Mormon Stories Podcast

Stacey Harkey, formerly part of the original cast of BYU TV’s Studio C, 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 tea...

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 found...

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 spiri...

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 be...

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...

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...

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 fi...

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 div...

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...

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 findin...

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...

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 ultimat...

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 descripti...

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? Episode Show Notes Rachel Weav...

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 thi...

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....

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 personall...

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, h...

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 d...

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...

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 th...

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. Episode Show Notes YouTube Link _________________________ Mormon St...

In the highly anticipated Part Two of Saane's story, we pick up as she navigates her first year at BYU. Prepare for a candid exploration of her experiences as a person of color, including the challenges of dating and the fetishization she encounters from those who served Polynesian missions. As the conversation unfolds, Saane reveals the pervasive racism and hostile environment she faced from whit...

Today John Dehlin is joined by Tongan Mormon, Saane Siale, with special guests Nate Byrd from BYU’s Black Menaces, and Beau Oyler, 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 stan...