Mormon Stories Podcast

What happened to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after Joseph Smith was killed? In Part Four of our series with historical Dr. John Turner, we examine the complicated succession crisis that followed Joseph Smith’s martyrdom in 1844. Drawing from Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet, we explore the competing claims to leadership, the role of Joseph’s family, Sidney Rigdon’s...

In Part Two, we continue Patrick Brady and Dan Dorty’s story as Patrick becomes a Mormon bishop while privately struggling with his sexuality and his increasingly complicated relationship with Dan.  Patrick discusses serving as a bishop, his approach to worthiness interviews, pornography and masturbation, the law of chastity, and his desire to create a safer environment for members of his ward. We...

In this interview, we sit down with Patrick Brady and his partner Dan Dougherty to hear Patrick’s story of growing up as a gay man in the Mormon church, marrying a wonderful woman, raising a family, serving in church leadership, and eventually becoming a bishop while keeping a deeply important part of his identity hidden. Patrick was married to Heidi for 27 years and had four children, and he desc...

For this week's Mormon News Podcast, John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes look at Apostle D. Todd Christofferson's General Conference talk on gambling, a remarkably well-timed prediction from Latter-day Saint journalist McKay Coppins, a new documentary exploring the experiences of queer Christians, the latest development in the Bisbee abuse case, Dan McClellan, Flightless Bird and more. Months bef...

Why would a British ex-Mormon sue a Marriott hotel over the Book of Mormon in her nightstand? Amanda Barnett grew up Mormon in Plymouth, England. Her mother and grandmother joined the church when the missionaries knocked in 1961. Most Mormon Stories guests believed for years before something fell apart. Amanda never believed at all. She was nearly four when her grandfather died, and when her famil...

In Part 2 of this Mormon Stories interview, John Dehlin continues his conversation with Noah Rasheta, a former Mormon who became a Buddhist teacher and a host of the Secular Buddhism podcast. After leaving Mormonism and entering what he calls “seeker mode,” Noah began exploring Buddhism –not simply as a set of beliefs, but as a practical way of understanding suffering, relationships, grief, and ev...

In Part 1 of this Mormon Stories interview, John Dehlin sits down with Noah Rasheta, a former Mormon who became a Buddhist teacher and host of the Secular Buddhism podcast, to explore his journey from a deeply Mormon upbringing to a life shaped by Buddhist practice and philosophy.  Noah was raised Mormon in Mexico after his parents converted to the Church when he was young. He descries growing up...

For this week's Mormon News Podcast, John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes look at Nemo the Mormon getting international attention as LADbible takes a deep dive into his excommunication from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, plus new developments in the LDS Church's lawsuit against Mormon Stories, declining Latter-day Saint birthrates, former tradwives rejecting the movement, changes...

Does chiasmus prove that the Book of Mormon is an ancient text? In this episode of LDS Discussions, we take a closer look at one of the most frequently cited arguments for the Book of Mormon’s ancient authenticity: chiasmus. Mormon apologists have argued that the presence of complex chiastic structures demonstrates that the Book of Mormon was written by ancient Hebrew authors and could not have be...

What does it mean to grow up Black and Mormon in an overwhelmingly white church? In Part One of our conversation with Mariama Nadworna, she shares her story of growing up in Sierra Leone before moving to the UK as a child. When her mother began investigating Mormonism, Mariama’s family eventually went “all in” on the church, embracing its teachings and community as they adjusted to life in a new c...

What does it mean to grow up Black and Mormon in an overwhelmingly white church? In Part One of our conversation with Mariama Nadworna, she shares her story of growing up in Sierra Leone before moving to the UK as a child. When her mother began investigating Mormonism, Mariama’s family eventually went “all in” on the church, embracing its teachings and community as they adjusted to life in a new c...

Today on Mormon Stories News, John and Meggan examine new Pew data on Mormon retention, the Church’s opposition to Idaho Proposition 1, questions surrounding David McConkie’s employment at BYU, a response from Suzie Greco, Elizabeth Smart’s Survivor Files, and Colorado State’s apology following anti-Mormon chants at a BYU football game. ARE MORMONS STAYING? New Pew data gives us another look at LD...

Today on Mormon Stories News, John and Meggan examine the LDS Church attorney’s response to claims about the Mormon Stories lawsuit, new Pew data on Mormon retention, the Church’s opposition to Idaho Proposition 1, questions surrounding David McConkie’s employment at BYU, a response from Suzie Greco, Elizabeth Smart’s Survivor Files, and Colorado State’s apology following anti-Mormon chants at a B...

In this episode, we continue examining Brigham Young’s life and his increasingly central role in the development of early Mormon polygamy.  Join us as we discuss John Turner’s book “Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet” with John Turner himself. Today we are discussing the chapter “The New and Everlasting Covenant.” After returning from his mission to Britain, Brigham Young encounters a Mormon movement...

In today's Mormon Stories News, John and Meggan are back with six stories raising questions about LDS leadership, institutional accountability, and the future of Mormonism. We respond to Skye's criticism of our previous coverage, examine abuse survivor advocate Suzie Greco's reported warning, and unpack Elder Kevin W. Pearson's striking remarks about a future Church with 50 million...

In Part Two of our history of tithing, we examine how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has defined tithing over time –and whether the modern expectation to pay 10% of income actually matches the historical revelation given to Joseph Smith.  The 1838 revelation on tithing instructed members to give a tenth of their “surplus” property and subsequently a tenth of their “interest” annua...

Four THRIVE events are coming — Rexburg, San Antonio, Boise, and St. George — and John Dehlin wants to make sure you hear about them IN ADVANCE this time. THRIVE conferences are for former and transitioning members of high-demand religions. They're about community, healing, and growth after Mormonism — meeting people who get it, picking up tools for navigating a faith crisis, and realizing you...

In Part Three of Mike and Michele’s story, the couple begins confronting serious concerns about Mormonism as their children struggle with missions, faith, and their place in the church. Mike becomes increasingly concerned about the challenges young Mormons are facing, and struggles to work with church leadership to keep them engaged in their faith. As they discover that the church is not working f...

We are back with Michele and Mike Seamons in part 2 of this interview with the “Idyllic” Mormon family. In part 2, they detail how their picture of the Mormon dream can come with plenty of challenges. They build and lose businesses, move across the country multiple times, and repeatedly find themselves rebuilding their lives. Through it all, they respond by doubling down on their commitment to Mor...

Today we welcome Michele and Mike Seamons to the podcast. Michele and Mike are a married couple who were both raised in the LDS faith and experienced what they describe as an “idyllic” Mormon upbringing. In Part 1, we begin with each of their backgrounds and what it was like to grow up in faithful LDS homes with supportive families, wards, and communities surrounding them. Michele was raised in Sa...

In the second episode of the Brigham Young Podcast, Dr. John Turner –author of Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet –joins us to explore Brigham Young’s transformation from a passionate and fiercely loyal follower of Joseph Smith into one of the most important leaders of the early Mormon movement.  We follow Brigham through some of the most turbulent years of early Mormon history –from the Kirtland Safe...

What would cause a megachurch pastor to lose his faith? In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we sit down with former megachurch pastor Dr. Todd Phillips to explore his journey from a new Christian searching for a fresh start, to becoming a pastor and ministry leader, preaching to crowds of 10,000 people or more. Todd grew up without a strong religious background, but after finding Christiani...

What happens when a pastor can no longer believe the message he has spent his life preaching? In Part Two of our conversation with Dr. Todd Phillips, former megachurch pastor and creator of “The Deconstructed Pastor,” Todd continues his journey out of evangelical Christianity. After years of building his life around the Bible, he began confronting difficult questions surrounding his faith in the B...

On today’s episode of Mormon News, Meggan and John break down another busy week of headlines involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Charlie Bird says he is pulling back from sharing his journey to fatherhood after receiving horrific messages about his future family, including messages invoking LDS teachings. We look at the broader Mormon conversation surrounding Charlie and Rya...

In this new series on Mormon Stories Podcast, we’re joined once again by historian Dr. John Turner to take an in-depth look at one of the most important –and complicated –figures in Mormon history: Brigham Young.  Dr. Turner is the author of Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet, his acclaimed 2012 biography of the second president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John was...