of the Mormon Theology Seminar, and is the author of five books including Letters to a Young Mormon.
Over the last decade, there’s been a small group of Latter-day Saints carving out space for themselves in the Mormon community. They are often called "New Order Mormons." They don’t believe everything the Church teaches, but they stay because they love the culture and are spiritually nourished by their involvement. Wednesday, Doug Fabrizio of RadioWest sits down with John Dehlin, co-founder of StayLDS.com. They’ll talk about this progressive strain of Mormonism and what it means for a church so defined by orthodoxy.
In November, 2005 Mormon Stories interviewed Jason Nelson-Seawright (known online as "Roasted Tomatoes") and Taryn Nelson-Seawright ("Serenity Valley"). In this touching, 2-part series Taryn discussed how she resigned from the church as a teenager, but ultimately felt called by God to become re-baptized into the LDS church -- ultimately becoming sealed in the temple. In this episode, nine years later, Jason and Taryn discuss their decision to leave the church completely. They also discuss how their experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorder affected this decision.
In November, 2005 Mormon Stories interviewed Jason Nelson-Seawright (known online as "Roasted Tomatoes") and Taryn Nelson-Seawright ("Serenity Valley"). In this touching, 2-part series Taryn discussed how she resigned from the church as a teenager, but ultimately felt called by God to become re-baptized into the LDS church -- ultimately becoming sealed in the temple. In this episode, nine years later, Jason and Taryn discuss their decision to leave the church completely. They also discuss how their experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorder affected this decision.
Brad Kramer represents a rising generation of young, thoughtful, faithful Latter-day Saint scholars. In this two part episode, Brad briefly discusses his own faith/intellectual journey within the LDS church, and then offers a parent/child, developmental framework for approaching a more mature LDS faith. Brad also briefly discusses a new approach to LDS apologetics, often dubbed "pastoral apologetics."
Brad is married to Tracey von Bose-Kramer, and is the father of five children. Brad holds a B.A. in Russian from Brigham Young University, a B.A. in History from the University of Utah, an M.A. in American History from the University of Utah, and is a hair away from obtaining his Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Michigan, with an emphasis on religion, religious language, and secrecy.
Brad Kramer represents a rising generation of young, thoughtful, faithful Latter-day Saint scholars. In this two part episode, Brad briefly discusses his own faith/intellectual journey within the LDS church, and then offers a parent/child, developmental framework for approaching a more mature LDS faith. Brad also briefly discusses a new approach to LDS apologetics, often dubbed "pastoral apologetics."
Brad is married to Tracey von Bose-Kramer, and is the father of five children. Brad holds a B.A. in Russian from Brigham Young University, a B.A. in History from the University of Utah, an M.A. in American History from the University of Utah, and is a hair away from obtaining his Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Michigan, with an emphasis on religion, religious language, and secrecy.
Today we interview Rock Waterman, the founder of the blog Pure Mormonism. Rock’s basic position is that he believes in the LDS restoration (e.g., Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, Book of Mormon is scripture), but he also believes that the current LDS church has gone astray.
Today we interview Rock Waterman, the founder of the blog Pure Mormonism. Rock’s basic position is that he believes in the LDS restoration (e.g., Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, Book of Mormon is scripture), but he also believes that the current LDS church has gone astray.
Today we interview Lindsay Hansen Park, wherein she discusses her battles with Bulimia, body image, and faith.
Today we interview Lindsay Hansen Park, wherein she discusses her battles with Bulimia, body image, and faith.
Today we interview Lindsay Hansen Park, wherein she discusses her battles with Bulimia, body image, and faith.
In this podcast, Heather Olson Beal interviews Nicole Hardy, author of the stunningly beautiful memoir, Confessions of a Latter-day Virgin, with readers and fans Claire, Mel, and Maren.
On April 5th, 2014 Ordain Women will again be seeking entrance into the LDS General Conference Priesthood session. Details can be found here. In this episode we interview Nadine Hansen, Kimberly Brinkerhoff, Katie Hyde, and Debra Jenson about their participation in Ordain Women.
The Indian Placement Program was a program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1947 to 2000, in which LDS Native American students were placed in LDS foster homes during the school year, where they would attend public schools and become assimilated into American culture. The program was initially developed to respond to the needs of Navajo teenagers and even younger children who were coming to parts of Utah to work. It was felt it would be better for them to get an education. Beginning in the 1970s, however, the Indian Placement Program came under criticism. Supporters believed that exposure to white culture was beneficial to Native American children, and that it improved educational and economic opportunities, while critics believed the program undermined the children’s Native American identity. In 2000 the last student graduated from the program, though the program never was officially discontinued.
Matthew Garrett is currently an associate professor of history at Bakersfield College in California, teaching United States, California, and Native American Indian history courses. His dissertation and forthcoming book manuscript explore the LDS Indian Placement Program. He is also a devoted husband and the father of three adorable little girls.
The Indian Placement Program was a program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1947 to 2000, in which LDS Native American students were placed in LDS foster homes during the school year, where they would attend public schools and become assimilated into American culture. The program was initially developed to respond to the needs of Navajo teenagers and even younger children who were coming to parts of Utah to work. It was felt it would be better for them to get an education. Beginning in the 1970s, however, the Indian Placement Program came under criticism. Supporters believed that exposure to white culture was beneficial to Native American children, and that it improved educational and economic opportunities, while critics believed the program undermined the children’s Native American identity. In 2000 the last student graduated from the program, though the program never was officially discontinued.
Matthew Garrett is currently an associate professor of history at Bakersfield College in California, teaching United States, California, and Native American Indian history courses. His dissertation and forthcoming book manuscript explore the LDS Indian Placement Program. He is also a devoted husband and the father of three adorable little girls.
In this podcast, Heather Olson Beal interviews three essayists who contributed to the book Mormon Women Have Their Say: Essays from the Claremont Oral History Collection: Caroline Kline (who also co-edited the book with Dr. Claudia Bushman), Anna Rolapp, and Elizabeth Mott. In this podcast, we discuss the Claremont Women’s Oral History Project in general and then discuss four essays in greater depth: Caroline’s essay on Mormon women’s conceptions of the self, Anna’s essay on Mormon women and California’s Proposition 8, Elizabeth’s essay on Mormon single women, and Caroline’s essay on Mormon women’s attitudes towards and feelings about patriarchy.
The Claremont Women’s Oral History Project has collected hundreds of interviews with Mormon women of various ages, experiences, and levels of activity. These interviews record the experiences of these women in their homes and family life, their church life, and their work life, in their roles as homemakers, students, missionaries, career women, single women, converts, and disaffected members. Their stories feed into and illuminate the broader narrative of LDS history and belief, filling in a large gap in Mormon history that has often neglected the lived experiences of women. This project preserves and perpetuates their voices and memories, allowing them to say share what has too often been left unspoken. The silent majority speaks in these records. This volume is the first to explore the riches of the collection in print. A group of young scholars and others have used the interviews to better understand what Mormonism means to these women and what women mean for Mormonism. They explore those interviews through the lenses of history, doctrine, mythology, feminist theory, personal experience, and current events to help us understand what these women have to say about their own faith and lives.
Other essays address important topics, such as fertility, motherhood, adversity, womanliness, callings, revelation, missions, agency, the Relief Society, and Heavenly Mother.
Josh Hanagarne is a father, husband, avid reader, librarian, weight lifter extraordinaire, and the author of the amazing book The World’s Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette’s, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family. In this podcast, Heather Olson Beal and John Dehlin interview Josh about his childhood and adolescence, his Tourette’s diagnosis and treatment, his LDS mission experience, his marriage and family, his educational and work experiences, his body building experiences, and his faith/spirituality. Josh is open, honest, and frank about all of the above. The book is delightful and thought-provoking and full of humanity and beauty. We can’t rave about it enough.
In this two-part episode we interview bloggers Sarah Brenner Jones and Annie Bentley Waddoups. Together they run a wonderfully delightful blog on mid-stage parenting entitled "Nest & Launch." In this interview Sarah and Annie share their approaches to thoughtful parenting during this unique stage of life -- from the teen to the early adult years.
In this two-part episode we interview bloggers Sarah Brenner Jones and Annie Bentley Waddoups. Together they run a wonderfully delightful blog on mid-stage parenting entitled "Nest & Launch." In this interview Sarah and Annie share their approaches to thoughtful parenting during this unique stage of life -- from the teen to the early adult years.
In this episode, Doug Fabrizio of RadioWest interviews Margaret Young, Marvin Perkins, Russell Stevenson, and John Dehlin about the LDS church's new web page entitled "Race and the Priesthood."
In this podcast, Heather Olson Beal interviews Chrisy Ross about her book, To Mormons, with Love, and about her life as a non-Mormon in Utah.
Today we conclude our four-part interview series with the Three Interfaith Amigos: Rabbi Ted Falcon, Imam Jamal Rahman, and Pastor Don Mackenzie. During this episode, we discuss the past, present, and future of religion and spirituality.
In part 3 of a 4-part series, Imam Jamal Rahman of the Three Interfaith Amigos shares his views on progressive Islam.
In part 2 of a 4-part series, Rabbi Ted Falcon of the Three Interfaith Amigos shares his views on progressive Judaism.
In part 1 of a 4-part series, Pastor Don Mackenzie of the Three Interfaith Amigos shares his views on progressive Christianity.
To conclude our series on the Ordain Women project, we bring together Kate Kelly, Heather Olson Beal, Neylan McBaine and Sara Vranes for a concluding dialogue.
To conclude our series on the Ordain Women project, we bring together Kate Kelly, Heather Olson Beal, Neylan McBaine and Sara Vranes for a concluding dialogue.
Part 2 of a 2-part series wherein Fiona Givens, Maxine Hanks, Margaret Young, and Neylan McBain discuss alternative Feminist approaches to the Ordain Women movement.
Part 1 of a 2-part series wherein Fiona Givens, Maxine Hanks, Margaret Young, and Neylan McBain discuss alternative Feminist approaches to the Ordain Women movement.
In part 1 of a three-part series, we discuss the Ordain Women-planned event on 10/5/2013 to attend the LDS general conference priesthood session. Participants include Heather Olson Beal, Ann Marie Whittaker, Tinesha Zandamela, and Lorie Winder Stromberg - all of whom participated in Saturday’s event.
On today’s episode of the "Mormon News Review," we discuss: Pope Francis’ recent interview in "America: The National Catholic Review" and possible implications for the LDS church.
Two articles written by Peggy Fletcher Stack on the 20th anniversary of the September Six. Elder D. Todd Christofferson‘s devotional delivered on September 24th at BYU Idaho entitled "The Prophet Joseph Smith."
Joining us are three panelists:
Right: Ralph Hancock is the President of the John Adams Center for the Study of Faith, Philosophy and Public Affairs. He is also a professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University, and a former intramural basketball teammate.
Center: Mark Phillips is an active member of the LDS church in Los Angeles, and a former bishop. He is a husband, a father, an attorney, a musician, and he promises not to agree with everyone.
Left: Lindsay Hansen Park is a Mormon Feminist and a work-from-home mother of two in Stansbury Park. She works as Social Media director for Sunstone, hosts and founded the feministmormonhousewives podcast, and is engaged in women’s issues and global activism.
On this inaugural episode of Mormon News Review we have: Kate Kelly (founder of Ordain Women) discussing the LDS church's recent response to their attempts to attend the upcoming priesthood session of LDS general conference. Panel: Ralph Hancock (Right), Tom Grover (Middle), and Heather Olson Beal (Left) discussing: Ordain Women, including the LDS church's decision today to publicly broadcast the priesthood session of general conference. Steve and Barb Young's recent presentations at the LDS/Affirmation conference. The LDS church's response to upcoming same-sex marriage legislation in Hawaii. The LDS church's new "Religious Freedom" initiative.
Dr. Gregory A. Prince was selected to present the 19th annual Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture. The lecture is an annual event hosted by University Libraries and its Special Collections and Archives Division at Utah State University. The lecture is sponsored by University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, the Leonard J. Arrington Lecture and Archives Foundation and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Utah State University. Dr. Prince spoke on Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Logan LDS Tabernacle. The title of Prince’s lecture was "Faith and Doubt as Partners in Mormon History."
Ryan McIlvain was born in Utah and raised in Massachusetts. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in many journals, including The Paris Review. A graduate of the Rutgers MFA Program and a recipient of the Stegner Fellowship at Stanford, he currently lives with his wife in Los Angeles.
As part of Mormon Stories Book Club, today Heather Olson Beal and I discuss Ryan’s book "Elders," which is the story of two young Mormon missionaries in Brazil and their tense, peculiar friendship. Elder McLeod - outspoken, surly, a brash American - is nearing the end of his mission. For nearly two years he has spent his days studying the Bible and the Book of Mormon, knocking on doors, teaching missionary lessons "experimenting on the word." His new partner is Elder Passos, a devout, ambitious Brazilian who found salvation and solace in the church after his mother’s early death. The two men are at first suspicious of each other, and their work together is frustrating, fruitless. That changes when a beautiful woman and her husband offer the missionaries a chance to be heard, to put all of their practice to good use, to test the mettle of their faith. But before they can bring the couple to baptism, they must confront their own long-held beliefs and doubts, and the simmering tensions at the heart of their friendship.
A novel of unsparing honesty and beauty, Elders announces Ryan McIlvain as a writer of enormous talent.
As an independent historian, Russell Stevenson has been studying Mormon history for nearly two decades. His first book, Black Mormon: The Story of Elijah Ables, tells the vexing story of race in nineteenth-century Mormonism through experiences of Elijah Ables, a biracial man ordained to the priesthood during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Drawing on documents unused in other treatments, Black Mormon is the first effort to understand Elijah Ables in all of his identities: black, male, Mormon, and priesthood holder.
As an independent historian, Russell Stevenson has been studying Mormon history for nearly two decades. His first book, Black Mormon: The Story of Elijah Ables, tells the vexing story of race in nineteenth-century Mormonism through experiences of Elijah Ables, a biracial man ordained to the priesthood during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Drawing on documents unused in other treatments, Black Mormon is the first effort to understand Elijah Ables in all of his identities: black, male, Mormon, and priesthood holder.
As the 10th feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series, we feature Jack Harrell and his short story collection, A Sense of Order and Other Stories. Jack is currently a writing professor at BYU-Idaho. A Sense of Order and Other Stories contains two award-winning stories ("Calling and Election" and "A Prophet’s Story"); the collection won the award for best short fiction from the Association for Mormon Letters in 2010.
Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president before serving in the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy (Europe Central area) from 2000-2005 under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry. In this 5-part interview, and accompanied by his beautiful wife Birgitta, Hans discusses the following: (1) His early years in Sweden, (2) His years as an Area Authority Seventy, (3) His interactions with LDS Apostles and the 1st Presidency, (4) His struggles with faith after being released as an area authority, and (5) His thoughts about the church today.
Special Fireside for Disaffected Swedish Latter-day Saints. Speakers: Elder Marlin K. Jensen (LDS Church Historian) and Richard E. Turley Jr. (Assistant Church Historian). Date: November 28, 2010. Location: Västerhaninge Chapel; Stockholm, Sweden.
Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president before serving in the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy (Europe Central area) from 2000-2005 under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry. In this 5-part interview, and accompanied by his beautiful wife Birgitta, Hans discusses the following: (1) His early years in Sweden, (2) His years as an Area Authority Seventy, (3) His interactions with LDS Apostles and the 1st Presidency, (4) His struggles with faith after being released as an area authority, and (5) His thoughts about the church today.
Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president before serving in the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy (Europe Central area) from 2000-2005 under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry. In this 5-part interview, and accompanied by his beautiful wife Birgitta, Hans discusses the following: (1) His early years in Sweden, (2) His years as an Area Authority Seventy, (3) His interactions with LDS Apostles and the 1st Presidency, (4) His struggles with faith after being released as an area authority, and (5) His thoughts about the church today.
Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president before serving in the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy (Europe Central area) from 2000-2005 under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry. In this 5-part interview, and accompanied by his beautiful wife Birgitta, Hans discusses the following: (1) His early years in Sweden, (2) His years as an Area Authority Seventy, (3) His interactions with LDS Apostles and the 1st Presidency, (4) His struggles with faith after being released as an area authority, and (5) His thoughts about the church today.
Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president before serving in the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy (Europe Central area) from 2000-2005 under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry. In this 5-part interview, and accompanied by his beautiful wife Birgitta, Hans discusses the following: (1) His early years in Sweden, (2) His years as an Area Authority Seventy, (3) His interactions with LDS Apostles and the 1st Presidency, (4) His struggles with faith after being released as an area authority, and (5) His thoughts about the church today.
In Part 4, John Hamer tells the remarkable story of the RLDS Church’s transformation from a inward-looking sect with a negative, exclusive identity to a progressive denomination with a positive, inclusive identity. Although both the RLDS Church and the LDS Church were faced with the same basic challenges in the societal transformation in North America after World War 2, the churches had completely opposite responses. In the wake of the challenges posed by professional scholarship of the "New Mormon History," RLDS leaders chose to "embrace truth and do what is right, let the consequence follow," rather than to retrench, deny, and retreat into territory that is intellectually indefensible. The path has not been an easy one, but it has led Community of Christ to become a church whose values include "unity in diversity," "the worth of all persons," and the principle that "all are called." Today, women serve at every level of church leadership, up to the First Presidency. Community of Christ has had apostles from Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific Islands, in addition to North America. LGBT members have full priesthood participation in North America and Australia, and in states and countries where it is legal, priesthood members may perform same-sex marriages as a sacrament in Community of Christ.
In Part 3, John Hamer talks about how Latter Day Saints living in the Midwest who continued to oppose polygamy were able to regroup and come together as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. These members included Joseph Smith Jr.’s immediate family. Joseph and Emma’s eldest surviving son, Joseph Smith III, led the RLDS Church as prophet for 54 years. Described by his biographer as a "pragmatic prophet," Joseph III was able to successfully weld diverse old Saints who had been Strangites, Cutlerites, Wightites, Whitermites, Rigdonites, Thompsonites, Brighamites, Morrisites, and more, into a Restoration tradition church that took the Kirtland era as its model. The fact that Joseph III grew up in the ruins of Nauvoo and had learned to live with his neighbors influenced the Reorganization’s strong peace tradition.
In Part 2, John Hamer talks about the pivotal period from 1844-1860, when different Latter Day Saints came up with different solutions for how to remain faithful to their religion in the wake of the founder’s death. John conceptually divides successor churches into three categories: (1) Those who sought to "purify" the church and go back to an earlier form of Mormonism, (2) those who sought to "preserve" the church as it existed in 1844, and (3) those who wanted to continue to "innovate" by having a new prophet ever revealing new doctrine and practices on the model of the founder. John describes how polygamy continued to be the main point of contention and how the organizations of most of Brigham Young’s rivals had faltered by 1860.
In Part 1, John Hamer briefly discusses the diversity within Latter Day Saint or Restoration heritage churches. He then walks us through the early history of the Restoration to explain how the seeds that have ultimately flowered with the Community of Christ and the LDS Church were planted even before Joseph Smith’s martyrdom. John talks about the rapid evolution in Mormonism from its origins to 1844, its inherent tensions, and the direct causes of the schism that emerged after Brigham Young’s showdown with Sidney Ridgon for church leadership in Nauvoo.
As the 9th feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series, we feature Rachel Held Evans and her book A Year of Biblical Womanhood. Rachel Held Evans, from Dayton, Tennessee, is an American Christian columnist, blogger, and author of two books, A Year of Biblical Womanhood and Evolving in Monkey Town. Rachel is a New York Times best selling author.
As the 9th feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series, we feature Rachel Held Evans and her book A Year of Biblical Womanhood. Rachel Held Evans, from Dayton, Tennessee, is an American Christian columnist, blogger, and author of two books, A Year of Biblical Womanhood and Evolving in Monkey Town. Rachel is a New York Times best selling author.
In today’s episode we interview John Hamer, who left Mormonism (and religion/belief altogether) after graduating from BYU with no intent to return. We explore how John’s relationship with his partner, Mike, helped him to discover his love for Mormon history, the Mormon historians community, and the John Whitmer Historical Association. This path ultimately led John to become baptized in the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) on April 6, 2010 - the 150th anniversary of the Reorganization and the 180th anniversary of the organization of the church. How does an ex-Mormon who had left faith altogether rediscover the value of religion within a Joseph Smith tradition church? This is John Hamer’s story.
You can talk to John directly at his facebook group "Latter-day Seekers" or follow the Saints Herald blog.
In today’s episode we interview John Hamer, who left Mormonism (and religion/belief altogether) after graduating from BYU with no intent to return. We explore how John’s relationship with his partner, Mike, helped him to discover his love for Mormon history, the Mormon historians community, and the John Whitmer Historical Association. This path ultimately led John to become baptized in the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) on April 6, 2010 - the 150th anniversary of the Reorganization and the 180th anniversary of the organization of the church.
How does an ex-Mormon who had left faith altogether rediscover the value of religion within a Joseph Smith tradition church? This is John Hamer’s story.
You can talk to John directly at his facebook group "Latter-day Seekers" or follow the Saints Herald blog.
In January 2006 Mormon Stories interviewed Tom Kimball and Dan Wotherspoon to discuss James Fowler’s "Stages of Faith" and Mormonism (you can listen to the interview via the Mormon Storis archive). At the time, both Tom and Dan were active in the LDS church, and committed to remaining members. 7 years later, Tom Kimball and his family have left the church, and Dan remains. This is their Mormon story of faith and doubt - 7 years hence.
In January 2006 Mormon Stories interviewed Tom Kimball and Dan Wotherspoon to discuss James Fowler’s "Stages of Faith" and Mormonism (you can listen to the interview via the Mormon Storis archive). At the time, both Tom and Dan were active in the LDS church, and committed to remaining members. 7 years later, Tom Kimball and his family have left the church, and Dan remains. This is their Mormon story of faith and doubt - 7 years hence.
In January 2006 Mormon Stories interviewed Tom Kimball and Dan Wotherspoon to discuss James Fowler’s "Stages of Faith" and Mormonism (you can listen to the interview via the Mormon Storis archive). At the time, both Tom and Dan were active in the LDS church, and committed to remaining members. 7 years later, Tom Kimball and his family have left the church, and Dan remains. This is their Mormon story of faith and doubt - 7 years hence.
As the 8th feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series, we feature Craig Harline and his book Conversions: Two Family Stories from the Reformation and Modern America, accompanied by podcast host Heather Olson Beal and readers Kimberly Brinkerhoff, Hannah Pritchett, Daniel Rawson, and Natasha Helfer Parker. Craig Harline, a native of California, is a cultural historian and a professor of history at BYU. He teaches courses on the Reformation, the history of civilization, film, and Christianity. He has also taught seminars on miracles and toleration and persecution.
Today we interview Dr. Ryan Cragun who is an expert in the sociology of religion. In this episode we discuss his perspective regarding why people are religious and how religion affects peoples' lives and society at large.
As the 7th feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series, we feature Michael Hicks and his book The Street-Legal Version of Mormon’s Book, accompanied by podcast host Heather Olson Beal and readers Mark Brown and Jonathan Yarrington. Michael Hicks, a composer, performer, scholar, and poet, has been teaching in the BYU School of Music since 1985.
Today we interview Kate Kelly – Co-founder of the Ordain Women website (http://ordainwomen.org). In this episode we discuss: why Kate and her associates are calling for the ordination of LDS women, how female ordination might benefit both the institutional church and its members, and how others can support this initiative.
In this three part interview with Josh and Lolly Weed we discuss: 1) How they fell in love and decided to marry, in spite of both knowing that Josh is gay, 2) the complexities and risks of navigating a mixed-orientation marriage, and 3) LBGT issues within the LDS church
In this three part interview with Josh and Lolly Weed we discuss: 1) How they fell in love and decided to marry, in spite of both knowing that Josh is gay, 2) the complexities and risks of navigating a mixed-orientation marriage, and 3) LBGT issues within the LDS church
In this three part interview with Josh and Lolly Weed we discuss: 1) How they fell in love and decided to marry, in spite of both knowing that Josh is gay, 2) the complexities and risks of navigating a mixed-orientation marriage, and 3) LBGT issues within the LDS church
On this historic day when the United States Supreme Court is considering the legality of gay marriage, we share with you our interview with Brett Bradshaw. Brett is the son of longtime Mormon LGBT advocates Marge and William Bradshaw.
On this historic day when the United States Supreme Court is considering the legality of gay marriage, we share with you our interview with Brett Bradshaw. Brett is the son of longtime Mormon LGBT advocates Marge and William Bradshaw.
On this historic day when the United States Supreme Court is considering the legality of gay marriage, we share with you our interview with Brett Bradshaw. Brett is the son of longtime Mormon LGBT advocates Marge and William Bradshaw.
On this historic day when the United States Supreme Court is considering the legality of gay marriage, we share with you our interview with Brett Bradshaw. Brett is the son of longtime Mormon LGBT advocates Marge and William Bradshaw.
Jay Griffith and Sarah Collett sit with James W. McConkie to speak with him about his personal history and family. As a nephew of Bruce R. McConkie and Joseph B. Wirthlin, Jim has a unique perspective of the Church and the brethren and a valuable approach to the Gospel. Speaking about his faith, parenting, and his views on the historical Christ, Jim explains his approach to doubt and difficult questions.
Jay Griffith and Sarah Collett sit with James W. McConkie to speak with him about his personal history and family. As a nephew of Bruce R. McConkie and Joseph B. Wirthlin, Jim has a unique perspective of the Church and the brethren and a valuable approach to the Gospel. Speaking about his faith, parenting, and his views on the historical Christ, Jim explains his approach to doubt and difficult questions.
In part 4 of a series on Joseph Smith’s polygamy, Brian Hales explains the foundations of his LDS beliefs, and how he maintains belief in the face of detailed knowledge regarding Joseph Smith’s polygamy.
In part 3 of a 4 part series on Joseph Smith’s polygamy, Brian Hales contrasts his views on the naturalistic vs. faithful view of Joseph Smith’s polygamy.
Brian Hales Pt. 1 - A Refutation of Grant Palmer’s Treatment of Sexual Allegations Against Joseph Smith
In this three-part interview conducted by Sarah Collett of A Thoughtful Faith podcast we discuss: My ups, downs, and ups with the church, the story behind the Why Mormons Question survey, including my interactions with a few church leaders, an explanation of the Daniel Peterson/Neil A. Maxwell institute incident last year, the reasons behind the discontinuation of the Mormon Stories conferences and communities, my interactions w/ my bishop and stake president over the past year, and how and why I've returned to full activity in the church. Big thanks to Sarah and Micah for all of their hard work.
In this three-part interview conducted by Sarah Collett of A Thoughtful Faith podcast we discuss: My ups, downs, and ups with the church, the story behind the Why Mormons Question survey, including my interactions with a few church leaders, an explanation of the Daniel Peterson/Neil A. Maxwell institute incident last year, the reasons behind the discontinuation of the Mormon Stories conferences and communities, my interactions w/ my bishop and stake president over the past year, and how and why I've returned to full activity in the church. Big thanks to Sarah and Micah for all of their hard work.
In this three-part interview conducted by Sarah Collett of A Thoughtful Faith podcast we discuss: My ups, downs, and ups with the church, the story behind the"Why Mormons Question" survey, including my interactions with a few church leaders, an explanation of the Daniel Peterson/Neil A. Maxwell institute incident last year, the reasons behind the discontinuation of the Mormon Stories conferences and communities, my interactions w/ my bishop and stake president over the past year, and how and why I've returned to full activity in the church. Big thanks to Sarah and Micah for all of their hard work.
Kristine Haglund and Brent Metcalfe speak at the 2012 Seattle Mormon Stories conference.
In this four-part interview we speak with BYU professor and critic of Mormon liberalism Dr. Ralph Hancock.
In this four-part interview we speak with BYU professor and critic of Mormon liberalism Dr. Ralph Hancock.
In this four-part interview we speak with BYU professor and critic of Mormon liberalism Dr. Ralph Hancock.
In this four-part interview we speak with BYU professor and critic of Mormon liberalism Dr. Ralph Hancock.
In this three-part interview we speak with"The Mormon Therapist" Natasha Helfer Parker about the top 10 mental health issues that Mormons commonly face.
In this three-part interview we speak with"The Mormon Therapist" Natasha Helfer Parker about the top 10 mental health issues that Mormons commonly face.
In this three-part interview we speak with"The Mormon Therapist" Natasha Helfer Parker about the top 10 mental health issues that Mormons commonly face.
As part of a new podcast initiative called Gay Mormon Stories (and in cooperation with Mormon Stories Book Club) we interview the beloved poet, playwright, LGBT activist and Mormon author Carol Lynn Pearson about her new book entitled, The Hero’s Journey of the Gay and Lesbian Mormon.
In this episode of Mormon Stories we interview journalist McKay Coppins. McKay is a graduate of Brigham Young University and a journalist for BuzzFeed. During the 2011-2012 U.S. presidential campaign, McKay was assigned the task of reporting on fellow-Mormon and presidential candidate Mitt Romney. This is his story.
Anyone desiring to understand more about Mormon Christianity could find no better guides than Terryl and Fiona Givens. By masterfully weaving together insights from the best books scripture and literature, theology and philosophy Terryl and Fiona Givens bring new depth to the fundamentals of their faith. Whether you know a lot or a little about Latter-day Saint doctrine, this book will both educate and inspire you. The authors, Terryl and Fiona Givens, share five fundamental truths about the universe that their Mormon faith has taught them.
Fiona Givens (MA European History, University of Richmond) recently retired from directing the French Language program at Patrick Henry High School in Ashland, Virginia. Besides education, she has worked in translation services, as a lobbyist, and as communications director of a nonprofit. A longtime collaborator in Terryl Givens' previous books, The God Who Weeps is her first co-authorship.
As the 3rd feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series (organized by Heather Olson Beal), we feature Jane Barnes and her new book Falling in Love with Joseph Smith, accompanied by the following readers: Rob Lauer, Erin Hill, Cheryl Bruno, John Dehlin, and Dayna Patterson.
Mr. Deity's Brian Dalton Discusses Book of Mormon Racism with Dan Wotherspoon and Charles Harrell.
Elna Baker speaks, and the Sabre Rattlers perform at the 2012 New York Mormon Stories conference.
Richard Bushman and Andrew Kimball speak, and the Sabre Rattlers perform at the 2012 New York Mormon Stories conference.
As the 2nd feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series (organized by the brilliant Heather Olsen Beal), we feature John G. Turner and his new book"Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet," accompanied by Dialogue Foundation chair elect Morris Thurston.
As the 2nd feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series (organized by the brilliant Heather Olsen Beal), we feature John G. Turner and his new book"Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet," accompanied by Dialogue Foundation chair elect Morris Thurston.
A Thoughtful Faith's Kylan Rice presents an interview with LDS author, filmmaker, and playwright Margaret Young. In this interview Margaret shares her story of how she became enthralled with Mormon Race Dynamics, and how she has spent her life as an advocate for Black Mormon issues in LDS culture. Margaret also discusses how gender dynamics present challenges to her and other LDS women, and how she reconciles these issues with her faith in the Gospel.
Guest host Kylan Rice is a producer for BYU Radio, a poet, and a student of English literature. He also contributes, as a guest writer, to the blog RationalFaiths.com, which seeks to"provide a safe, fair, and balanced space to discuss the complexities, difficulties, and beauty of the Mormon tradition."
In part 4 of a 4-part series, Eldon's Family Discusses the Impact of Heather's Death on their Faith.
In part 3 of a 4-part series, Eldon discusses losing Heather to cancer, and the grief that followed.
In part 2 of a 4 part series, Eldon discusses his experience living a successful mixed-orientation marriage as a gay Mormon.
In part 1 of a 4 part series, Eldon Kartchner discusses his battle with same-sex attraction as a Mormon.
Philip Barlow is editor of the book"A Thoughtful Faith," which was pivotal in my faith transition as a BYU student and beyond. He currently sits in the Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture, at Utah State University. He earned a B. A. from Weber State College and an M.T.S. and Ph.D. (1988, with an emphasis on Religion and American Culture and on the History of Christianity) from Harvard University. In addition to articles, essays, and reviews, Dr. Barlow has published Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion (Oxford Univ. Press, 1991). He is past president of the Mormon History Association.
Philip Barlow is editor of the book"A Thoughtful Faith," which was pivotal in my faith transition as a BYU student and beyond. He currently sits in the Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture, at Utah State University. He earned a B. A. from Weber State College and an M.T.S. and Ph.D. (1988, with an emphasis on Religion and American Culture and on the History of Christianity) from Harvard University. In addition to articles, essays, and reviews, Dr. Barlow has published Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion (Oxford Univ. Press, 1991). He is past president of the Mormon History Association.
In this episode 3 active, believing LDS church members explore LDS temple wedding exclusion and inclusion.
For the inaugural episode of the new"A Thoughtful Faith" podcast, Micah Nickolaisen interviews Greg Prince. Greg is well known for his historical contributions and grassroots activism within the LDS Church, and is an advocate for better curriculum, scholarship, gender equality, and open dialogue within Mormon discourse and church policy. Greg sits on the board of directors for Dialogue Foundation, as well as the Madison House Autism Foundation.
In this two part episode we interview Joanna Brooks about her new book"The Book of Mormon Girl."
In this two part episode we interview Joanna Brooks about her new book"The Book of Mormon Girl."
This presentation was delivered as part of the 2012 Salt Lake Symposium held on July 27th.
Bill Reel is currently serving as Bishop of the Sandusky ward of the Cleveland Ohio Stake. In this interview we begin by discussing Bishop Reel’s conversion to the church AFTER reading Fawn Brodie’s"No Man Knows my History", and his avid pursuit of Mormon apologetics after his baptism. We also discuss in depth his calling as bishop, including his job to counsel youth and women on sexual matters, masturbation, and homosexuality. Since Bishop Reel is a listener of the podcast, we discuss his perception and frustration of an increasing trend towards negativity on Mormon Stories. We also discuss the future direction of Mormon Stories, and Bishop Reel offers his advice for members in doubt.
Bill Reel is currently serving as Bishop of the Sandusky ward of the Cleveland Ohio Stake. In this interview we begin by discussing Bishop Reel’s conversion to the church AFTER reading Fawn Brodie’s"No Man Knows my History", and his avid pursuit of Mormon apologetics after his baptism. We also discuss in depth his calling as bishop, including his job to counsel youth and women on sexual matters, masturbation, and homosexuality. Since Bishop Reel is a listener of the podcast, we discuss his perception and frustration of an increasing trend towards negativity on Mormon Stories. We also discuss the future direction of Mormon Stories, and Bishop Reel offers his advice for members in doubt.
In this episode, Tony Litster discusses his approach for overcoming pornography addiction within a Mormon paradigm.
Bible scholar Jared Anderson outlines the vision, tone, goals, and proposed content of this Sunday School podcast. There will be a weekly Gospel Doctrine podcast entitled"Engaging Gospel Doctrine," as well as a"ward library" of expanding content under the title"Excavating Scripture." He also introduces skills for"close reading" of the scriptures as well as suggests resources, to which you can find links below.
In this presentation we try to cover the following: 1) what are Mormon Stories and the Open Stories Foundation trying to do? and 2) what can be done to keep them both alive.
Sons of Perdition (the movie, produced by Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten) follows three boys after they leave their FLDS families and community in Colorado City, Utah. With limited educations and rarely a stable address, the obstacles are enormous. All the boys have big dreams - starting with the hope of attending high school - but what they want most is contact with their families. For one teen in the film, this means numerous attempts to help his fourteen-year-old sister escape before an arranged marriage. With unprecedented access, Sons of Perdition takes audiences on a three-year-journey into the lives of these remarkable teens, providing the inside analysis to make this intimate portrait a big story - a timely, critical look at faith, family and religious exile in mainstream America.
Sons of Perdition (the movie, produced by Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten) follows three boys after they leave their FLDS families and community in Colorado City, Utah. With limited educations and rarely a stable address, the obstacles are enormous. All the boys have big dreams - starting with the hope of attending high school - but what they want most is contact with their families. For one teen in the film, this means numerous attempts to help his fourteen-year-old sister escape before an arranged marriage. With unprecedented access, Sons of Perdition takes audiences on a three-year-journey into the lives of these remarkable teens, providing the inside analysis to make this intimate portrait a big story - a timely, critical look at faith, family and religious exile in mainstream America.
Sons of Perdition (the movie, produced by Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten) follows three boys after they leave their FLDS families and community in Colorado City, Utah. With limited educations and rarely a stable address, the obstacles are enormous. All the boys have big dreams - starting with the hope of attending high school - but what they want most is contact with their families. For one teen in the film, this means numerous attempts to help his fourteen-year-old sister escape before an arranged marriage. With unprecedented access, Sons of Perdition takes audiences on a three-year-journey into the lives of these remarkable teens, providing the inside analysis to make this intimate portrait a big story - a timely, critical look at faith, family and religious exile in mainstream America.
Benji Schwimmer is a world renowned dancer and choreographer. He is best known for winning Season 2 of the hit tv show So You Think You Can Dance. In this 3-part interview, Benji discusses the following: Part 1: His early years, and his LDS mission experience, Part 2: His experiences on So You Think You Can Dance, and Part 3: His attempts to come to terms with his sexuality and his LDS faith.
Benji Schwimmer is a world renowned dancer and choreographer. He is best known for winning Season 2 of the hit tv show So You Think You Can Dance. In this 3-part interview, Benji discusses the following: Part 1: His early years, and his LDS mission experience, Part 2: His experiences on So You Think You Can Dance, and Part 3: His attempts to come to terms with his sexuality and his LDS faith.
Benji Schwimmer is a world renowned dancer and choreographer. He is best known for winning Season 2 of the hit tv show So You Think You Can Dance. In this 3-part interview, Benji discusses the following: Part 1: His early years, and his LDS mission experience, Part 2: His experiences on So You Think You Can Dance, Part 3: His attempts to come to terms with his sexuality and his LDS faith.
Simon Southerton is a native Australian, geneticist, former LDS bishop, and author of the book, Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA and the Mormon Church. Simon was a member of the LDS church for almost 30 years, serving a mission in Melbourne (1981-83), marrying in the New Zealand Temple in 1983, and serving in numerous church positions including four terms as Young Men President, a counselor in several bishoprics and branch presidencies, and finally as bishop.
While serving as bishop Simon began studying Native American DNA which he expected to have Middle Eastern origins, given the primary Book of Mormon narrative and longstanding church teachings to this effect. Discovering instead that Native American DNA was almost 100% of Asiatic origin, this seriously challenged Simon’s belief that the Lamanites are the ancestors of the American Indians, and that the Book of Mormon is a historical document. Consequently, Simon resigned from his calling as bishop in 1998 and left the church soon thereafter.
Simon Southerton is a native Australian, geneticist, former LDS bishop, and author of the book, Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA and the Mormon Church. Simon was a member of the LDS church for almost 30 years, serving a mission in Melbourne (1981-83), marrying in the New Zealand Temple in 1983, and serving in numerous church positions including four terms as Young Men President, a counselor in several bishoprics and branch presidencies, and finally as bishop.
While serving as bishop Simon began studying Native American DNA which he expected to have Middle Eastern origins, given the primary Book of Mormon narrative and longstanding church teachings to this effect. Discovering instead that Native American DNA was almost 100% of Asiatic origin, this seriously challenged Simon’s belief that the Lamanites are the ancestors of the American Indians, and that the Book of Mormon is a historical document. Consequently, Simon resigned from his calling as bishop in 1998 and left the church soon thereafter.
Simon Southerton is a native Australian, geneticist, former LDS bishop, and author of the book, Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA and the Mormon Church. Simon was a member of the LDS church for almost 30 years, serving a mission in Melbourne (1981-83), marrying in the New Zealand Temple in 1983, and serving in numerous church positions including four terms as Young Men President, a counselor in several bishoprics and branch presidencies, and finally as bishop.
While serving as bishop Simon began studying Native American DNA which he expected to have Middle Eastern origins, given the primary Book of Mormon narrative and longstanding church teachings to this effect. Discovering instead that Native American DNA was almost 100% of Asiatic origin, this seriously challenged Simon’s belief that the Lamanites are the ancestors of the American Indians, and that the Book of Mormon is a historical document. Consequently, Simon resigned from his calling as bishop in 1998 and left the church soon thereafter.
As part of the 2012 Boston Mormon Stories regional conference, Joanna Brooks speaks, and conference attendees share their stories.
As part of the 2012 Boston Mormon Stories regional conference, Dr. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich discusses the importance of history and personal narrative within Mormonism, and John Dehlin briefly explores the history and purpose of Mormon Stories. Dr. Ulrich is a historian of early America and the history of women and a university professor at Harvard University. Ulrich's innovative and widely influential approach to history has been described as a tribute to"the silent work of ordinary people" an approach that, in her words, aims to"show the interconnection between public events and private experience."
In this episode, Scott Holley interviews Dr. Tom Mould about his recent book:"Still the Small Voice: Narrative, Personal Revelation, and the Mormon Folk Tradition." Dr. Mould is an associate professor of anthropology and folklore at Elon University and director of Elon’s Program for Ethnographic Research and Community Studies. A non-Mormon, Dr. Mould nonetheless became very familiar with the Mormon experience in his field work. He immersed himself in a Mormon community, attending church meetings, family home evenings, and even father/son campouts. His perspectives on how Mormons experience, share, and interpret personal revelation is fascinating for anyone interested in Mormon studies or folklore studies in general.
As part of the March 2012"Mormonism and the Internet" conference held at Utah Valley University, John Dehlin, Scott Gordon (of the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research or FAIR) and Rosemary Avance discuss LDS disaffection and apologetics.
As part of the March 2012"Mormonism and the Internet" conference held at Utah Valley University, John Dehlin, Scott Gordon (of the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research or FAIR) and Rosemary Avance discuss LDS disaffection and apologetics.
In this 5 part series with accompanying visuals, Dr. James Nagel (also known as AntiCitizenX) discusses the psychology of religious belief. Videos and PowerPoints available below, and are highly recommended.
In this 5 part series with accompanying visuals, Dr. James Nagel (also known as AntiCitizenX) discusses the psychology of religious belief. Videos and PowerPoints available below, and are highly recommended.
In this 5 part series with accompanying visuals, Dr. James Nagel (also known as AntiCitizenX) discusses the psychology of religious belief. Videos and PowerPoints available below, and are highly recommended.
In this 5 part series with accompanying visuals, Dr. James Nagel (also known as AntiCitizenX) discusses the psychology of religious belief. Videos and PowerPoints available below, and are highly recommended.
In this 5 part series with accompanying visuals, Dr. James Nagel (also known as AntiCitizenX) discusses the psychology of religious belief. Videos and PowerPoints available below, and are highly recommended.
The grandson of Greek immigrants, Jim Dabakis moved to Utah when he was 17 to attend school at Brigham Young University. After college, Jim worked for 13 years as a Radio and TV talk-show host. He became known as the"Voice of Utah Democrats" as he defended the Party’s values against the continual onslaught of the Ronald Reagan-era Republicans.
Jim also began his own company in the art dealership world, and has worked primarily with Russia for the past 20 years. During that time he also founded the Jim Dabakis Educational Foundation which has helped bright students from all over the world continue their education in the United States. He is also one of the original founders of both Equality Utah and The Utah Pride Center.
Never one to stay uninvolved, before becoming Chair, he had been active in helping many of our Elected Democrats in this state achieve office. This is his Mormon story.
The goal of the Mormon Stories"Circling the Wagons" conference was to create a space where LGBTQ or SSA individuals and their families and allies could gather to acknowledge, explore and honor shared experiences. In this session conference attendees share their stories. During this interfaith service, LDS bishop Kevin Kloosterman, Episcopal Reverend Canon Mary June Nestler, and Reverend Jimmy Creech share their perspectives on church and LGBTQ issues. Julia Hunter performs on the violin. Allen Miller conducts.
The goal of the Mormon Stories"Circling the Wagons" conference was to create a space where LGBTQ or SSA individuals and their families and allies could gather to acknowledge, explore and honor shared experiences. In this session conference attendees share their stories.
The goal of the Mormon Stories"Circling the Wagons" conference was to create a space where LGBTQ or SSA individuals and their families and allies could gather to acknowledge, explore and honor shared experiences. In this second general session noted author and LGBT activist Jimmy Creech speaks, and a panel including Bill Bradshaw, Carol Lynn Pearson, Julia Hunter is moderated by John Dehlin.
The goal of the Mormon Stories"Circling the Wagons" conference was to create a space where LGBTQ or SSA individuals and their families and allies could gather to acknowledge, explore and honor shared experiences. In this first general session Joseph Broom conducted, psychologist Lee Beckstead discussed his perspective on the Mormon LGBT journey, David Zabriskie shared his original composition called"Pioneers" based on a Carol Lynn Pearson poem of the same name, and Carol Lynn Pearson spoke on the Gay and Lesbian Mormon's"Hero's Journey."
We are excited to launch the pilot a new podcast and set of resources located at MormonTransitions.org. The purpose of this project is to support LDS church members who are navigating difficult Mormon-related transitions. In today's episode, Joanna Brooks and Brian Johnston join John Dehlin to provide an overview of navigating a Mormon faith transition.
This episode was recorded as part of the January 2012 Mormon Stories regional conference held in Houston, Texas dedicated to the topic of"Maintaining Positive Relationships Through Empathy and Dialogue." Interview participants include Bill Prince, Julie Prince, Tina Prince and Lee Prince.
This episode was recorded as part of the January 2012 Mormon Stories regional conference held in Houston, Texas dedicated to the topic of"Maintaining Positive Relationships Through Empathy and Dialogue." Panel participants include Heather Olson-Beal, Brent Beal, Anne McMullin Peffer, Jacob Brown, and John Dehlin.
This episode was recorded as part of the January 2012 Mormon Stories regional conference held in Houston, Texas dedicated to the topic of"Maintaining Positive Relationships Through Empathy and Dialogue." It is the"Story Sharing" portion of the conference.
This episode was recorded as part of the January 2012 Mormon Stories regional conference held in Houston, Texas dedicated to the topic of"Maintaining Positive Relationships Through Empathy and Dialogue." Speakers in this episode include: Lee Prince, Matthew Nokleby and Jason Moore.
This episode was recorded as part of the January 2012 Mormon Stories regional conference held in Houston, Texas dedicated to the topic of"Maintaining Positive Relationships Through Empathy and Dialogue." In part 1, John Dehlin talks about the costs and benefits of having difficult conversations about Mormonism with family and friends. In part 2, Dan Wotherspoon delivers a presentation called:"Make Love AND War!: Maintaining Positive Relationships During Faith Transitions - A Spiritual Framing."
In this episode Grant Palmer, author of"An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins," returns to Mormon Stories to discuss: 1) Sexual allegations made against Joseph Smith during his early years, 2) the story of William and Jane Law, and 3) an update on Grant’s resignation from the LDS church and his final testimony.
In this episode Grant Palmer, author of"An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins," returns to Mormon Stories to discuss: 1) Sexual allegations made against Joseph Smith during his early years, 2) the story of William and Jane Law, and 3) an update on Grant’s resignation from the LDS church and his final testimony.
In this episode Grant Palmer, author of"An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins," returns to Mormon Stories to discuss: 1) Sexual allegations made against Joseph Smith during his early years, 2) the story of William and Jane Law, and 3) an update on Grant’s resignation from the LDS church and his final testimony.
In this episode John Dehlin discusses his Masters thesis research on Scrupulosity (religious/moral Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). This presentation covers: 1) an overview of obsessive-compulsive disorder, 2) an overview of Scrupulosity, 3) a review of the most common treatments for OCD/Scrupulosity, and 4) the results of John's recent study of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a treatment for Scrupulosity.
In this episode John Dehlin interviews Denver Snuffer: a progressive, fundamentalist, non-polygamist Mormon who claims to have seen Christ. Denver is the author of several books including The Second Comforter: Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil and Passing the Heavenly Gift.
In this episode John Dehlin interviews Denver Snuffer: a progressive, fundamentalist, non-polygamist Mormon who claims to have seen Christ. Denver is the author of several books including The Second Comforter: Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil and Passing the Heavenly Gift.
In this episode Scott Holley interviews Matt Martinich of the Cumorah Foundation. Matt takes us on a tour of the triumphs and challenges of Mormonism throughout the world. Matt’s blog can be found at: LDS Church Growth.
In this episode Scott Holley and I interview sociologist Dr. Ryan Cragun about his newly published report called,"Mormons in the United States 1990-2008: Socio-demographic Trends and Regional Differences."
In this episode, BYU Professor Charles Harrell discusses his new book entitled:"This Is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology."
In this episode, BYU Professor Charles Harrell discusses his new book entitled:"This Is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology."
In this episode we interview John and Brooke McLay. John served for 14 years as an employee of the LDS Church Education System (CES). In this capacity he served as: a seminary teacher and principal, an institute teacher and director, a BYU Education Week speaker and an EFY Director. John also served as a member of a stake high counsel, and was serving in a bishopric during the months leading up to his decision to leave the LDS Church. John and Brooke resigned their membership of the LDS Church in August of 2011. This is their story.
In this episode we interview John and Brooke McLay. John served for 14 years as an employee of the LDS Church Education System (CES). In this capacity he served as: a seminary teacher and principal, an institute teacher and director, a BYU Education Week speaker and an EFY Director. John also served as a member of a stake high counsel, and was serving in a bishopric during the months leading up to his decision to leave the LDS Church. John and Brooke resigned their membership of the LDS Church in August of 2011. This is their story.
In this episode we interview John and Brooke McLay. John served for 14 years as an employee of the LDS Church Education System (CES). In this capacity he served as: a seminary teacher and principal, an institute teacher and director, a BYU Education Week speaker and an EFY Director. John also served as a member of a stake high counsel, and was serving in a bishopric during the months leading up to his decision to leave the LDS Church. John and Brooke resigned their membership of the LDS Church in August of 2011. This is their story.
In this episode we interview John and Brooke McLay. John served for 14 years as an employee of the LDS Church Education System (CES). In this capacity he served as: a seminary teacher and principal, an institute teacher and director, a BYU Education Week speaker and an EFY Director. John also served as a member of a stake high counsel, and was serving in a bishopric during the months leading up to his decision to leave the LDS Church. John and Brooke resigned their membership of the LDS Church in August of 2011. This is their story.
In our conversation with Brant Gardner about his new book entitled"The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," we discuss most of the major issues with the Book of Mormon including: Joseph Smith's use of folk magic, the translation process (including the peep stone in the hat), anachronisms, DNA and race.
In our conversation with Brant Gardner about his new book entitled"The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," we discuss most of the major issues with the Book of Mormon including: Joseph Smith's use of folk magic, the translation process (including the peep stone in the hat), anachronisms, DNA and race.
In our conversation with Brant Gardner about his new book entitled"The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," we discuss most of the major issues with the Book of Mormon including: Joseph Smith's use of folk magic, the translation process (including the peep stone in the hat), anachronisms, DNA and race.
In our conversation with Brant Gardner about his new book entitled"The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," we discuss most of the major issues with the Book of Mormon including: Joseph Smith's use of folk magic, the translation process (including the peep stone in the hat), anachronisms, DNA and race.
In our conversation with Brant Gardner about his new book entitled"The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," we discuss most of the major issues with the Book of Mormon including: Joseph Smith's use of folk magic, the translation process (including the peep stone in the hat), anachronisms, DNA and race.
In this episode, we spend two good hours with author and scholar Jana Reiss. Jana discusses: her early years being raised by secular parents, her conversion to God/Christianity, and her ultimate conversion to Mormonism. We also discuss with Jana her new book,"Flunking Sainthood.."
In this episode, we spend two good hours with author and scholar Jana Reiss. Jana discusses: her early years being raised by secular parents, her conversion to God/Christianity, and her ultimate conversion to Mormonism. We also discuss with Jana her new book,"Flunking Sainthood.."
In this episode, four members of the Phoenix Mormon Stories Support Community: Kendahl, Lauren, Scott, and James, discuss: 1) the value that this community has played in their lives, and 2) the lessons they have learned about how to successfully run such a community.
James McLachlan is a professor of philosophy and religion at Western Carolina University, and is actively involved in academic discussions of Mormonism as a co-chair of the American Academy of Religion’s Mormon Studies Group and a board member and past president of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology. But to overplay his academic bona fides is possibly a mistake, because, as this interview with longtime friend and Mormon Stories contributor Dan Wotherspoon reveals, Jim is the opposite of the stuffy scholar stereotype. In this two-part interview, his incredibly quick and inquisitive mind is on full display, but it’s his good humor and ability to use observations from everyday life, great literature, and important films to elucidate powerful philosophical and religious questions that will surely captivate listeners. Among other discussions, through Jim's lenses Mormonism’s fully engaged God—as Sterling McMurrin described: a God with his"own problems"—comes alive and becomes a highly compelling alternative to traditional Christian views that borrow so heavily from Greek ideas about the nature of perfection. Hear, too, Jim's wonderful take on why those of us who experience many of Mormonism’s theological ideas differently from many in the mainstream might still feel confident in answering temple recommend questions affirmatively.
James McLachlan is a professor of philosophy and religion at Western Carolina University, and is actively involved in academic discussions of Mormonism as a co-chair of the American Academy of Religion’s Mormon Studies Group and a board member and past president of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology. But to overplay his academic bona fides is possibly a mistake, because, as this interview with longtime friend and Mormon Stories contributor Dan Wotherspoon reveals, Jim is the opposite of the stuffy scholar stereotype. In this two-part interview, his incredibly quick and inquisitive mind is on full display, but it’s his good humor and ability to use observations from everyday life, great literature, and important films to elucidate powerful philosophical and religious questions that will surely captivate listeners. Among other discussions, through Jim's lenses Mormonism’s fully engaged God—as Sterling McMurrin described: a God with his"own problems"—comes alive and becomes a highly compelling alternative to traditional Christian views that borrow so heavily from Greek ideas about the nature of perfection. Hear, too, Jim's wonderful take on why those of us who experience many of Mormonism’s theological ideas differently from many in the mainstream might still feel confident in answering temple recommend questions affirmatively.
This workshop on LDS Women and Sexual Desire was delivered on September 23rd, 2011 by Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife. In this presentation, Jennifer speaks to LDS women about the cultural and psychological barriers to sexual desire, as well as how to shift one’s relationship to sexuality to make it more pleasurable and desirable.
This workshop on LDS Women and Sexual Desire was delivered on September 23rd, 2011 by Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife. In this presentation, Jennifer speaks to LDS women about the cultural and psychological barriers to sexual desire, as well as how to shift one’s relationship to sexuality to make it more pleasurable and desirable.
This is LDS Bishop Kevin Kloosterman's talk on homosexuals in the LDS Church that was given on 11/6/2011 during the Mormon Stories"Circling the Wagons" conference in Salt Lake City, UT in support of our LDS LGBT brothers and sisters.
As part of the 2011 Mormon Stories Washington D.C. conference, conference participants close the conference with their testimonies.
As part of the 2011 Mormon Stories Washington D.C. conference, John Dehlin discusses the motives behind Mormon Stories, Steve Kovalenko explains why he left the LDS Church, and Chesea Shields Strayer explains why she stays in the LDS Church.
For the keynote address at the 2011 Mormon Stories Washington D.C. conference, noted author, scientist and philanthropist Greg Prince discussed the history of Mormon thought, and his vision for"Big Tent Mormonism."
In today’s interview, Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dr. Barbara Morrell — a licensed psychologist working in the Brigham Young University Counselling and Psychological Services. She divides her time between doing psychotherapy and coordinating the Stress Management and Biofeedback Services. Her interest in and experience with treating childhood sexual abuse began during her masters program in 1985 working as a volunteer counselor with AMACs (Adults Molested as Children). She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from BYU in 1997 and wrote her dissertation on adult men who had been sexually abused as children. Barbara began working in the BYU Counseling Center in 1996 and for many years was the sexual assault liaison between the center and the University Police, county law enforcement, and other agencies. Students who had been sexually assaulted were referred directly to her for immediate help and ongoing therapy. Dr. Morrell has served two LDS missions, one to Taiwan at the normal missionary age, and 10 years later she took a leave of absence from her work as a high school counselor for a second mission to Geneva Switzerland. She loves teaching in the Church and loved working for two years as a temple worker in the Provo temple.
Terryl Givens did graduate work at Cornell University in Intellectual History and UNC Chapel Hill where he received his PhD in Comparative Literature. He holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English, and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, where he teaches courses in 19th century studies, and the Bible’s influence on western literature. As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, he has appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN. Author of ten books, his writing has been praised by the New York Times as “provocative reading,” and includes, most recently, When Souls had Wings, a history of the idea of premortal life in western thought, and a two volume history of Mormon theology underway for Oxford University Press.
Terryl Givens did graduate work at Cornell University in Intellectual History and UNC Chapel Hill where he received his PhD in Comparative Literature. He holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English, and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, where he teaches courses in 19th century studies, and the Bible’s influence on western literature. As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, he has appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN. Author of ten books, his writing has been praised by the New York Times as “provocative reading,” and includes, most recently, When Souls had Wings, a history of the idea of premortal life in western thought, and a two volume history of Mormon theology underway for Oxford University Press.
Terryl Givens did graduate work at Cornell University in Intellectual History and UNC Chapel Hill where he received his PhD in Comparative Literature. He holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English, and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, where he teaches courses in 19th century studies, and the Bible’s influence on western literature. As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, he has appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN. Author of ten books, his writing has been praised by the New York Times as “provocative reading,” and includes, most recently, When Souls had Wings, a history of the idea of premortal life in western thought, and a two volume history of Mormon theology underway for Oxford University Press.
Terryl Givens did graduate work at Cornell University in Intellectual History and UNC Chapel Hill where he received his PhD in Comparative Literature. He holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English, and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, where he teaches courses in 19th century studies, and the Bible’s influence on western literature. As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, he has appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN. Author of ten books, his writing has been praised by the New York Times as “provocative reading,” and includes, most recently, When Souls had Wings, a history of the idea of premortal life in western thought, and a two volume history of Mormon theology underway for Oxford University Press.
Terryl Givens did graduate work at Cornell University in Intellectual History and UNC Chapel Hill where he received his PhD in Comparative Literature. He holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English, and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, where he teaches courses in 19th century studies, and the Bible’s influence on western literature. As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, he has appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN. Author of ten books, his writing has been praised by the New York Times as “provocative reading,” and includes, most recently, When Souls had Wings, a history of the idea of premortal life in western thought, and a two volume history of Mormon theology underway for Oxford University Press.
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dr. Christopher Helfer and Dr. Vicki Winkle, two 4-year residents at the University of Utah in the psychiatric program, regarding depression. Both were raised in the LDS faith. This podcast offers basic education as to what clinical depression entails, current"best practice" treatments that are backed by scientific research, and includes some discussion as to how depression manifests within Mormon culture.
D. Michael Quinn is one of the most important Mormon historians of the 20th century. In this episode audience members share their thanks for Michael's contributions.
D. Michael Quinn is one of the most important Mormon historians of the 20th century. In this episode a private dinner group asks D. Michael questions.
D. Michael Quinn is one of the most important Mormon historians of the 20th century. In this episode John Dehlin interviews D. Michael Quinn.
Eugene England (1933–2001) was one of the founders and great leaders in Mormon Studies and independent Mormon discussions. He and four others founded Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, for which he served as its first editor. He was instrumental in the creation of the Association for Mormon Letters, and he is considered the champion of the “personal essay” as a powerful form for Mormon expression. England was a peace activist, whose reflections on having been present in the Vatican during the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II (one of the bullets nicked his hand and left a small burn on his temple as it whizzed past) led him to found “Food for Poland,” a large-scale effort involving students from many college campuses to provide support for the Solidarity movement when it struggling under Polish government crack downs. He was an innovative and highly influential teacher. He revamped “study abroad” programs at both BYU and Utah Valley State College, leading to unparalleled learning experiences for students who traveled with his groups to London. He supported and was an active voice for academic freedom at BYU, championed the rise of Mormon Studies at UVSC, and was an articulate voice and active supporter for nearly every good cause in independent Mormon circles for nearly four decades. More than any of these or many other accomplishments we didn’t name, however, Eugene England was a person of faith and incredible spiritual depth who, along with Leonard Arrington and Lowell Bennion, stands as an example of a committed, faithful life of intellectual and spiritual integrity, maturity, and grace even as he was often misunderstood and under-appreciated. He is important to get to know, and that is the process that this podcast hopes to help start.
Eugene England (1933–2001) was one of the founders and great leaders in Mormon Studies and independent Mormon discussions. He and four others founded Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, for which he served as its first editor. He was instrumental in the creation of the Association for Mormon Letters, and he is considered the champion of the “personal essay” as a powerful form for Mormon expression. England was a peace activist, whose reflections on having been present in the Vatican during the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II (one of the bullets nicked his hand and left a small burn on his temple as it whizzed past) led him to found “Food for Poland,” a large-scale effort involving students from many college campuses to provide support for the Solidarity movement when it struggling under Polish government crack downs. He was an innovative and highly influential teacher. He revamped “study abroad” programs at both BYU and Utah Valley State College, leading to unparalleled learning experiences for students who traveled with his groups to London. He supported and was an active voice for academic freedom at BYU, championed the rise of Mormon Studies at UVSC, and was an articulate voice and active supporter for nearly every good cause in independent Mormon circles for nearly four decades. More than any of these or many other accomplishments we didn’t name, however, Eugene England was a person of faith and incredible spiritual depth who, along with Leonard Arrington and Lowell Bennion, stands as an example of a committed, faithful life of intellectual and spiritual integrity, maturity, and grace even as he was often misunderstood and under-appreciated. He is important to get to know, and that is the process that this podcast hopes to help start.
Eugene England (1933–2001) was one of the founders and great leaders in Mormon Studies and independent Mormon discussions. He and four others founded Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, for which he served as its first editor. He was instrumental in the creation of the Association for Mormon Letters, and he is considered the champion of the “personal essay” as a powerful form for Mormon expression. England was a peace activist, whose reflections on having been present in the Vatican during the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II (one of the bullets nicked his hand and left a small burn on his temple as it whizzed past) led him to found “Food for Poland,” a large-scale effort involving students from many college campuses to provide support for the Solidarity movement when it struggling under Polish government crack downs. He was an innovative and highly influential teacher. He revamped “study abroad” programs at both BYU and Utah Valley State College, leading to unparalleled learning experiences for students who traveled with his groups to London. He supported and was an active voice for academic freedom at BYU, championed the rise of Mormon Studies at UVSC, and was an articulate voice and active supporter for nearly every good cause in independent Mormon circles for nearly four decades.
More than any of these or many other accomplishments we didn’t name, however, Eugene England was a person of faith and incredible spiritual depth who, along with Leonard Arrington and Lowell Bennion, stands as an example of a committed, faithful life of intellectual and spiritual integrity, maturity, and grace even as he was often misunderstood and under-appreciated. He is important to get to know, and that is the process that this podcast hopes to help start.
Eugene England (1933–2001) was one of the founders and great leaders in Mormon Studies and independent Mormon discussions. He and four others founded Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, for which he served as its first editor. He was instrumental in the creation of the Association for Mormon Letters, and he is considered the champion of the “personal essay” as a powerful form for Mormon expression. England was a peace activist, whose reflections on having been present in the Vatican during the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II (one of the bullets nicked his hand and left a small burn on his temple as it whizzed past) led him to found “Food for Poland,” a large-scale effort involving students from many college campuses to provide support for the Solidarity movement when it struggling under Polish government crack downs. He was an innovative and highly influential teacher. He revamped “study abroad” programs at both BYU and Utah Valley State College, leading to unparalleled learning experiences for students who traveled with his groups to London. He supported and was an active voice for academic freedom at BYU, championed the rise of Mormon Studies at UVSC, and was an articulate voice and active supporter for nearly every good cause in independent Mormon circles for nearly four decades.
More than any of these or many other accomplishments we didn’t name, however, Eugene England was a person of faith and incredible spiritual depth who, along with Leonard Arrington and Lowell Bennion, stands as an example of a committed, faithful life of intellectual and spiritual integrity, maturity, and grace even as he was often misunderstood and under-appreciated. He is important to get to know, and that is the process that this podcast hopes to help start.
In today’s episode Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife joins Natasha Helfer Parker (the Mormon therapist) and John Dehlin to discuss…..sex: specifically, how to have a better sex life in your Mormon Marriage.
In this episode, Natasha Helfer Parker anonymously interviews a mother/son duo about the unique challenges of experiencing mental illness as an active Mormon family. Mother and son candidly discuss what they went through as she faced a nervous breakdown, comorbidity of several diagnoses, suicidality and her history of sexual abuse during her childhood. Discussion on how their Mormon faith both helped and hindered aspects of their healing is broached as well as thoughts and direction for others who may be facing similar situations.
In this episode, Natasha Helfer Parker anonymously interviews a mother/son duo about the unique challenges of experiencing mental illness as an active Mormon family. Mother and son candidly discuss what they went through as she faced a nervous breakdown, comorbidity of several diagnoses, suicidality and her history of sexual abuse during her childhood. Discussion on how their Mormon faith both helped and hindered aspects of their healing is broached as well as thoughts and direction for others who may be facing similar situations.
In this episode, Natasha Helfer Parker anonymously interviews a mother/son duo about the unique challenges of experiencing mental illness as an active Mormon family. Mother and son candidly discuss what they went through as she faced a nervous breakdown, comorbidity of several diagnoses, suicidality and her history of sexual abuse during her childhood. Discussion on how their Mormon faith both helped and hindered aspects of their healing is broached as well as thoughts and direction for others who may be facing similar situations.
In this episode, Natasha Helfer Parker anonymously interviews a mother/son duo about the unique challenges of experiencing mental illness as an active Mormon family. Mother and son candidly discuss what they went through as she faced a nervous breakdown, comorbidity of several diagnoses, suicidality and her history of sexual abuse during her childhood. Discussion on how their Mormon faith both helped and hindered aspects of their healing is broached as well as thoughts and direction for others who may be facing similar situations.
In this episode, Natasha Helfer Parker anonymously interviews a mother/son duo about the unique challenges of experiencing mental illness as an active Mormon family. Mother and son candidly discuss what they went through as she faced a nervous breakdown, comorbidity of several diagnoses, suicidality and her history of sexual abuse during her childhood. Discussion on how their Mormon faith both helped and hindered aspects of their healing is broached as well as thoughts and direction for others who may be facing similar situations.
Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University and currently serves as editor-in-chief of BYU's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative. He is a member of the executive council of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University.
Peterson is known for his work as an apologist and scholar on subjects dealing with claims of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), of which he is a member. He has served as the editor of the FARMS Review, a periodical produced by the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. Peterson is a regular participant in online fora about Mormonism where he discusses the LDS faith and its apologetics.[2] One of his most recent projects has been the development of a website featuring the testimonies of LDS scholars.[3]
Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University and currently serves as editor-in-chief of BYU's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative. He is a member of the executive council of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University.
Peterson is known for his work as an apologist and scholar on subjects dealing with claims of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), of which he is a member. He has served as the editor of the FARMS Review, a periodical produced by the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. Peterson is a regular participant in online fora about Mormonism where he discusses the LDS faith and its apologetics.[2] One of his most recent projects has been the development of a website featuring the testimonies of LDS scholars.[3]
Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University and currently serves as editor-in-chief of BYU's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative. He is a member of the executive council of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University.
Peterson is known for his work as an apologist and scholar on subjects dealing with claims of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), of which he is a member. He has served as the editor of the FARMS Review, a periodical produced by the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. Peterson is a regular participant in online fora about Mormonism where he discusses the LDS faith and its apologetics.[2] One of his most recent projects has been the development of a website featuring the testimonies of LDS scholars.[3]
Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University and currently serves as editor-in-chief of BYU's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative. He is a member of the executive council of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University.
Peterson is known for his work as an apologist and scholar on subjects dealing with claims of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), of which he is a member. He has served as the editor of the FARMS Review, a periodical produced by the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. Peterson is a regular participant in online fora about Mormonism where he discusses the LDS faith and its apologetics.[2] One of his most recent projects has been the development of a website featuring the testimonies of LDS scholars.[3]
Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy professor emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the school's Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central American where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place. In this interview, Coe discusses the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture and his own views on Joseph Smith
Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy professor emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the school's Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central American where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place. In this interview, Coe discusses the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture and his own views on Joseph Smith
Coe is the Charles J. MacCurdy professor emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University and curator emeritus of the Division of Anthropology at the school's Peabody Museum of Natural History. He is an expert on the Maya, who inhabited the same part of Mexico and Central American where Mormon scholars say the events of the Book of Mormon took place. In this interview, Coe discusses the challenges facing Mormon archaeologists attempting to prove the historical truth of their central scripture and his own views on Joseph Smith
A rebroadcast from the 1995 SLC Sunstone Symposium: The Church Years: Michael Quinn, History, and the Mormon World View starring Martha Sonntag Bradley and D. Michael Quinn.
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews J. Seth Anderson and his parents about what it was like for their family when Seth told them he was homosexual.
Seth is a community activist and self proclaimed local historian in Phoenix, Arizona. Born in Provo, UT, he grew up in Utah, California and Arizona. He plays piano, is a seminary graduate and served a mission in Samara, Russia. His day job is in ocean transportation and logistics, but the rest of his time is devoted to building community. He is currently working on a book about downtown Phoenix that will be released in November, he writes for the Downtown Phoenix Journal and for his own blog jsethanderson.com about downtown Phoenix history and politics, Mormon history and LGBT issues. He also a co-host of qTalk Arizona, Arizona's only LGBT themed podcast. Seth lives by the motto,"don't dream it, be it."
Kendall Wilcox is a lifelong member of the LDS church, returned missionary, BYU graduate, filmmaker, BYU professor, producer for BYUTV..and he is (now) an openly gay man. This is his story, and below are the links to his 2 new initiatives: 1) Empathy First (a non-profit dedicated to promoting empathy, and 2) his documentary entitled Far Between.
Kendall Wilcox is a lifelong member of the LDS church, returned missionary, BYU graduate, filmmaker, BYU professor, producer for BYUTV..and he is (now) an openly gay man. This is his story, and below are the links to his 2 new initiatives: 1) Empathy First (a non-profit dedicated to promoting empathy, and 2) his documentary entitled Far Between.
On June 11, 2011, members of the Mormon Stories community held their 2nd regional conference in Salt Lake City. After the conference, Comedian Bengt Washburn performed a short routine on Mormonism.
On June 11, 2011, members of the Mormon Stories community held their 2nd regional conference in Salt Lake City. At the close of this conference, attendees were invited to share their testimonies of truth, whether traditional or non-traditional from an LDS perspective.
On June 11, 2011, members of the Mormon Stories community held their 2nd regional conference in Salt Lake City. In this panel presentation entitled Navigating an Open Approach to Mormonism, professors Margaret Toscano and Joanna Brooks, along with Carol Lynn Pearson, Jared Anderson and John Dehlin discuss inclusivity, openness, and an expended approach to Mormon identity, while also fielding practical questions from the audience.
On June 11, 2011, members of the Mormon Stories community held their 2nd regional conference in Salt Lake City. In this keynote address entitled"Mormon Identity in the 21st Century: Claiming and Belonging", professor and author Joanna Brooks explores a more expansive vision for Mormon identity.
On June 11, 2011, members of the Mormon Stories community held their 2nd regional conference in Salt Lake City. In this welcoming address, Anne McMullin Peffer explains the purposes of the Mormon Stories conferences and reads a preliminary draft of a"shared values statement" that attempts to specify the values uncorrelated Mormons hold in common. Then, in a keynote address entitled"No More US and THEM", author, poet and playwright Carol Lynn Pearson discusses her vision for a more inclusive Mormonism.
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dustin Jones, a black active latter-day saint, about the unique challenges of growing up Mormon as one who has African ancestry. Dustin practices law in Arizona, is married to an interracial woman (Chinese Mexican) and has 4 children.
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dustin Jones, a black active latter-day saint, about the unique challenges of growing up Mormon as one who has African ancestry. Dustin practices law in Arizona, is married to an interracial woman (Chinese Mexican) and has 4 children.
Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dustin Jones, a black active latter-day saint, about the unique challenges of growing up Mormon as one who has African ancestry. Dustin practices law in Arizona, is married to an interracial woman (Chinese Mexican) and has 4 children.
On March 26, 2011 we held our first Mormon Stories regional retreat/conference in New York City. In this presentation Greg Prince discusses 21st century lessons from the lives of David O. McKay, Leonard Arrington and Paul H. Dunn.
On March 26, 2011 we held our first Mormon Stories regional retreat/conference in New York City. This presentation exploring the future for uncorrelated or non-traditional Mormons was given by John Dehlin.
On March 26, 2011 we held our first Mormon Stories regional retreat/conference in New York City. This presentation on religion and mental health was given by psychologist Dr. David Christian. The title of this presentation was,"Utility vs. Validity: A Practical Approach to Faith-Related Psychological Problems."
On March 26, 2011 we held our first Mormon Stories regional retreat/conference in New York City. The purpose of the event was to explore the possibility of creating regional communities of support for"uncorrelated Mormons." This episode was the introduction to the event.
Based on the success of our recent Mormon Stories Conference in New York City, we have decided to organize several local, Facebook-based communities of support for what we like to call uncorrelated (or intellectual/feminist/gay/politically liberal/inactive/post/ex) Mormons. We have already created 32 groups, and hope to establish a support group for every major city/region in the world. The idea behind each group will be to: 1) foster local, face-to-face communities of support for non-traditional Mormons, and 2) help to encourage healthy/constructive living amongst those for whom the traditional LDS Church experience is not adequate. Note: this is NOT meant to replace the LDS church experience. Instead, it is meant to augment the church experience (for those who still attend), or to provide community support for those who no longer feel comfortable attending church. Some ideas we are hoping to foster include:
Monthly local meet-ups Book clubs/study groups Weekly play groups for children Annual youth conferences for teens College groups for Mormon university students (BYU/UVU and USU already created!) A dating service Service projects Annual conferences/retreats Etc. If you are interested in any of this, please check out our existing groups for a group near you.
If you would like to start your own local support group, please email us at: mormonstories@gmail.com
In this 2-part discussion, KC Kern (BookofMormonOnline.Net) speaks with Dr. Grant Hardy and his wife Heather Hardy. Grant Hardy is Professor of History and Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He has a B.A. in Ancient Greek from Brigham Young University and Ph.D. in Chinese Language and Literature from Yale. He has authored Worlds of Bronze and Bamboo: Sima Qian’s Conquest of History; The Establishment of the Han Empire and Imperial China; and Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Guide, as well as the Introduction for Royal Skousen’s recent Yale edition of the Book of Mormon. He has also edited The Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Edition; Enduring Ties: Poems of Family Relationships; and the Oxford History of Historical Writing. Vol. 1. His 36-lecture DVD/CD course for The Teaching Company entitled “Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition” will be released this summer.
Heather Hardy has a BS and an MBA from Brigham Young University (she says the latter seemed like a good idea when Grant was studying Greek; someone was going to have to support the family someday). She worked in university finances at Yale and then as the scholarship coordinator at BYU for a couple of years. She has published articles in Dialogue and the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, but is mostly a full-time reader masquerading as a stay-at-home mother. Grant and Heather have been married for 28 years and have been talking to each other non-stop the whole time.
This interview is broken in two parts: Part 1: Introductions, early personal, academic, and scholarly experiences, and approaching the Book of Mormon as world scripture and literature. Part 2: Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Guide, thoughts on narrative structures, phraseology, historicity, evidences, anachronisms, Book of Mormon usage in the LDS Church, and on balancing faith and reason.
In this 2-part discussion, KC Kern (BookofMormonOnline.Net) speaks with Dr. Grant Hardy and his wife Heather Hardy. Grant Hardy is Professor of History and Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He has a B.A. in Ancient Greek from Brigham Young University and Ph.D. in Chinese Language and Literature from Yale. He has authored Worlds of Bronze and Bamboo: Sima Qian’s Conquest of History; The Establishment of the Han Empire and Imperial China; and Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Guide, as well as the Introduction for Royal Skousen’s recent Yale edition of the Book of Mormon. He has also edited The Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Edition; Enduring Ties: Poems of Family Relationships; and the Oxford History of Historical Writing. Vol. 1. His 36-lecture DVD/CD course for The Teaching Company entitled “Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition” will be released this summer.
Heather Hardy has a BS and an MBA from Brigham Young University (she says the latter seemed like a good idea when Grant was studying Greek; someone was going to have to support the family someday). She worked in university finances at Yale and then as the scholarship coordinator at BYU for a couple of years. She has published articles in Dialogue and the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, but is mostly a full-time reader masquerading as a stay-at-home mother. Grant and Heather have been married for 28 years and have been talking to each other non-stop the whole time.
This interview is broken in two parts: Part 1: Introductions, early personal, academic, and scholarly experiences, and approaching the Book of Mormon as world scripture and literature. Part 2: Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Guide, thoughts on narrative structures, phraseology, historicity, evidences, anachronisms, Book of Mormon usage in the LDS Church, and on balancing faith and reason.
In this episode Andrew Ainsworth interviews Phil McLemore to discuss: 1) his conversion to Mormonism and his spiritual transformation through meditation, 2) How to meditate and why you should; Mantras in Mormon culture, and 3/4) Mormon Mantras and The Yoga of Christ.
In this episode Andrew Ainsworth interviews Phil McLemore to discuss: 1) his conversion to Mormonism and his spiritual transformation through meditation, 2) How to meditate and why you should; Mantras in Mormon culture, and 3/4) Mormon Mantras and The Yoga of Christ.
In this episode Andrew Ainsworth interviews Phil McLemore to discuss: 1) his conversion to Mormonism and his spiritual transformation through meditation, 2) How to meditate and why you should; Mantras in Mormon culture, and 3/4) Mormon Mantras and The Yoga of Christ.
In this episode Andrew Ainsworth interviews Phil McLemore to discuss: 1) his conversion to Mormonism and his spiritual transformation through meditation, 2) How to meditate and why you should; Mantras in Mormon culture, and 3/4) Mormon Mantras and The Yoga of Christ.
In this episode Natasha Parker and John Dehlin interview Dr. Stephanie Buehler -- a prominent sex therapist from California, founder of the the Buehler institute, and author of the book Sex, Love and Mental Illness. Today we discuss pornography, masturbation, sex and marriage within Mormonism.
In this re-launching of Mormon Matters podcast, Dan Wotherspoon leads a panel consisting of Joanna Brooks, Heather Olson Beal and John Dehlin to discuss: 1) sexuality as a single LDS church member, 2) the 5 Browns sexual abuse news, and 3) immigration and the LDS church.
n this 5-part series, Brian Johnston interviews Jared Anderson. Jared is finishing his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, focusing on the Gospels and New Testament.
n this 5-part series, Brian Johnston interviews Jared Anderson. Jared is finishing his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, focusing on the Gospels and New Testament.
n this 5-part series, Brian Johnston interviews Jared Anderson. Jared is finishing his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, focusing on the Gospels and New Testament.
n this 5-part series, Brian Johnston interviews Jared Anderson. Jared is finishing his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, focusing on the Gospels and New Testament.
n this 5-part series, Brian Johnston interviews Jared Anderson. Jared is finishing his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, focusing on the Gospels and New Testament.
In this 4-part series we interview Dan Wotherpoon. Dan has a Ph.D. in religion from Claremont Graduate School, and was Director of the Sunstone Education Foundation and Editor of Sunstone Magazine for eight years. Throughout this interview Dan discusses his early experiences with the LDS church, his crisis of faith, and his re-engagement with the church from a more deep and broad perspective.
In this 4-part series we interview Dan Wotherpoon. Dan has a Ph.D. in religion from Claremont Graduate School, and was Director of the Sunstone Education Foundation and Editor of Sunstone Magazine for eight years. Throughout this interview Dan discusses his early experiences with the LDS church, his crisis of faith, and his re-engagement with the church from a more deep and broad perspective.
In this 4-part series we interview Dan Wotherpoon. Dan has a Ph.D. in religion from Claremont Graduate School, and was Director of the Sunstone Education Foundation and Editor of Sunstone Magazine for eight years. Throughout this interview Dan discusses his early experiences with the LDS church, his crisis of faith, and his re-engagement with the church from a more deep and broad perspective.
In this 4-part series we interview Dan Wotherpoon. Dan has a Ph.D. in religion from Claremont Graduate School, and was Director of the Sunstone Education Foundation and Editor of Sunstone Magazine for eight years. Throughout this interview Dan discusses his early experiences with the LDS church, his crisis of faith, and his re-engagement with the church from a more deep and broad perspective.
In this episode, Natasha Helfer Parker (The Mormon Therapist) interviews"Sarah," an LDS mother of four who has a history of depression starting in adolescence followed by a serious bout of postpartum depression after the birth of her second child. She also interviews Jamie Bodily, mother of five and certified doula through toLABOR regarding her experience and knowledge regarding postpartum depression. Jamie has a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling, a Masters Degree in Human Services from Capella University and her undergraduate degree in Family Science from Brigham Young University. She initiated, co-wrote, and coordinated a doula program for women in recovery from substance addiction and runs a website called parentscount.com. Other resources discussed in these interviews include: postpartum.net, doulamatch.net, dona.org, and tolabor.com.
Part1 - Sarah's history with depression as an adolescent and single adult and then dealing with postpartum depression after the birth of her second child.
Part 2 - Discussion on Sarah's decision to go on an antidepressant- risks, benefits, guilt factors, stigmas, etc.
Part 3 - Discussion with Jamie Bodily, certified doula regarding postpartum depression and/or anxiety along with its management and treatment. What can women expect as"normal" symptoms after the birth of a child vs more serious symptoms needing to be diagnosed.
In this episode, Natasha Helfer Parker (The Mormon Therapist) interviews"Sarah," an LDS mother of four who has a history of depression starting in adolescence followed by a serious bout of postpartum depression after the birth of her second child. She also interviews Jamie Bodily, mother of five and certified doula through toLABOR regarding her experience and knowledge regarding postpartum depression. Jamie has a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling, a Masters Degree in Human Services from Capella University and her undergraduate degree in Family Science from Brigham Young University. She initiated, co-wrote, and coordinated a doula program for women in recovery from substance addiction and runs a website called parentscount.com. Other resources discussed in these interviews include: postpartum.net, doulamatch.net, dona.org, and tolabor.com.
Part1 - Sarah's history with depression as an adolescent and single adult and then dealing with postpartum depression after the birth of her second child.
Part 2 - Discussion on Sarah's decision to go on an antidepressant- risks, benefits, guilt factors, stigmas, etc.
Part 3 - Discussion with Jamie Bodily, certified doula regarding postpartum depression and/or anxiety along with its management and treatment. What can women expect as"normal" symptoms after the birth of a child vs more serious symptoms needing to be diagnosed.
In this episode, Natasha Helfer Parker (The Mormon Therapist) interviews"Sarah," an LDS mother of four who has a history of depression starting in adolescence followed by a serious bout of postpartum depression after the birth of her second child. She also interviews Jamie Bodily, mother of five and certified doula through toLABOR regarding her experience and knowledge regarding postpartum depression. Jamie has a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling, a Masters Degree in Human Services from Capella University and her undergraduate degree in Family Science from Brigham Young University. She initiated, co-wrote, and coordinated a doula program for women in recovery from substance addiction and runs a website called parentscount.com. Other resources discussed in these interviews include: postpartum.net, doulamatch.net, dona.org, and tolabor.com.
Part1 - Sarah's history with depression as an adolescent and single adult and then dealing with postpartum depression after the birth of her second child.
Part 2 - Discussion on Sarah's decision to go on an antidepressant- risks, benefits, guilt factors, stigmas, etc.
Part 3 - Discussion with Jamie Bodily, certified doula regarding postpartum depression and/or anxiety along with its management and treatment. What can women expect as"normal" symptoms after the birth of a child vs more serious symptoms needing to be diagnosed.
Today John Dehlin discusses the future of Mormon Stories podcast in 2011 and beyond, and asks for listener support.
Today we interview an LDS man who suffered from a psychological disorder called Scrupulosity -- which is defined as religious- or moral-based Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD affect millions of people around the world, and Scrupulosity is a particularly interesting and challenging manifestation of the disorder.
In this 2-part interview we learn about this man's struggle with Scrupulosity which developed during his teen years and peaked while serving his LDS mission. We also discuss how he was able to get help for the disorder, and finally get better.
Today we interview an LDS man who suffered from a psychological disorder called Scrupulosity -- which is defined as religious- or moral-based Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD affect millions of people around the world, and Scrupulosity is a particularly interesting and challenging manifestation of the disorder.
In this 2-part interview we learn about this man's struggle with Scrupulosity which developed during his teen years and peaked while serving his LDS mission. We also discuss how he was able to get help for the disorder, and finally get better.
Today we interview Dane Laverty -- founder of the"Agitating Faithfully" web site. Agitating Faithfully is a site supporting gender equality in the church. It was inspired by President Gordon B. Hinckley's answer to the question,"At present women are not allowed to be priests in your Church...Is it possible that the rules could change in the future..?" He responded,"Yes. But there's no agitation for that. We don't find it."
In this multi-part interview, Dan Wotherspoon interviews Tyson Jacobsen and Randy Snyder about their transition from devout Mormonism to atheism.
In this multi-part interview, Dan Wotherspoon interviews Tyson Jacobsen and Randy Snyder about their transition from devout Mormonism to atheism.
In this multi-part interview, Dan Wotherspoon interviews Tyson Jacobsen and Randy Snyder about their transition from devout Mormonism to atheism.
In this multi-part interview, Dan Wotherspoon interviews Tyson Jacobsen and Randy Snyder about their transition from devout Mormonism to atheism.
In this multi-part interview, Dan Wotherspoon interviews Tyson Jacobsen and Randy Snyder about their transition from devout Mormonism to atheism.
In this multi-part interview, Dan Wotherspoon interviews Tyson Jacobsen and Randy Snyder about their transition from devout Mormonism to atheism.
In this 5-part interview Tresa Edmunds discusses her story, along with a number of topics related to feminism including abuse, infertility, raising a disabled child, maintaining belief in the LDS Church, the LDS YW program, and LDS feminism in the 21st century.
In this 5-part interview Tresa Edmunds discusses her story, along with a number of topics related to feminism including abuse, infertility, raising a disabled child, maintaining belief in the LDS Church, the LDS YW program, and LDS feminism in the 21st century.
In this 5-part interview Tresa Edmunds discusses her story, along with a number of topics related to feminism including abuse, infertility, raising a disabled child, maintaining belief in the LDS Church, the LDS YW program, and LDS feminism in the 21st century.
In this 5-part interview Tresa Edmunds discusses her story, along with a number of topics related to feminism including abuse, infertility, raising a disabled child, maintaining belief in the LDS Church, the LDS YW program, and LDS feminism in the 21st century.
In this 5-part interview Tresa Edmunds discusses her story, along with a number of topics related to feminism including abuse, infertility, raising a disabled child, maintaining belief in the LDS Church, the LDS YW program, and LDS feminism in the 21st century.
In this episode Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dr. Jennifer Finlayson- Fife, a psychotherapist on issues surrounding female sexuality and feminism within the LDS framework. Dr. Fife holds a Ph.D in Counseling Psychology from Boston College where she wrote her dissertation on LDS women and sexuality. She has taught college level classes on human sexuality and currently has a private therapy practice in Chicago. She is an active member of the LDS church. You can find more information regarding her practice, internet courses and therapy approach at finlayson-fife.com and drjenniferfife.blogspot.com. Her dissertation is available for purchase.
In this episode Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dr. Jennifer Finlayson- Fife, a psychotherapist on issues surrounding female sexuality and feminism within the LDS framework. Dr. Fife holds a Ph.D in Counseling Psychology from Boston College where she wrote her dissertation on LDS women and sexuality. She has taught college level classes on human sexuality and currently has a private therapy practice in Chicago. She is an active member of the LDS church. You can find more information regarding her practice, internet courses and therapy approach at finlayson-fife.com and drjenniferfife.blogspot.com. Her dissertation is available for purchase.
In this episode, Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dr. Jennifer Finlayson- Fife, a psychotherapist on issues surrounding female sexuality and feminism within the LDS framework. Dr. Fife holds a Ph.D in Counseling Psychology from Boston College where she wrote her dissertation on LDS women and sexuality. She has taught college level classes on human sexuality and currently has a private therapy practice in Chicago. She is an active member of the LDS church. You can find more information regarding her practice, internet courses and therapy approach at finlayson-fife.com and drjenniferfife.blogspot.com. Her dissertation is available for purchase.
In this episode, John Dehlin interviews one of his former professors and mentors, Dr. William Bradshaw, on a wide variety of topics. Dr. Bradshaw has just recently retired from a rich and fulfilling career as a microbiology professor at BYU in which he influenced thousands of students to continually be open to the best thinking of the sciences while still nurturing a robust, mature faith and spiritual life. Many report Dr. Bradshaw’s classes and their various interactions with him as pivotal to their finding a way to value the wisdom generated in both their heads and their hearts.
In this far-ranging discussion, Dr. Bradshaw takes us through the arc of his life, including his mission, experiences at Harvard, the circumstances of his career choice, and the surprise call he and his wife Marge received to serve as very young mission presidents in Hong Kong, during which service they had to wrestle with opening and closing missionary work in Vietnam. Dr. Bradshaw relates stories from his career at BYU, talks about science and religion issues, and reveals the way he faces challenges to his faith from Mormon history and scriptural studies.
Many Mormon Stories podcast listeners will already be familiar with one aspect of Dr. Bradshaw’s life from Episode 191, which featured a recording of the most recent lecture he gave at BYU on the biological origins of homosexuality--a lecture he has arranged and given every year for the past several years. Dr. Bradshaw first became prompted to study the research on this subject when his son Brett came out about his homosexuality. Since that time, the Bradshaws have been active members in various LDS groups for families working to support their GLBT children. They are currently serving as the presidents of LDS Family Fellowship. Brett and his partner are married and living in California, where they are raising an adopted daughter.
In this episode, John Dehlin interviews one of his former professors and mentors, Dr. William Bradshaw, on a wide variety of topics. Dr. Bradshaw has just recently retired from a rich and fulfilling career as a microbiology professor at BYU in which he influenced thousands of students to continually be open to the best thinking of the sciences while still nurturing a robust, mature faith and spiritual life. Many report Dr. Bradshaw’s classes and their various interactions with him as pivotal to their finding a way to value the wisdom generated in both their heads and their hearts.
In this far-ranging discussion, Dr. Bradshaw takes us through the arc of his life, including his mission, experiences at Harvard, the circumstances of his career choice, and the surprise call he and his wife Marge received to serve as very young mission presidents in Hong Kong, during which service they had to wrestle with opening and closing missionary work in Vietnam. Dr. Bradshaw relates stories from his career at BYU, talks about science and religion issues, and reveals the way he faces challenges to his faith from Mormon history and scriptural studies.
Many Mormon Stories podcast listeners will already be familiar with one aspect of Dr. Bradshaw’s life from Episode 191, which featured a recording of the most recent lecture he gave at BYU on the biological origins of homosexuality--a lecture he has arranged and given every year for the past several years. Dr. Bradshaw first became prompted to study the research on this subject when his son Brett came out about his homosexuality. Since that time, the Bradshaws have been active members in various LDS groups for families working to support their GLBT children. They are currently serving as the presidents of LDS Family Fellowship. Brett and his partner are married and living in California, where they are raising an adopted daughter.
In this episode, John Dehlin interviews one of his former professors and mentors, Dr. William Bradshaw, on a wide variety of topics. Dr. Bradshaw has just recently retired from a rich and fulfilling career as a microbiology professor at BYU in which he influenced thousands of students to continually be open to the best thinking of the sciences while still nurturing a robust, mature faith and spiritual life. Many report Dr. Bradshaw’s classes and their various interactions with him as pivotal to their finding a way to value the wisdom generated in both their heads and their hearts.
In this far-ranging discussion, Dr. Bradshaw takes us through the arc of his life, including his mission, experiences at Harvard, the circumstances of his career choice, and the surprise call he and his wife Marge received to serve as very young mission presidents in Hong Kong, during which service they had to wrestle with opening and closing missionary work in Vietnam. Dr. Bradshaw relates stories from his career at BYU, talks about science and religion issues, and reveals the way he faces challenges to his faith from Mormon history and scriptural studies.
Many Mormon Stories podcast listeners will already be familiar with one aspect of Dr. Bradshaw’s life from Episode 191, which featured a recording of the most recent lecture he gave at BYU on the biological origins of homosexuality--a lecture he has arranged and given every year for the past several years. Dr. Bradshaw first became prompted to study the research on this subject when his son Brett came out about his homosexuality. Since that time, the Bradshaws have been active members in various LDS groups for families working to support their GLBT children. They are currently serving as the presidents of LDS Family Fellowship. Brett and his partner are married and living in California, where they are raising an adopted daughter.
In this episode, John Dehlin interviews one of his former professors and mentors, Dr. William Bradshaw, on a wide variety of topics. Dr. Bradshaw has just recently retired from a rich and fulfilling career as a microbiology professor at BYU in which he influenced thousands of students to continually be open to the best thinking of the sciences while still nurturing a robust, mature faith and spiritual life. Many report Dr. Bradshaw’s classes and their various interactions with him as pivotal to their finding a way to value the wisdom generated in both their heads and their hearts.
In this far-ranging discussion, Dr. Bradshaw takes us through the arc of his life, including his mission, experiences at Harvard, the circumstances of his career choice, and the surprise call he and his wife Marge received to serve as very young mission presidents in Hong Kong, during which service they had to wrestle with opening and closing missionary work in Vietnam. Dr. Bradshaw relates stories from his career at BYU, talks about science and religion issues, and reveals the way he faces challenges to his faith from Mormon history and scriptural studies.
Many Mormon Stories podcast listeners will already be familiar with one aspect of Dr. Bradshaw’s life from Episode 191, which featured a recording of the most recent lecture he gave at BYU on the biological origins of homosexuality--a lecture he has arranged and given every year for the past several years. Dr. Bradshaw first became prompted to study the research on this subject when his son Brett came out about his homosexuality. Since that time, the Bradshaws have been active members in various LDS groups for families working to support their GLBT children. They are currently serving as the presidents of LDS Family Fellowship. Brett and his partner are married and living in California, where they are raising an adopted daughter.
In this episode, John Dehlin interviews one of his former professors and mentors, Dr. William Bradshaw, on a wide variety of topics. Dr. Bradshaw has just recently retired from a rich and fulfilling career as a microbiology professor at BYU in which he influenced thousands of students to continually be open to the best thinking of the sciences while still nurturing a robust, mature faith and spiritual life. Many report Dr. Bradshaw’s classes and their various interactions with him as pivotal to their finding a way to value the wisdom generated in both their heads and their hearts.
In this far-ranging discussion, Dr. Bradshaw takes us through the arc of his life, including his mission, experiences at Harvard, the circumstances of his career choice, and the surprise call he and his wife Marge received to serve as very young mission presidents in Hong Kong, during which service they had to wrestle with opening and closing missionary work in Vietnam. Dr. Bradshaw relates stories from his career at BYU, talks about science and religion issues, and reveals the way he faces challenges to his faith from Mormon history and scriptural studies.
Many Mormon Stories podcast listeners will already be familiar with one aspect of Dr. Bradshaw’s life from Episode 191, which featured a recording of the most recent lecture he gave at BYU on the biological origins of homosexuality--a lecture he has arranged and given every year for the past several years. Dr. Bradshaw first became prompted to study the research on this subject when his son Brett came out about his homosexuality. Since that time, the Bradshaws have been active members in various LDS groups for families working to support their GLBT children. They are currently serving as the presidents of LDS Family Fellowship. Brett and his partner are married and living in California, where they are raising an adopted daughter.
In this 2-part series Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT (The Mormon Therapist and MormonMatters.org), interviews a faithful, believing LDS church member, Janelle, whose husband became disaffected with the church about 5 years ago.
Part 2: Janelle discusses her own coping strategies, how she currently manages the LDS lifestyle within the context of her marriage, and advice/thoughts for others.
In this 2-part series Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT (The Mormon Therapist and MormonMatters.org), interviews a faithful, believing LDS church member, Janelle, whose husband became disaffected with the church about 5 years ago. Part 1: Janelle discusses hers and her husbands upbringings in the church, their courtship and the process of finding out about her husband's disaffection.
In this episode we interview Brian Dalton, a former member of the LDS church, and founder of the Mr. Deity Internet TV series -- which explores religious belief from a skeptical point of view, using satire. Mr. Deity focuses on the every-day life God, and everything He must endure as He attempts to manage His creation.
In part 2, we captured Brian's plenary address from the 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium, where Brian tells more of his story, and also acts out a few Mr. Deity scenes with his wife, Amy (Lucy/Lucifer).
In this episode we interview Brian Dalton, a former member of the LDS church, and founder of the Mr. Deity Internet TV series -- which explores religious belief from a skeptical point of view, using satire. Mr. Deity focuses on the every-day life God, and everything He must endure as He attempts to manage His creation.
In part 1, we discuss Brian's early years, his experience with the LDS church, his disaffection from the church, his views on religion, and the making of Mr. Deity. Towards the end, we are very blessed to spend a few minutes with Mr. Deity Himself.
Dan Wotherspoon interviews Allen D. Roberts and Curt Bench about the lasting legacy of Mormon forger, con man, and murderer Mark Hofmann.
Exactly twenty-five years ago, on the morning of 15 October 1985, Salt Lake City was rattled—both literally and psychologically—by the explosion of two bombs which each killed a person. The next day brought a third explosion, nearly killing Mark Hofmann, a well-known dealer in Mormon documents. Because of clues at that scene, investigators soon realized that perhaps Hofmann was not so much a third victim but the person actually responsible for all three bombs. In the course of the investigation, the tale of Mark Hofmann as a master forger and con artist began to unfold.
In this podcast, we examine the long and complex legacy of these murders and forgeries, as well as their continued reverberations even today. Although it is still unclear if Hofmann’s intent was to bring down Mormonism through creating documents that challenged traditional presentations of early Church origins, he definitely was a serious student of Mormon history and knew where various controversies lay—which he then exploited through the forged letters and documents he produced. This case has also presented challenges to some Latter-day Saints because of Hofmann’s various meetings with Mormon general authorities who failed to detect that he was deceiving them, as well as because of the Church’s practice of sometimes obtaining controversial documents and then suppressing them.
Joining Mormon Stories host Dan Wotherspoon to tell the story of these tragic murders and complex issues are two terrific guests: Allen Roberts, who co-authored with Linda Sillitoe the book Salamander: The Story of the Mormon Forgery Murders, which is widely regarded as the most thorough account of the Hofmann saga, and Curt Bench, who at the time of the bombings managed the Fine and Rare Books department of Deseret Book’s flagship store in downtown Salt Lake City in which he dealt regularly with Mark Hofmann and even considered him a friend. Linda, Allen, and Curt all ended up playing important roles in helping investigators ultimately make their case against Hofmann and untangle the threads that had led him to murder.
Dan Wotherspoon interviews Allen D. Roberts and Curt Bench about the lasting legacy of Mormon forger, con man, and murderer Mark Hofmann.
Exactly twenty-five years ago, on the morning of 15 October 1985, Salt Lake City was rattled—both literally and psychologically—by the explosion of two bombs which each killed a person. The next day brought a third explosion, nearly killing Mark Hofmann, a well-known dealer in Mormon documents. Because of clues at that scene, investigators soon realized that perhaps Hofmann was not so much a third victim but the person actually responsible for all three bombs. In the course of the investigation, the tale of Mark Hofmann as a master forger and con artist began to unfold.
In this podcast, we examine the long and complex legacy of these murders and forgeries, as well as their continued reverberations even today. Although it is still unclear if Hofmann’s intent was to bring down Mormonism through creating documents that challenged traditional presentations of early Church origins, he definitely was a serious student of Mormon history and knew where various controversies lay—which he then exploited through the forged letters and documents he produced. This case has also presented challenges to some Latter-day Saints because of Hofmann’s various meetings with Mormon general authorities who failed to detect that he was deceiving them, as well as because of the Church’s practice of sometimes obtaining controversial documents and then suppressing them.
Joining Mormon Stories host Dan Wotherspoon to tell the story of these tragic murders and complex issues are two terrific guests: Allen Roberts, who co-authored with Linda Sillitoe the book Salamander: The Story of the Mormon Forgery Murders, which is widely regarded as the most thorough account of the Hofmann saga, and Curt Bench, who at the time of the bombings managed the Fine and Rare Books department of Deseret Book’s flagship store in downtown Salt Lake City in which he dealt regularly with Mark Hofmann and even considered him a friend. Linda, Allen, and Curt all ended up playing important roles in helping investigators ultimately make their case against Hofmann and untangle the threads that had led him to murder.
In this 3-part series Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT (The Mormon Therapist and MormonMatters.org), interviews one of her earliest clients: a married, Mormon homosexual man, coming out to his wife. Names have been withheld to protect anonymity to the family. Note: The purpose of this interview is not to encourage people to stay or leave the church, to stay or leave a marriage, nor to participate or not participate in reparative therapy. These are all delicate personal decisions and different circumstances will necessitate different solutions. The purpose of this interview is to share a story. It is also meant to increase empathy and to reach out to those who may find themselves in similar situations.
In this 3-part series Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT (The Mormon Therapist and MormonMatters.org), interviews one of her earliest clients: a married, Mormon homosexual man, coming out to his wife. Names have been withheld to protect anonymity to the family.
Note: The purpose of this interview is not to encourage people to stay or leave the church, to stay or leave a marriage, nor to participate or not participate in reparative therapy. These are all delicate personal decisions and different circumstances will necessitate different solutions. The purpose of this interview is to share a story. It is also meant to increase empathy and to reach out to those who may find themselves in similar situations.
In this 3-part series Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT (The Mormon Therapist and MormonMatters.org), interviews one of her earliest clients: a married, Mormon homosexual man, coming out to his wife. Names have been withheld to protect anonymity to the family.
Note: The purpose of this interview is not to encourage people to stay or leave the church, to stay or leave a marriage, nor to participate or not participate in reparative therapy. These are all delicate personal decisions and different circumstances will necessitate different solutions. The purpose of this interview is to share a story. It is also meant to increase empathy and to reach out to those who may find themselves in similar situations.
Richard Dutcher burst into Mormon cultural consciousness ten years ago with the release of his independent film hit, God’s Army. During the ensuing decade, he has remained an intriguing figure to many Latter-day Saints, not only because of the high quality of the films he has continued to make, but also because of his public distancing himself from Mormon cinema, a film genre launched primarily because of his successes, as well as his more private (yet also public) distancing himself from the LDS Church and its teachings.
In this five-part interview conducted by Mormon Stories correspondent Dan Wotherspoon, Richard Dutcher speaks with remarkable candor about his upbringing and marriage, his career as a filmmaker, including extensive comments about each of his completed films (as well as ones, such as his planned film on Joseph Smith, that have not yet been made), the rise and decline of Mormon cinema, and his own faith journey.
This interview is available in both audio and high-quality video formats. The video version includes scenes from Dutcher’s films that play over the interview audio.
Richard Dutcher burst into Mormon cultural consciousness ten years ago with the release of his independent film hit, God’s Army. During the ensuing decade, he has remained an intriguing figure to many Latter-day Saints, not only because of the high quality of the films he has continued to make, but also because of his public distancing himself from Mormon cinema, a film genre launched primarily because of his successes, as well as his more private (yet also public) distancing himself from the LDS Church and its teachings.
In this five-part interview conducted by Mormon Stories correspondent Dan Wotherspoon, Richard Dutcher speaks with remarkable candor about his upbringing and marriage, his career as a filmmaker, including extensive comments about each of his completed films (as well as ones, such as his planned film on Joseph Smith, that have not yet been made), the rise and decline of Mormon cinema, and his own faith journey.
This interview is available in both audio and high-quality video formats. The video version includes scenes from Dutcher’s films that play over the interview audio.
Richard Dutcher burst into Mormon cultural consciousness ten years ago with the release of his independent film hit, God’s Army. During the ensuing decade, he has remained an intriguing figure to many Latter-day Saints, not only because of the high quality of the films he has continued to make, but also because of his public distancing himself from Mormon cinema, a film genre launched primarily because of his successes, as well as his more private (yet also public) distancing himself from the LDS Church and its teachings.
In this five-part interview conducted by Mormon Stories correspondent Dan Wotherspoon, Richard Dutcher speaks with remarkable candor about his upbringing and marriage, his career as a filmmaker, including extensive comments about each of his completed films (as well as ones, such as his planned film on Joseph Smith, that have not yet been made), the rise and decline of Mormon cinema, and his own faith journey.
This interview is available in both audio and high-quality video formats. The video version includes scenes from Dutcher’s films that play over the interview audio.
Richard Dutcher burst into Mormon cultural consciousness ten years ago with the release of his independent film hit, God’s Army. During the ensuing decade, he has remained an intriguing figure to many Latter-day Saints, not only because of the high quality of the films he has continued to make, but also because of his public distancing himself from Mormon cinema, a film genre launched primarily because of his successes, as well as his more private (yet also public) distancing himself from the LDS Church and its teachings.
In this five-part interview conducted by Mormon Stories correspondent Dan Wotherspoon, Richard Dutcher speaks with remarkable candor about his upbringing and marriage, his career as a filmmaker, including extensive comments about each of his completed films (as well as ones, such as his planned film on Joseph Smith, that have not yet been made), the rise and decline of Mormon cinema, and his own faith journey.
This interview is available in both audio and high-quality video formats. The video version includes scenes from Dutcher’s films that play over the interview audio.
Richard Dutcher burst into Mormon cultural consciousness ten years ago with the release of his independent film hit, God’s Army. During the ensuing decade, he has remained an intriguing figure to many Latter-day Saints, not only because of the high quality of the films he has continued to make, but also because of his public distancing himself from Mormon cinema, a film genre launched primarily because of his successes, as well as his more private (yet also public) distancing himself from the LDS Church and its teachings.
In this five-part interview conducted by Mormon Stories correspondent Dan Wotherspoon, Richard Dutcher speaks with remarkable candor about his upbringing and marriage, his career as a filmmaker, including extensive comments about each of his completed films (as well as ones, such as his planned film on Joseph Smith, that have not yet been made), the rise and decline of Mormon cinema, and his own faith journey.
This interview is available in both audio and high-quality video formats. The video version includes scenes from Dutcher’s films that play over the interview audio.
Kathy Soper is a mother of seven, memoirist, essayist, editor, nonprofit CEO, practicing Mormon, depression survivor, Down syndrome advocate, Greek-blooded American, Maryland-bred Utah transplant, WordTwist addict and BSG groupie. She has edited numerous books, including Dance With Them: 30 Stumbling Mothers Catch Glimpses of Grace and The Mother in Me: anthologies of personal essays and poetry written by mothers about the challenges and joys of mothering. She is the editor of Gifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children With Down Syndrome Enrich Their Lives and Gifts 2: How People with Down Syndrome Enrich the World. Kathy is also the editor-in-chief of Segullah: Writings by Latter-day Saint Women, which is a print journal dedicated to encouraging literary talent and promoting greater faith and understanding among Latter-day Saint women as well as a blog. Kathy’s most recent book, The Year My Son and I Were Born, is a memoir of the transformations Kathy underwent the year after her son Thomas was born with Down Syndrome. Kathy’s website (http://kathrynlynardsoper.com/) says that it’s a story about coming to terms with being human and learning how to deal with hard surprises.
Kathy Soper is a mother of seven, memoirist, essayist, editor, nonprofit CEO, practicing Mormon, depression survivor, Down syndrome advocate, Greek-blooded American, Maryland-bred Utah transplant, WordTwist addict and BSG groupie.
She has edited numerous books, including Dance With Them: 30 Stumbling Mothers Catch Glimpses of Grace and The Mother in Me: anthologies of personal essays and poetry written by mothers about the challenges and joys of mothering. She is the editor of Gifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children With Down Syndrome Enrich Their Lives and Gifts 2: How People with Down Syndrome Enrich the World. Kathy is also the editor-in-chief of Segullah: Writings by Latter-day Saint Women, which is a print journal dedicated to encouraging literary talent and promoting greater faith and understanding among Latter-day Saint women as well as a blog.
Kathy’s most recent book, The Year My Son and I Were Born, is a memoir of the transformations Kathy underwent the year after her son Thomas was born with Down Syndrome. Kathy’s website (http://kathrynlynardsoper.com/) says that it’s a story about coming to terms with being human and learning how to deal with hard surprises.
Kathy Soper is a mother of seven, memoirist, essayist, editor, nonprofit CEO, practicing Mormon, depression survivor, Down syndrome advocate, Greek-blooded American, Maryland-bred Utah transplant, WordTwist addict and BSG groupie. She has edited numerous books, including Dance With Them: 30 Stumbling Mothers Catch Glimpses of Grace and The Mother in Me: anthologies of personal essays and poetry written by mothers about the challenges and joys of mothering. She is the editor of Gifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children With Down Syndrome Enrich Their Lives and Gifts 2: How People with Down Syndrome Enrich the World. Kathy is also the editor-in-chief of Segullah: Writings by Latter-day Saint Women, which is a print journal dedicated to encouraging literary talent and promoting greater faith and understanding among Latter-day Saint women as well as a blog. Kathy’s most recent book, The Year My Son and I Were Born, is a memoir of the transformations Kathy underwent the year after her son Thomas was born with Down Syndrome. Kathy’s website (http://kathrynlynardsoper.com/) says that it’s a story about coming to terms with being human and learning how to deal with hard surprises.
On 9/23/2010 Dr. William Bradshaw of BYU's Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology department delivered a lecture entitled"The Evidence For A Biological Origin For Homosexuality" at Brigham Young University.
Dr. Bradshaw is a former mission president, former member of a stake presidency, has written about the biology of homosexuality elsewhere, and was covered by BYU's Daily Universe here. He is also the host on a short video entitled,"Embracing our Homosexual Children."
In this 3-part interview, we speak with three important historical figures in the history of Proposition 8:
Laura Compton - Co-founder of Mormons for Marriage, a pro-gay marriage movement within Mormonism.
Morris Thurston - A Harvard trained lawyer and opponent to Proposition 8, and
Cary Crall - A BYU student whose letter to the editor discussing Prop 8 motives was censored by the Daily Universe
All of these guests are active members of the LDS church.
During the interview we also take calls from listeners.
In this 3-part interview, we speak with three important historical figures in the history of Proposition 8:
Laura Compton - Co-founder of Mormons for Marriage, a pro-gay marriage movement within Mormonism.
Morris Thurston - A Harvard trained lawyer and opponent to Proposition 8, and
Cary Crall - A BYU student whose letter to the editor discussing Prop 8 motives was censored by the Daily Universe
All of these guests are active members of the LDS church.
During the interview we also take calls from listeners.
In this 3-part interview, we speak with three important historical figures in the history of Proposition 8:
Laura Compton - Co-founder of Mormons for Marriage, a pro-gay marriage movement within Mormonism.
Morris Thurston - A Harvard trained lawyer and opponent to Proposition 8, and
Cary Crall - A BYU student whose letter to the editor discussing Prop 8 motives was censored by the Daily Universe
All of these guests are active members of the LDS church.
During the interview we also take calls from listeners.
In this 2-part interview, John Larsen of Mormon Expression podcast and John Dehlin interview each other, and take calls as part of a live-streamed podcast.
In this 2-part interview, John Larsen of Mormon Expression podcast and John Dehlin interview each other, and take calls as part of a live-streamed podcast.
This segment is part of an all day workshop held at the August 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium.
The first half of the day was dedicated to navigating a faith crisis in or out of the LDS church.
The second half of the day was dedicated to navigating a marriage when one of the partners loses their faith.
This segment is part of an all day workshop held at the August 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium.
The first half of the day was dedicated to navigating a faith crisis in or out of the LDS church.
The second half of the day was dedicated to navigating a marriage when one of the partners loses their faith.
This segment is part of an all day workshop held at the August 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium.
The first half of the day was dedicated to navigating a faith crisis in or out of the LDS church.
The second half of the day was dedicated to navigating a marriage when one of the partners loses their faith.
This segment is part of an all day workshop held at the August 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium.
The first half of the day was dedicated to navigating a faith crisis in or out of the LDS church.
The second half of the day was dedicated to navigating a marriage when one of the partners loses their faith.
This segment is part of an all day workshop held at the August 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium.
The first half of the day was dedicated to navigating a faith crisis in or out of the LDS church.
The second half of the day was dedicated to navigating a marriage when one of the partners loses their faith.
This segment is part of an all day workshop held at the August 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium.
The first half of the day was dedicated to navigating a faith crisis in or out of the LDS church.
The second half of the day was dedicated to navigating a marriage when one of the partners loses their faith.
This segment is part of an all day workshop held at the August 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium.
The first half of the day was dedicated to navigating a faith crisis in or out of the LDS church.
The second half of the day was dedicated to navigating a marriage when one of the partners loses their faith.
This segment is part of an all day workshop held at the August 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium.
The first half of the day was dedicated to navigating a faith crisis in or out of the LDS church.
The second half of the day was dedicated to navigating a marriage when one of the partners loses their faith.
Carol Lynn Pearson is one of the most successful Mormon authors, poets, and playwrights of all time. Her book"Goodbye, I Love You" about the death of her gay husband from AIDS took the world by storm in 1986. Her musical"My Turn on Earth" is one of the most successful Mormon musicals of all time. Carol Lynn has spent all her years since"Goodbye, I Love You" as an advocate for both women and gays within Mormonism.
Carol Lynn Pearson is one of the most successful Mormon authors, poets, and playwrights of all time. Her book"Goodbye, I Love You" about the death of her gay husband from AIDS took the world by storm in 1986. Her musical"My Turn on Earth" is one of the most successful Mormon musicals of all time. Carol Lynn has spent all her years since"Goodbye, I Love You" as an advocate for both women and gays within Mormonism.
Carol Lynn Pearson is one of the most successful Mormon authors, poets, and playwrights of all time. Her book"Goodbye, I Love You" about the death of her gay husband from AIDS took the world by storm in 1986. Her musical"My Turn on Earth" is one of the most successful Mormon musicals of all time. Carol Lynn has spent all her years since"Goodbye, I Love You" as an advocate for both women and gays within Mormonism.
Carol Lynn Pearson is one of the most successful Mormon authors, poets, and playwrights of all time. Her book"Goodbye, I Love You" about the death of her gay husband from AIDS took the world by storm in 1986. Her musical"My Turn on Earth" is one of the most successful Mormon musicals of all time. Carol Lynn has spent all her years since"Goodbye, I Love You" as an advocate for both women and gays within Mormonism.
Carol Lynn Pearson is one of the most successful Mormon authors, poets, and playwrights of all time. Her book"Goodbye, I Love You" about the death of her gay husband from AIDS took the world by storm in 1986. Her musical"My Turn on Earth" is one of the most successful Mormon musicals of all time. Carol Lynn has spent all her years since"Goodbye, I Love You" as an advocate for both women and gays within Mormonism.
In this 3-part series, we interview Bruce Bastian: Philanthropist, WordPerfect Co-Founder, and champion for LGBT rights.
In part 1 we discuss his years early years in the church, and his days at WordPerfect. In part 2 we discuss his process of coming out as a gay Mormon after being married with four children. In part 3, we discuss the case for supporting gay rights.
In this 3-part series, we interview Bruce Bastian: Philanthropist, WordPerfect Co-Founder, and champion for LGBT rights.
In part 1 we discuss his years early years in the church, and his days at WordPerfect. In part 2 we discuss his process of coming out as a gay Mormon after being married with four children. In part 3, we discuss the case for supporting gay rights.
In this 3-part series, we interview Bruce Bastian: Philanthropist, WordPerfect Co-Founder, and champion for LGBT rights.
In part 1 we discuss his years early years in the church, and his days at WordPerfect. In part 2 we discuss his process of coming out as a gay Mormon after being married with four children. In part 3, we discuss the case for supporting gay rights.
In this 2-part series, we interview Natasha Parker -- an LDS Marriage and Family Therapist who lives in Kansas. Natasha blogs at both http://mormonmatters.org and http://mormontherapist.blogspot.com on her experiences and thoughts as a therapist specializing in the treatment of Mormons. During this interview, we discuss Natasha's background, along with brief coverage on the following issues: LDS sexuality, homosexuality, depression, faith issues, and couples issues.
In this 2-part series, we interview Natasha Parker -- an LDS Marriage and Family Therapist who lives in Kansas. Natasha blogs at both http://mormonmatters.org and http://mormontherapist.blogspot.com on her experiences and thoughts as a therapist specializing in the treatment of Mormons. During this interview, we discuss Natasha's background, along with brief coverage on the following issues: LDS sexuality, homosexuality, depression, faith issues, and couples issues.
In this 4-part series, we interview Richard Packham -- co-founder of the Ex-Mormon foundation. Throughout the interview and via Richard's own personal story, we explore 3 ways in which the LDS Church creates unnecessary enemies: 1) By not being honest about its own history (e.g. teaching accurate history), 2) By breaking up families (when one no longer believes), and 3) By harming the loved ones of those who have left the church.
To conclude (part 4), Richard discusses the benefits of religious belief in general and the LDS church specifically, along with the mission of the ExMormon foundation, and bears a final testimony regarding the joy/happiness he has experienced since leaving the church.
NOTE: The purpose of this interview is NOT to encourage people to stay or leave the LDS church. It is simply to: 1) Seek to understand and to validate the path of those who have felt compelled to leave the church, and
2) Explore ways in which the church can seek to no longer create unnecessary enemies.
In this 4-part series, we interview Richard Packham -- co-founder of the Ex-Mormon foundation. Throughout the interview and via Richard's own personal story, we explore 3 ways in which the LDS Church creates unnecessary enemies: 1) By not being honest about its own history (e.g. teaching accurate history), 2) By breaking up families (when one no longer believes), and 3) By harming the loved ones of those who have left the church. To conclude (part 4), Richard discusses the benefits of religious belief in general and the LDS church specifically, along with the mission of the ExMormon foundation, and bears a final testimony regarding the joy/happiness he has experienced since leaving the church. NOTE: The purpose of this interview is NOT to encourage people to stay or leave the LDS church. It is simply to: 1) Seek to understand and to validate the path of those who have felt compelled to leave the church, and 2) Explore ways in which the church can seek to no longer create unnecessary enemies.
In this 4-part series, we interview Richard Packham -- co-founder of the Ex-Mormon foundation. Throughout the interview and via Richard's own personal story, we explore 3 ways in which the LDS Church creates unnecessary enemies: 1) By not being honest about its own history (e.g. teaching accurate history), 2) By breaking up families (when one no longer believes), and 3) By harming the loved ones of those who have left the church.
To conclude (part 4), Richard discusses the benefits of religious belief in general and the LDS church specifically, along with the mission of the ExMormon foundation, and bears a final testimony regarding the joy/happiness he has experienced since leaving the church.
NOTE: The purpose of this interview is NOT to encourage people to stay or leave the LDS church. It is simply to: 1) Seek to understand and to validate the path of those who have felt compelled to leave the church, and
2) Explore ways in which the church can seek to no longer create unnecessary enemies.
In this 4-part series, we interview Richard Packham -- co-founder of the Ex-Mormon foundation. Throughout the interview and via Richard's own personal story, we explore 3 ways in which the LDS Church creates unnecessary enemies: 1) By not being honest about its own history (e.g. teaching accurate history), 2) By breaking up families (when one no longer believes), and 3) By harming the loved ones of those who have left the church.
To conclude (part 4), Richard discusses the benefits of religious belief in general and the LDS church specifically, along with the mission of the ExMormon foundation, and bears a final testimony regarding the joy/happiness he has experienced since leaving the church.
NOTE: The purpose of this interview is NOT to encourage people to stay or leave the LDS church. It is simply to: 1) Seek to understand and to validate the path of those who have felt compelled to leave the church, and
2) Explore ways in which the church can seek to no longer create unnecessary enemies.
In this special episode, BYU History Professor Dr. Michael MacKay share a 1 hour presentation exploring science, evolution, religion, and the LDS Church with Dr. Michael Ruse, one of the world’s leading experts in the philosophy of science, and author of the book: Can a Darwinian be a Christian? The Relationship between Science and Religion, published by the University of Cambridge Press in 2001.
In this three-part episode, Dr. David Bailey (an award winning scientist and Stanford-educated Mathematician) discusses a brief history of the LDS Church and science, the state of science within the church today, and how he reconciles faith and science in way that actually strengthens his faith.
In this three-part episode, Dr. David Bailey (an award winning scientist and Stanford-educated Mathematician) discusses a brief history of the LDS Church and science, the state of science within the church today, and how he reconciles faith and science in way that actually strengthens his faith.
In this three-part episode, Dr. David Bailey (an award winning scientist and Stanford-educated Mathematician) discusses a brief history of the LDS Church and science, the state of science within the church today, and how he reconciles faith and science in way that actually strengthens his faith.
In this three-part episode, Dan and Laurie Gallagher discuss Laurie's loss of testimony as Dan remained a believer -- and how they both worked through their issues to actually improve their marriage and family relationships.
In this three-part episode, Dan and Laurie Gallagher discuss Laurie's loss of testimony as Dan remained a believer -- and how they both worked through their issues to actually improve their marriage and family relationships.
In this three-part episode, Dan and Laurie Gallagher discuss Laurie's loss of testimony as Dan remained a believer -- and how they both worked through their issues to actually improve their marriage and family relationships.
In this three-part episode, long-time listener Glenn brings on his divorced parents and fellow siblings to discuss the family divorce from an LDS perspective.
In this three-part episode, long-time listener Glenn brings on his divorced parents and fellow siblings to discuss the family divorce from an LDS perspective.
In this three-part episode, long-time listener Glenn brings on his divorced parents and fellow siblings to discuss the family divorce from an LDS perspective.
Janet Bennion is an associate professor of anthropology, specializing in alternative sexuality in nontraditional religious movements in the Intermountain West, specifically among Mormon fundamentalist polygynists. She has a Ph.D. in Anthropology from University of Utah and a Masters in Social Organization from Portland State University.
Her doctoral expertise lies in cross-cultural perspectives of sexuality, gender and society, and women of the fundamentalist world.
Her scientific publications include two major ethnographic works and two comparative analyses of Mormon polygynous women, as well as many peer-review journal articles. Women of Principle: Female Networking in Contemporary Mormon Polygyny (Oxford University Press 1998) offers an in-depth study of gender roles and sexual norms in the Apostolic United Brethren sect in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana, cataloging women's conversion stories. This ethnography shows that while abuses do exist, some women achieve ironic ascendance and satisfaction in fundamentalism. Desert Patriarchy (University of Arizona Press 2004) presents her theory explaining the role of the desert environment (Chihuahua, Mexico) in the development and maintenance of a patriarchal gender ideology. Her model identifies several factors -- male supremacy, female network, non-secular education, imbalanced sex ratios, alternative sexuality, and circumscription -- which work to facilitate the longevity of desert patriarchal communities.
In part 4 of a 4 part series with LDS Anthropologist Daymon Smith, we discuss some final reflections from his new book, The Book of Mammon, including the new City Creek Mall project, and the potential spiritual implications of the corporate LDS church for the 21st century and beyond.
In part 3 of a 4 part series with LDS Anthropologist Daymon Smith, we discuss Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- and the implications for the church of running a massive, multi-billion dollar corporation.
In part 2 of a 4 part series with LDS Anthropologist Daymon Smith, we discuss the formation of the correlation department within the LDS church, and its effects on the church today.
In part 1 of a 4 part series with LDS Anthropologist Daymon Smith, we discuss the U.S. government's prosecution of the LDS church for polygamy in the late 1800s, post-manifesto polygamy and the rise of Mormon Fundamentalism.
In this episode I briefly discuss five important announcements for the future of Mormon Stories Podcast.
In this episode Chris Jones interviews Kate Kelly -- LDS law student and founder of the Mormon May Day movement . As stated on the Mormon May Day web site:" We would like Mormon May Day to combine the two meanings by signifying the distress of many moderate, liberal or radical Mormons feel at being inundated with overtly far-right political messages at church and celebrating and gathering in fasting and prayer to exercise our collective spiritual strength to eradicate poverty and advance the cause of social justice worldwide."
This is part 4 of a 4-part series on raising children in a non-traditional LDS home. This is a panel discussion which includes some of my coolest friends, namely: Heather, Laurie and Lee.
This is part 3 of a 4-part series on raising children in a non-traditional LDS home. This is a panel discussion which includes some of my coolest friends, namely: Heather, Laurie and Lee.
This is part 2 of a 4-part series on raising children in a non-traditional LDS home. This is a panel discussion which includes some of my coolest friends, namely: Heather, Laurie and Lee.
This is part 1 of a 4-part series on raising children in a non-traditional LDS home. This is a panel discussion which includes some of my coolest friends, namely: Heather, Laurie and Lee.
This is part 2 of a 2 part interview with Brian Johnston, co-founder of StayLDS.com. In this series Brian discusses staying in the LDS Church after a crisis of faith.
This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Brian Johnston, co-founder of StayLDS.com. In this series Brian discusses staying in the LDS Church after a crisis of faith.
This is part 2 of a 2 part interview with Heather, a friend who converted to the LDS church as a college student in Texas, moved to BYU, married the son of a Stake President in the temple, and then afterwards her husband left the church, and she soon followed. Heather talks about why she joined, and why she left, and ways that we (as members) can better understand those who leave.
This interview was recorded in 2007.
This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Heather, a friend who converted to the LDS church as a college student in Texas, moved to BYU, married the son of a Stake President in the temple, and then afterwards her husband left the church, and she soon followed. Heather talks about why she joined, and why she left, and ways that we (as members) can better understand those who leave.
This interview was recorded in 2007.
This is part 2 of a 2 part interview with Edward Kimball, the son of LDS prophet Spencer W. Kimball.
This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Edward Kimball, the son of LDS prophet Spencer W. Kimball.
In Part 3, we discuss how Karen Armstrong's book"The Case for God" might or might not apply to Mormonism.
In Part 2, John Hamer, J. Nelson Seawright, Joanna Brooks and I lay out Karen Armstrong's major premises, and analyze them.
As an introduction to Mormon Stories' inaugural book club, I re-broadcast Terry Gross' interview with"The Case for God" author Karen Armstrong. Next week we will be holding a panel discussion on Mormon Stories Podcast about this book, and how it may or may not apply to both Mormonism and individual Mormons in the 21st century.
In Part 3, Lisa discusses the costs and benefits of blogging, provides some final insight and advice to LDS women, along w/ her testimony of the LDS gospel
In Part 2, Lisa discusses the importance of open, thoughtful and candid discussions about women’s issues within the church, and on the Internet
In Part 1, Lisa discusses her early life, how she became a feminist, and what led to her creation of FeministMormonHousewives.com
In this episode I speak with Shawn McCraney, author of"I was a Born-again Mormon" and host of"Heart of the Matter", a controversial weekly Christian TV show geared towards LDS Church members. In part 3, I ask Shawn some final questions, and he shares some closing thoughts.
In this episode I speak with Shawn McCraney, author of"I was a Born-again Mormon" and host of"Heart of the Matter", a controversial weekly Christian TV show geared towards LDS Church members. In part 2, I ask Shawn several questions about his style, doctrine and theology.
In this episode I speak with Shawn McCraney, author of"I was a Born-again Mormon" and host of"Heart of the Matter", a controversial weekly Christian TV show geared towards LDS Church members. In part 1, Shawn discusses his born again experience, and makes his best case for why LDS Church members should also seek to become Born Again.
In this episode I speak with Jacque, a believing LDS Church member, about some of the unexpected blessings that have come to her marriage as a result of her husband's loss of LDS faith, and some final tips for couples dealing with this dilemma.
In this episode I speak with Jacque, a believing LDS Church member, about the compromises that both her and her husband had to make to work through his loss of faith, and what eternal marriage has come to mean for her.
In this episode I speak with Jacque, a believing LDS Church member, about her husband's loss of LDS faith, and the lessons she learned from dealing with the immediate aftermath.
In this episode Peter and Mary Danzig discuss life after resigning from the LDS Church, including how they are raising their children as former members, reworking their relationships with extended family, and their new life/spiritual perspectives. They also discuss their recent work the Foundation for Reconciliation, which seeks reconciliation between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Gays and Lesbians.
In this episode Peter and Mary Danzig discuss Peter’s removal from the Orchestra at Temple Square because of his letter to the editor opposing professor Jeffrey Nielson’s termination from BYU (over Dr. Nielson’s public support of gay marriage). They also discuss his local church leadership’s request for silence, the threats of church discipline, his and Mary’s ultimate decision to resign from the LDS Church, and Craig Jessop’s resignation as Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
The music from this episode was played live during the interview. For more about the Danzig’s music, check out their web site here.
In this episode Peter Danzig discusses how his experience as a social worker to (primarily) LDS Church members led to both an increase in sympathy for LDS homosexuals, and a loss of his traditional LDS testimony.
In this episode John Dehlin speaks with former LDS Church members Peter and Mary Danzig about their early years as faithful LDS church members, their mission experiences, their marriage, their joining as founding members of the Orchestra at Temple Square, and the origins of their interest in the topic of homosexuality.
Is this episode John Dehlin discusses the past, present and future of the podcast, and how you can help support.
In part 2 of my interview with John Hamer, we discuss the transformation of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (RLDS) towards a more Christ-centered church, including the decision to build a temple in Independence, Missouri, and change its name to"The Community of Christ."
We also discuss its transition away from prophetic succession based on blood line, and its decision to ordain women to the priesthood.
John Hamer discusses the LDS Succession Crisis after Joseph Smith's death, and the ground that it laid for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (or Community of Christ).
Mormon Expression, John Dehlin, Brian Johnston and Logan Beaux discuss Mormonism and James Fowler's Stage 5.
Joanna Brooks was a very important figure in the BYU Academic Freedom days of 1990-1993...and is now a writer on Mormon topics for Religion Dispatches (along w/ being the Dept. Chair of English at SDSU).
Joanna Brooks was a very important figure in the BYU Academic Freedom days of 1990-1993...and is now a writer on Mormon topics for Religion Dispatches (along w/ being the Dept. Chair of English at SDSU).
In this seminar, I discuss techniques for staying in the LDS church after a major trial of faith.
In early 1994 the distinguished career of Richard D. Poll, historian, professor, writer, husband and friend, came full circle. His Liahona/Iron-rod dichotomy, borrowed from the Book of Mormon, had entered the lexicon of Mormon thought almost 30 years earlier in his landmark essay"What the Church Means to People Like Me" (Dialogue 2:4, Winter 1967). His"Pillars of My Faith" sermon in Sunstone called for committed LDS worshipers and writers to join a mighty Christian chorus"in which almost all the singers hear the dissonant sounds of the alternate voices as polyphonic enrichment of the message of the gospel music." For people like him,"neither dogmatic fundamentalism nor dogmatic humanism provides convincing answers to life's most basic questions." He defined history as"human strivings to discover divine realities." Like Paul, Richard Poll lived his life as part of the leaven that"leaveneth the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9), offering his Liahona questioning in the spirit of"charity, humility, persistence." In a time when men and women are being called sinners for a word (or many words); when the terms"alternate" and"dissident" are being redefined as sinister; when some seek apostasy, while others have apostasy thrust upon them, Richard Poll's calm, reasoned, compassionate voice rings with a clarity that will live on in our hearts and minds.
For over 40 years, William D. Russell has been a progressive voice among the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (now the Community of Christ). This is his story -- from a 1993 Sunstone Symposium presentation called,"Pillars of my faith".
William D. Russell is a professor of American History and Government, Graceland College. He is a past president of the Mormon History Association; former assistant editor of the Saints Herald; author of Treasure in Earthly Vessels: An Introduction to the New Testament; a founder of the Independence, Missouri, chapter of the Congress on Racial Equality; and former chair of the Decatur County Democratic Party. He has competed in the Boston and Los Angeles marathons and twenty-four others.
Love him, hate him, or indifferent -- D. Michael Quinn will go down as one of the most important Mormons of the 20th century.
This is his story, in his own words.
The Decade of the Sixties: The Early Struggles in the RLDS Shift from Sect to Denomination: This is a discussion of how, during the 1960s the RLDS Church made very decisive steps toward shedding its sectarian past. It began the decade clearly rooted in the sectarian world view. But by the end of the decade, many of the church's leaders and a reasonable number of its members had adopted liberal views, down-playing traditional unique Latter Day Saint doctrines.
Today, the RLDS Church (or Community of Christ) has but a fraction of the membership it once enjoyed. What lessons can the LDS Church learn from the Community of Christ. What did they do right, and wrong?
This presentation discusses why people leave the LDS Church, and what we can do to help.
It was recorded in 2006.
In the 1995 Salt Lake Sunstone symposium, Elbert Peck spoke in the annual"Pillars of my faith" presentation about the"Remnants of his faith." This presentation represents (to me) the closest thing I've ever found to expressing how I now feel about my Mormon faith. I hope some of you will find value in it as well.
In this screencast, we learn about the lives of 6 non-traditional Mormon heroes: Emma Smith, B.H. Roberts, Fawn Brodie, Juanita Brooks, Lowell Bennion and Leonard Arrington.
In part 4 of this 4 part series, Elbert Eugene Peck (editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001) discusses the September Six excommunications, the decline of Sunstone, and his thoughts on Sunstone's future.
In part 3 of this 4 part series, Elbert Eugene Peck (editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001) discusses the events leading up to the September Six excommunications of 1993, including the"Alternative Voices" and warnings against Symposia statements by LDS leaders.
In part 2 of this 4 part series, Elbert Peck (Editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001) discusses many of the central people of Sunstone, including Leonard Arrington, Bonner Ritchie, Eugene England, Lavina Fielding Anderson, Ed Kimball, Orson Scott Card, Peggy Fletcher Stack, Scott Kinney, and many others.
Elbert Eugene Peck was editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001. In part 1 of a 4 part interview, Elbert discusses his early years as a member of the LDS church in Washington D.C., his mission, his time at BYU with the Seventh East Press, and the events leading to him taking over Sunstone Magazine.
BYU Professor Dr. Ted Lyon has served as an LDS (Mormon) mission president in Chile. He has also served as the president of the Chile Missionary Training Center. He is currently serving as Temple President in the Santiago Chile LDS Temple.
In this interveiw, Dr. Lyon answers questions about the previous 2 episodes ,and concludes with his testimony of the LDS Church.
BYU Professor Dr. Ted Lyon has served as an LDS (Mormon) mission president in Chile. He has also served as the president of the Chile Missionary Training Center. He is currently serving as Temple President in the Santiago Chile LDS Temple. In this interveiw, Dr. Lyon discusses some of the painful lessons learned from LDS missionary work in Latin America in the 20th century.
He also discusses his views on reconciling thought with faith.
Dr. Ted Lyon has served as a BYU Professor, Mission President, MTC President, and is currently serving as temple president in Chile. His is both a believing Mormon, and an intellectual. In part 1 of this 3 part series, he discusses changes in the LDS church during his lifetime.
Breathe Life into Your Life Story is an essential read for anyone who aspires to write a life story—but not just any story, one your family and others will actually WANT to read.
Written for both novices and experienced writers, this book presents techniques used by novelists to immerse readers in their fictional world—techniques like “showing” rather than just"telling”; creating interesting, believable characters and settings; writing at the gut level; alternating scene and narrative; beginning with a bang; generating tension, and more.
In this episode we discuss Joseph Smith's major legal battles during the Nauvoo period.
Morris Thurston is a Harvard-trained lawyer, and one of the legal editors for the Joseph Smith Papers project.
In this episode we discuss Joseph Smith's major legal battles during the Nauvoo period.
Morris Thurston is a Harvard-trained lawyer, and one of the legal editors for the Joseph Smith Papers project.
In this episode we discuss the Joseph Smith Papers project, sponsored by both the LDS Church and Larry H. Miller.
Morris Thurston is a Harvard-trained lawyer, and one of the legal editors for the project.
In October 2007 a new LDS-themed periodical was launched entitled"The Mormon Worker." This publication is dedicated to promoting social justice within Mormonism.
In this two-part series, we interview William VanWagenen, one of the founders of the Mormon Worker.
William VanWagenen is not your typical Mormon. Not only has he studied at the Harvard Divinity School, but he is also an LDS peace activist, who was recently kidnapped in Iraq while on a peacekeeping mission.
In this intervew, William discusses his views on poverty, war, socialism and justice within the Mormon framework.
In October 2007 a new LDS-themed periodical was launched entitled"The Mormon Worker." This publication is dedicated to promoting social justice within Mormonism.
In this two-part series, we interview William VanWagenen, one of the founders of the Mormon Worker.
William VanWagenen is not your typical Mormon. Not only has he studied at the Harvard Divinity School, but he is also an LDS peace activist, who was recently kidnapped in Iraq while on a peacekeeping mission.
In this intervew, William discusses his views on poverty, war, socialism and justice within the Mormon framework.
Levi Peterson is one of the most important LDS authors of the 20th century. His book entitled"The Backslider" is perhaps the most important piece of Mormon fiction ever written. This is his story.
Levi Peterson is one of the most important LDS authors of the 20th century. His book entitled"The Backslider" is perhaps the most important piece of Mormon fiction ever written. This is his story.
Levi Peterson is one of the most important LDS authors of the 20th century. His book entitled"The Backslider" is perhaps the most important piece of Mormon fiction ever written. This is his story.
Levi Peterson is one of the most important LDS authors of the 20th century. His book entitled"The Backslider" is perhaps the most important piece of Mormon fiction ever written. This is his story.
Levi Peterson is one of the most important LDS authors of the 20th century. His book entitled"The Backslider" is perhaps the most important piece of Mormon fiction ever written. This is his story.
Levi Peterson is one of the most important LDS authors of the 20th century. His book entitled"The Backslider" is perhaps the most important piece of Mormon fiction ever written. This is his story.
Levi Peterson is one of the most important LDS authors of the 20th century. His book entitled"The Backslider" is perhaps the most important piece of Mormon fiction ever written. This is his story.
A new pamphlet about homosexuality appeared on the church’s website in late July, 2007. The pamphlet is entitled God Loveth His Children, and, among other things, says that the Church does not know what causes same-sex attractions but does not believe sexual abuse and sexual experimentation in childhood are responsible. It declares that same-sex attractions are not considered sinful but affirms that acting on those attractions is incompatible with God’s plan for families in the afterlife. It urges same-sex attracted LDS members to remain active in the church and asks other members to treat them with love and respect. This panel will discuss this new pamphlet and welcomes a wide-ranging and frank discussion of this important topic.
A new pamphlet about homosexuality appeared on the church’s website in late July, 2007. The pamphlet is entitled God Loveth His Children, and, among other things, says that the Church does not know what causes same-sex attractions but does not believe sexual abuse and sexual experimentation in childhood are responsible. It declares that same-sex attractions are not considered sinful but affirms that acting on those attractions is incompatible with God’s plan for families in the afterlife. It urges same-sex attracted LDS members to remain active in the church and asks other members to treat them with love and respect. This panel will discuss this new pamphlet and welcomes a wide-ranging and frank discussion of this important topic.
A new pamphlet about homosexuality appeared on the church’s website in late July, 2007. The pamphlet is entitled God Loveth His Children, and, among other things, says that the Church does not know what causes same-sex attractions but does not believe sexual abuse and sexual experimentation in childhood are responsible. It declares that same-sex attractions are not considered sinful but affirms that acting on those attractions is incompatible with God’s plan for families in the afterlife. It urges same-sex attracted LDS members to remain active in the church and asks other members to treat them with love and respect. This panel will discuss this new pamphlet and welcomes a wide-ranging and frank discussion of this important topic.
In cooperation with Mormon Stories and Sunstone, I am proud to announce that Ashley Sanders has decided to launch her own, new podcast -- patterned (at least in part) after the NPR program"This American Life." The podcast is entitled"Project Deseret", and is dedicated to building a socially, politically, and economically just community.
In September of 1993, 6 Mormon"intellectuals" were disciplined by the LDS church: 5 of them excommunicated, and 1 of them dis-fellowshipped. Perhaps the most strident and controversial of the 6 was Paul Toscano. This is his story.
In September of 1993, 6 Mormon"intellectuals" were disciplined by the LDS church: 5 of them excommunicated, and 1 of them dis-fellowshipped.
Perhaps the most strident and controversial of the 6 was Paul Toscano.
This is his story.
In September of 1993, 6 Mormon"intellectuals" were disciplined by the LDS church: 5 of them excommunicated, and 1 of them dis-fellowshipped.
Perhaps the most strident and controversial of the 6 was Paul Toscano.
This is his story.
In September of 1993, 6 Mormon"intellectuals" were disciplined by the LDS church: 5 of them excommunicated, and 1 of them dis-fellowshipped.
Perhaps the most strident and controversial of the 6 was Paul Toscano.
This is his story.
In September of 1993, 6 Mormon"intellectuals" were disciplined by the LDS church: 5 of them excommunicated, and 1 of them dis-fellowshipped.
Perhaps the most strident and controversial of the 6 was Paul Toscano.
This is his story.
In September of 1993, 6 Mormon"intellectuals" were disciplined by the LDS church: 5 of them excommunicated, and 1 of them dis-fellowshipped.
Perhaps the most strident and controversial of the 6 was Paul Toscano.
This is his story.
In September of 1993, 6 Mormon"intellectuals" were disciplined by the LDS church: 5 of them excommunicated, and 1 of them dis-fellowshipped.
Perhaps the most strident and controversial of the 6 was Paul Toscano.
This is his story.
In part 8 of our series on spirituality and the rising LDS generation, we interview University of Utah student Ann Whittaker. In this interview Ann discusses many aspects of her faith, including her exploration of church history and feminism issues within Mormonism.
In part 7 of our series on spirituality and the rising LDS generation, we interview University of Utah student Caleb Proulx. In this interview Caleb discusses many aspects of his faith, including his struggles as an anti-war activist within Mormonism.
In part 6 of our series on spirituality and the rising LDS generation, we interview BYU student Kimball Sanders. In this interview Kimball discusses many aspects of his faith, including his experiences at BYU, and his struggles with church culture. He also emphasizes the importance of love, forgiveness and grace within Mormonism.
In part 5 of our series we interview BYU student David Lassetter. David was raised in a home very well-versed in Mormon Studies (Dialogue and Sunstones abounding), and seems to have benefited tremendously therefrom.
In this interview, David discusses some of his views on the atonement, evolution, church doctrine, and membership awareness of history and doctrine.
In part 4 of our series we interview BYU Philosophy Professor Dr. Chris Foster. Dr. Foster was raised a"devout atheist" and then later converted to Mormonism. In this interview, he discusses his conversion to the church, along with his views on faith, religion, the church, teaching at BYU, and the importance of honesty and openness in all our religious endeavors.
In part three of our series on the Spirituality of the Rising LDS Generation, we interview Loyd Ericson -- UVSC student of philosophy. In this interview Loyd discusses his estrangement from, and eventual reconciliation w/ the LDS church. He also discusses his views on the LDS church’s approach to public relations and war.
In part two of our series on the Spirituality of the rising LDS generation, we interview Ashley Sanders — former BYU student, english/philosophy major, political activist, and chief organizer of the BYU Alternative Commencement with Ralph Nader, in opposition to the invitation to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney.
In part two of our series on the Spirituality of the rising LDS generation, we interview Ashley Sanders — former BYU student, english/philosophy major, political activist, and chief organizer of the BYU Alternative Commencement with Ralph Nader, in opposition to the invitation to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney.
In part one of our series on the Spirituality of the rising LDS generation, we interview John Kovalenko — BYU student, musician, and church believer. John also discusses same sex attraction as a young, believing Mormon and BYU student.
Linda King Newell, “A Gift Given, A Gift Taken: Washing, Anointing, and Blessing the Sick Among Mormon Women,” Sunstone 6 (Sept.-Oct. 1981): 16-22. Response by D. Michael Quinn.
In this episode, Martha Sontagg Bradley, author of Pedestals and Podiums Utah Women, Religious Authority, and Equal Rights -- discusses her research into the LDS church's opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment. Most LDS historians and feminists credit this amazing series of events as the major impetus for the Mormon feminist activism that emerged in the 1980s and early 1990s. We hope you enjoy Martha's version of the story.
Margaret Merrill Toscano is one of the most prominent and controversial feminists in the LDS church. In this episode Margaret discusses her feelings about the LDS church, women and the priesthood, and Mother God.
Margaret Merrill Toscano is one of the most prominent and controversial feminists in the LDS church. In this episode Margaret discusses the reactions to her dissent.
Margaret Merrill Toscano is one of the most prominent and controversial feminists in the LDS church. In this episode Margaret discusses her journey into both Mormon Studies and Mormon Feminism.
Margaret Merrill Toscano is one of the most prominent and controversial feminists in the LDS church. In this episode we discuss her early years growing up in Arizona as a faithful but questioning Latter-Day Saint, including her time at BYU as a student.
In part 2 of a 2-part conversation with 2 brilliant Mormon women (Taryn Nelson-Seawright and Rosalynde Welch), they review episodes 3-5 of the recent Mormon Stories series on Women in the LDS Church. This includes a discussion about the 3 part interview with Dr. Claudia Bushman.
In part 1 of a 2-part conversation with 2 brilliant Mormon women (Taryn Nelson-Seawright and Rosalynde Welch), they review the first 2 episodes of the recent Mormon Stories series on Women in the LDS Church. This includes a discussion of my introduction on the topic, the 3 waves of Feminism in the USA.
In our final hour with Dr. Claudia Bushman, she discusses early 20th Century Mormon women, again through writings from this era. Dr. Bushman also shares her perspective on the present and future of Mormonism, and provides some encouragement to the discouraged. In her summary, she asks our sisters to consider remaining engaged in the LDS church, even as times get tough. There is hope — and perhaps more writing, meaningful projects and steely determination are key ingredients.If you happen enjoy/appreciate Claudia’s interviews, please do email me so I can pass the word along. I’m quite sure Dr. Bushman will appreciate hearing from you.
A discussion with Dr. Claudia Bushman of 19th and Early 20th Century Mormon women, through the writings of 10 women of this era.
Today it is time to hear from one of the foremost voices on Women's Issues within Mormonism: Dr. Claudia Bushman. Dr. Bushman is a historian by training, and has taught at Columbia University for many years. She is the author of several books and articles, including:"Mormon Sisters: Women of Early Utah" and"Mormon Domestic Life in the 1870s: Pandemonium or Acadia". Perhaps most significantly, Dr. Bushman is one of the founders of Exponent II, a Boston-based magazine and now blog focused on feminism and women's issues within Mormonism. In this interview with Dr. Bushman, we learn what she means when she describes herself as a Mormon Feminist. She also recounts her involvement in the formation of Exponent II, as well as in the broader area of women's issues in the LDS church. To conclude, Dr. Bushman discusses her views on the critical role of women in the church today -- and how we, as a church, might work to better accommodate, and better utilize women in the 21st century.
Any discussion of women in the LDS Church would be incomplete without first understanding a bit about the history of women more broadly within the context of 19th and 20th century America. Consequently, in part 2 of this multi-part series on Women in the LDS Church, we will hear from an LDS woman who also teaches women's studies at a division 1 university in the US. She will discuss the 3 major phases of feminism in the United States, trace its history from the mid 1800s to today, and will conclude with her own reflections about being an LDS woman in 2007. We hope that this will set the stage for the rest of the episodes on LDS women, and most importantly, we hope that you enjoy the discussion.
Born to Sunstone and Dialogue - style parents, Nate Oman was raised to expect"messiness" within both the world, and his Church. After serving a mission in Korea and graduating from BYU, Nate attended Harvard Law School. During law school, Nate became one of the very first Mormon bloggers on the Internet, and is one of the founders of the juggernaut blog timesandseasons.org. Nate is also a positive example of thoughtful LDS faith.
At 6:44pm on February 13th in Salt Lake City, Utah -- an 18-year-old Salt Lake City resident and Bosnian immigrant named Sulejman Talovic entered Trolley Square mall with a shotgun and began a shooting spree. In the end, 9 people were shot, and 6 were killed, including Talovic himself. One of the witnesses to this event was Matt Lund -- father of 6 children, and member of the LDS Church. This is his story. Today on Mormon Stories.
J. Bonner Ritchie thoughtfully discusses the nature of both organizations and individuals -- and how there must be a healthy tension between the two. He discusses the importance of paradox in a mature and faithful world view -- and provides invaluable tips on how to healthily remain a thinking member of the LDS church.
John Dehlin offers some closing thoughts on his time with Brother Bushman, and Dr. Bushman himself provides some final musings on the challenges of dealing with tough Mormon issues. He then concludes with his testimony of Joseph Smith
Brother Bushman discusses the historicity of the Book of Mormon, and the credibility of the 3 and 8 Witnesses to the Book of Mormon.
Brother Bushman discusses Joseph Smith's bringing to light of the Book of Mormon, from angel Moroni's visit, to the obtaining of the plates, to the mechanics of the translation process. He also discusses the process of receiving revelation within Mormonism.
In this episode we tackle 4 main topics. First, brother Bushman provides a high level review of the major Joseph Smith biographies that preceded Rough Stone Rolling, including Fawn Brodie's"No man knows my history." Next, brother Bushman discusses the art of writing history, and the challenges involved in trying to arrive at"the facts" and"the truth" for both historians, and readers of history. Finally, we discuss in depth the first 2 of our top 10 tough Joseph Smith issues: 1) The multiple and somewhat varying accounts of Joseph Smith's first vision story, and 2) Joseph Smith's involvement in folk magic and treasure digging.
In part 1 of a multi-part series, Dr. Richard Bushman, the world's foremost scholar on Joseph Smith and early Mormonism and the author of Rough Stone Rolling, discusses his early years--including his struggle with faith as a Harvard undergraduate, his decision to get a PhD in history, and his experiences with Leonard Arrington, Dialogue and Sunstone. He also discusses the role of candid, honest history within the modern LDS Church.
In part 5 of a 5 part series, Anne B. Wilde (Independent Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist) discusses her Mormon Fundamentalist beliefs in depth, talks abou the future of Mormon Fundamentalism, and concludes by sharing her testimony with us.
In part 4 of a 5 part series, Anne B. Wilde (Independent Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist) discusses modern polygamy gone wrong and right.
In part 3 of a 5 part series, Anne B. Wilde (Independent Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist) discusses her story--recounting how she went from being a traditional member of the LDS Church, BYU graduate, married in the temple, and mother of 3 children--to becoming a practicing Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist--all while remaining active in the LDS church, and raising her children therein.
In part 2 of a 5 part series, Anne B. Wilde (Independent Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist) discusses the rise of Mormon Fundamentalism after the LDS Church decided to stop teaching plural marriage as an official church doctrine. She also discusses the schism within Mormon Fundamentalism, resulting in the various sects that exist today, in the 21st century.
In part 1 of a 5 part series, Anne B. Wilde (Independent Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist) discusses the early practice of polygamy within the LDS Church.
In this episode, Mormon author Christopher Bigelow discusses his early years--from his days as a teenage Dungeons and Dragons publisher, to his 6 years of service as a writer for the Ensign.
What's it like to actually try to publish a Mormon-themed book? As an author, how many copies are you likely to sell, and how much money do you stand to make? And how do Mormon authors view the implications of the recent acquisition of Seagull Book and Tapes and Covenant communications by Deseret Book? As we continue part 3 in our series on this acquisition, we interview Christopher Bigelow, president of Zarahemlabooks.com, and author of multiple Mormon themed books, including Mormonism For Dummies and The Mormon Tabernacle Inquirer. Also, while this episode covers Christopher's journey as an author of of Mormon themed books, check out the blog entry for this interview on Mormon Stories.org, for an extended discussion, including more on Christophers early years, and his time as a writer for Ensign magazine.
Lowell Bennion is without a doubt one of the most important Mormon figures in the 20th century. Along with T. Edgar Lyon, Lowell Bennion founded the University of Utah LDS Institute, and taught and inspired many of the great Mormon minds of the 20th century, including Eugene England, and many of the founders of Dialogue and Sunstone. Lowell Bennion was also commissioned to author several sunday school and priesthood manuals for the church in the 1950s. His ability to combine spirituality with intellect has been, in many ways, unsurpassed to this day. This interview was produced by Stirling Adams of Provo, UT--and centers around Mary Lythgoe Bradford--a close friend of Brother Bennion, as well as his biographer.
Deseret Book recently decided to acquire Seagull Book and Tape and Covenant Communications — 2 of Deseret Book’s top competitors in the LDS book publishing and retail market. In part 2 in a series on this topic, LDS book publisher Kent Larsen discusses the history of the LDS book industry, and his views on the implications of this acquisition.
Deseret Book recently decided to acquire Seagull Book and Tape and Covenant Communications — 2 of Deseret Book’s top competitors in the LDS book publishing and retail market. In part 1 of a series on this topic, LDS book publisher Kent Larsen discusses the history of the LDS book industry, and his views on the implications of this acquisition.
In episode 3 of a 3 part series, Jim Parkinson tells us the story of how he and his colleagues initiated a law suit on behalf of the Bataan Death March survivors, and took the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and then to the U.S. Congress.
In episode 2 of a 3 part series, Jim tells us about Harold Poole--member of the LDS church, and survivor of the Bataan Death March. This episode discusses in detail how Mr. Poole survived one of the most infamous historical events of the 20th century.
In episode 1 of a 3 part series, we meet James W. Parkinson--a high profile personal injury lawyer, and a member of the LDS Church. In this episode we discuss Jim's early years in Indio, CA, his early career as a law student and lawyer, his involvement in the"Big Tobacco" settlement, and his introduction to Harold Poole--LDS member and survivor of the Bataan Death March.
Grant Palmer served as a CES Institute Director and Seminary/Institute Teacher for over 30 years. In part 4 of this 4 part series, Grant discusses the early reactions to his book, his trial with the LDS Church for apostacy (which ultimately led to his disfellowship), his thoughts about how the LDS Church might constructively deal with these tough historical issues, and his testimony of how focusing on Christ could benefit all sides of these issues.
Grant Palmer served as a CES Institute Director and Seminary/Institute Teacher for over 30 years. In part 3 of this 4 part series, Grant takes us through a deep dive into his 1st book--An Insider's View of Mormon Origins. During this episode we cover Joseph Smith's treasure seeking and usage of peep stones, the actual mechanics of the Book of Mormon Process, the actual accounts of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, the multiple versions of Joseph Smith's First Vision story, and the evolution of the LDS Priesthood accounts.
Grant Palmer served as a CES Institute Director and Seminary/Institute Teacher for over 30 years. In part 2 of this 4 part series, Grant talks about his move from California to Salt Lake City, how the Mark Hofman bombings affected him and his colleagues, and his subsequent deep dive into LDS History. Grant also discusses his arrival at the decision to write his book--An Insider's View of Mormon Origins.
Grant Palmer served as a CES Institute Director and Seminary/Institute Teacher for over 30 years. In part 1 of this 4 part series, Grant talks about his childhood (growing up in Salt Lake City), his mission experience in Virginia, and his early years with the Church Education System.
At least once each week a listener will ask me (John Dehlin) about my testimony in the LDS Church. Liberals or ex-Mormons call me an apologist. Conservatives accuse me of being a"wolf in sheep's clothing." So, to dispel the speculation--and in response to lots and lots of requests, I reluctantly share my story within the Mormon context. In this episode, I discuss aspects of the LDS Faith that I do and don't believe. I also provide around 13 reasons for why I choose to remain a Mormon.
At least once each week a listener will ask me (John Dehlin) about my testimony in the LDS Church. Liberals or ex-Mormons call me an apologist. Conservatives accuse me of being a"wolf in sheep's clothing." So, to dispel the speculation--and in response to lots and lots of requests, I reluctantly share my story within the Mormon context. In this episode, I discuss my marriage, the importance of the church to my family, and the experiences I had as a seminary teacher in Seattle that led to the dissolution of my testimony in the LDS Church (as I knew it). I also discuss how the writings of Eugene England, Lowell Bennion, T. Edgar Lyon, Leonard Arrington, and others (in Sunstone and Dialogue) helped me to reconstruct my faith.
At least once each week a listener will ask me (John Dehlin) about my testimony in the LDS Church. Liberals or ex-Mormons call me an apologist. Conservatives accuse me of being a"wolf in sheep's clothing." So, to dispel the speculation--and in response to lots and lots of requests, I reluctantly share my story within the Mormon context. In this episode, I discuss my childhood, youth, and missionary experiences within the Mormon church, through the end of my university years at BYU.
Recently, Brigham Young University invited Darius Gray--one of the founders of the LDS Genesis Group, and a black Mormon for over 30 years--to make a presentation entitled,"Blacks and the LDS Priesthood." In this interview, Darius re-delivers this presentation, along with Margaret Young. Darius and Margaret are co-authors of a trilogy dealing with black Mormon history entitled: Standing on the Promises.
In part 2 of a 2 part series, we interview Ann--a pleasant, yet forceful presence in the bloggernacle, and leader within New Order Mormonism. According to the New Order Mormon Website,"New Order Mormons are those who no longer believe some (or much) of the dogma or doctrines of the LDS church, but who want to maintain membership for cultural and social reasons."
In part 3 of a 3 part series, we interview Darron Smith--a black man who joined the LDS church as a teenager in Tennessee. After serving a mission for the LDS Church and graduating from the University of Utah, Darron began a 10 year teaching career at church-owned Brigham Young University. After 10 years of teaching at BYU, Darron's employment was terminated in response to (according to Darron) his public writings and speaking--wherein Darron openly called for the LDS Church to apologize for, and renounce the racists statements of past Church leaders. In this series, Darron discusses his upbringing in the Church, provides a brief history of Blacks within the Church, discusses his termination from BYU, and his hopes for the LDS Church in the future with regard to these issues.
In part 2 of a 3 part series, we interview Darron Smith--a black man who joined the LDS church as a teenager in Tennessee. After serving a mission for the LDS Church and graduating from the University of Utah, Darron began a 10 year teaching career at church-owned Brigham Young University. After 10 years of teaching at BYU, Darron's employment was terminated in response to (according to Darron) his public writings and speaking--wherein Darron openly called for the LDS Church to apologize for, and renounce the racists statements of past Church leaders. In this series, Darron discusses his upbringing in the Church, provides a brief history of Blacks within the Church, discusses his termination from BYU, and his hopes for the LDS Church in the future with regard to these issues.
In part 1 of a 3 part series, we interview Darron Smith--a black man who joined the LDS church as a teenager in Tennessee. After serving a mission for the LDS Church and graduating from the University of Utah, Darron began a 10 year teaching career at church-owned Brigham Young University. After 10 years of teaching at BYU, Darron's employment was terminated in response to (according to Darron) his public writings and speaking--wherein Darron openly called for the LDS Church to apologize for, and renounce the racists statements of past Church leaders. In this series, Darron discusses his upbringing in the Church, provides a brief history of Blacks within the Church, discusses his termination from BYU, and his hopes for the LDS Church in the future with regard to these issues.
In part 3 of a 3 part interview, we interview Buckley Jeppson. Buckley, 57, says he's been informed verbally by a senior church leader that his life is incompatible with the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that a disciplinary council will soon address the matter. Jeppson, of Washington, D.C., married Mike Kessler in Toronto on Aug. 27, 2004. It is believed that if Jeppson is excommunicated, it would be the first time a Mormon in a legal, same-sex marriage was punished by the church. Jeppson claims that over the past five months Nolan Archibald, his Stake President and CEO of Black and Decker, has encouraged him to resign his church membership, which would avoid disciplinary action.
In part 2 of a 3 part interview, we interview Buckley Jeppson. Buckley, 57, says he's been informed verbally by a senior church leader that his life is incompatible with the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that a disciplinary council will soon address the matter. Jeppson, of Washington, D.C., married Mike Kessler in Toronto on Aug. 27, 2004. It is believed that if Jeppson is excommunicated, it would be the first time a Mormon in a legal, same-sex marriage was punished by the church. Jeppson claims that over the past five months Nolan Archibald, his Stake President and CEO of Black and Decker, has encouraged him to resign his church membership, which would avoid disciplinary action.
In part 1 of a 3 part interview, we interview Buckley Jeppson. Buckley, 57, says he's been informed verbally by a senior church leader that his life is incompatible with the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that a disciplinary council will soon address the matter. Jeppson, of Washington, D.C., married Mike Kessler in Toronto on Aug. 27, 2004. It is believed that if Jeppson is excommunicated, it would be the first time a Mormon in a legal, same-sex marriage was punished by the church. Jeppson claims that over the past five months Nolan Archibald, his Stake President and CEO of Black and Decker, has encouraged him to resign his church membership, which would avoid disciplinary action.
In part 1 of a 2 part series, we interview Ann--a pleasant, yet forceful presence in the bloggernacle, and leader within New Order Mormonism. According to the New Order Mormon Website,"New Order Mormons are those who no longer believe some (or much) of the dogma or doctrines of the LDS church, but who want to maintain membership for cultural and social reasons."
In part 2 of this 3-part series, Tom Kimball, with the help of Dan Wotherspoon, takes us through Fowler's"Stages of Faith" from an LDS perspective.
In part 3 of a 3-part series, Tom Kimball and Dan Wotherspoon tell us a bit about their journeys into stage 4 of Fowler's"Stages of Faith" as Mormons, and describe their respective experiences of attempting to baptize (Tom) and ordain (Dan) their sons while in stage 4.
In part 1 of a 3-part series, we interview Dan Wotherspoon (Editor of Sunstone Magazine) and Tom Kimball (head of sales and marketing for Signature Books), as they discuss James Fowler's work entitled,"Stages of faith." In episode 1, Dan Wotherspoon outlines the basics of Fowler's"Stages of Faith."
In part 3 of a 3 part series, we interview Todd Compton about the basics of polygamy in the Mormon church. Todd Compton is the author of the book In Sacred Loneliness.
In part 2 of a 3 part series, we interview Todd Compton about the basics of polygamy in the Mormon church. Todd Compton is the author of the book In Sacred Loneliness.
In part 1 of a 3 part series, we interview Todd Compton about the basics of polygamy in the Mormon church. Todd Compton is the author of the book In Sacred Loneliness.
In part 2 of this interview, we continue our conversation with Serenity Valley and Roasted Tomatoes-a young LDS couple living in the San Francisco Bay area, and creators of the LDS Blog Latter-Day Saint Liberation Front. In this episode, Serenity and RT discuss her ultimate return to Mormonism, the impact it has had on their marriage and family, and conclude with a very candid and somewhat courageous discussion of their testimonies-some of which can safely be considered non-mainstream or alternative within the LDS paradigm.
Over the past few months, I’ve developed a friendship with several members of the LDS Bloggernacle-including a young couple known as Serenity Valley and Roasted Tomatoes. This husband/wife pair live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and run a blog called, Latter-Day Saint Liberation Front. Serenity and RT are interesting and inspirational for many reasons one of which being the spiritual journeys that each of them traveled on their way towards being sealed in the LDS Temple (RT being a former atheist turned LDS missionary, and Serenity having left the church to become an Episcopalian, only to return later). In part 1 of this 2 part series, we learn about their early years within the LDS church, and their journeys away from, and back to, faith.
In this concluding episode (part 3 of 3), we interview with John Lynch, Chairman of FAIR–-the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research. Within the segement, John Lynch discusses the most common issues faced by FAIR, and assesses (in his view) which issues do and do not have merit. John also discusses how members of the Church should treat those struggling in their faith. Finally, John Lynch provides some thoughts/insight into some of President Hinckley’s more controversial responses in his media interviews over the past several years (including Larry King Live, L.A. Times, etc.).
In part 2 of this 3 part series, we continue our interview with John Lynch, Chairman of the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR), a volunteer group dedicated to Mormon Apologetics. In this episode, John Lynch discusses the top issues bubbling up to FAIR these days, the realities of LDS leadership, the distinction between"good" and"bad" apologetics, the growing problem of"Internet Mormonism", and answers the question as to whether or not Mormon apologetics is a gateway to apostacy.
In part 1 of a 3 part series, we interview John Lynch, Chairman of the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR), a volunteer group dedicated to Mormon Apologetics. In this episode, John Lynch discusses his conversion to the church, his journey into apologetics, and some of the basics about FAIR.
Over the past 2-3 years, LDS-themed blogs have literally erupted with activity. Today, there is an entire ecosystem of LDS bloggers, and literally hundreds of LDS blogs in the Internet. In this 2005 Sunstone Seattle presentation (to which I was invited to speak), I review the LDS Bloggernacle (past and present), and then discuss my vision for what might be possible in the future, including podcasts, wikis, screencasts, and multimedia content. I also discuss the importance of Sunstone and Dialogue reaching out to these communities.
The Mason/Mormon connection consistently ranks as a top 10 issues for those who are struggling with, or who have left the LDS Church. Greg Kearney, a lifelong, multi-generational Mormon and Master Mason, discusses the history of Masonry, how it became associated with the LDS Church, and why this association is a positive, and not a negative one.
In this podcast, we interview Gregory Prince, author of"David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism", as he discusses President McKay's involvement in the Blacks/Priesthood issue.
Today we interview a young man named Hyrum, founder of the thechurchisnottrue.com web site. In this interview, Hyrum tells his story of why he left the Mormon church.
David O. McKay presented a dramatic contrast to his predecessors: an athletic, movie-star-handsome, clean-shaven figure who often wore a white double-breasted suit; contrasted to the dark-suited, bearded polygamists (or, in the case of George Albert Smith, son of a polygamist) who preceded him as Church President ever since Joseph Smith. In an age prior to professional image-makers, he instinctively grasped the importance of appearance, and coupled it to the substance of a professional educator to become an icon of Mormonism whose persona did much to change the negative image of the Church in much of the world.
I served an LDS mission in Guatemala in the late 1980s. As my mission progressed, we began to average over 700 baptisms per month, with some companionships baptizing over 40 in one month. When I tried to talk with my mission president about the issue--it got messy. Today we claim 12+ million in the Church, but truth be told, less than 1/2 of them actually consider themselves Mormon....and thus the reason why activity rates are so closely guarded.