Mormon Stories Podcast

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 nua...

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 Lar...

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 descen...

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 descen...

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 ————— We are 100% donor funde...

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...

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 Le...

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 o...

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....

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....

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....

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 communiti...

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 Wolve...

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 I...

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...

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 Morm...

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-Mo...

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...

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 Vi...

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 no...

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 ————— We are 100% donor fund...

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 ep...

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...

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 tw...

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! Show Notes: Radio Free Mormon   Mormonism Live, co-hosted with Bill Reel Mormon Stories episode featuring Radio Free Mormon Mormon Stories episod...