Mormon Stories Podcast

When Douglas Stilgoe, AKA "Nemo the Mormon" on YouTube, no longer felt he could publicly sustain Mormonism's top leadership of apostles & prophets due to multiple acts of demonstrable dishonesty, he lost one of Mormonism's highest privileges: the ability to attend the Temple. For Mormons, Temple worship goes FAR beyond religious ceremony. It is the gate by which believing Mormons qualify for Exalt...

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 M...

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...

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. J...

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 mar...

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 Maor...

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. LDS Newsroom Statement on the United States Congress Respect for Marriage Act Co-host: Gerardo Sumano Special Guests Brenton Erickson – Public Defender Brenton's Linked In Brenton’s Tiktok Hanna...

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 Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue t...

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 Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Dono...

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...

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...

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...

In part 5 of our 6-part series on polygamy within the LDS Discussions 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. Special Guest: Nemo the Mormon Nemo the Mormon on YouTube LDS Discussion Essay on the Happiness Letter Episode Show Notes LDS Discussions 6-Part Series on Polygamy: Part 1:...

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 Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a do...

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 chang...

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...

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 he...

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 Mor...

Join Mike (LDS Discussions), Elisha, and John for Part 2 as they look at the techniques of influence that Joseph Smith used to propose to his plural wives. Helen Mar Kimball's age reduction digital illustration by Adam Worthington https://www.knowbrotherjoseph.com/ Special Guest: Elisha Lee Faith Unraveled Tiktok (Faith Transition Focused) Soul Unraveled Tiktok (Personal Journey Focused) LDS Discu...

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 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...

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 Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help...

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. Special Guest: Elisha Lee Faith Unraveled Tiktok (Faith Transition Focused) Soul Unraveled Tiktok (Personal Journey Focused) LDS Discussion Essay on Plural Marriage Proposals Episode Show Notes LDS Discussions 6-Part Series on Polygamy: Part 1: An Introdu...

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...

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 Update: We've got a new episode on another...

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...