Mormon Stories Podcast

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 g...

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 nationw...

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...

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had our highest impact year of all time (by far) in 2023, but we have also lost several recurring donors that have not been replaced by new donors.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 red...

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...

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. Episode Show Notes YouTube Link   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 Support us on Patreon PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: Youtube Patreon Spotify App...

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.  Episode Show Notes Youtube link   Morm...

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 dictatin...

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...

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 A...

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 pol...

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 allegatio...

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 behi...

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 funda...

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 intervie...

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...

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 dist...

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 Micha...

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 Val...

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...

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 i...

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. Episode Show Notes YouTube Link ________________________ Mormon...

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 Episode Show Notes Youtube Link   LDS Discussions is made possible...

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 disc...

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. Episode Show Notes Y...