Mormon Stories Podcast

Today it is time to hear from one of the foremost voices on Women's Issues within Mormonism: Dr. Claudia Bushman. Dr. Bushman is a historian by training, and has taught at Columbia University for many years. She is the author of several books and articles, including:"Mormon Sisters: Women of Early Utah" and"Mormon Domestic Life in the 1870s: Pandemonium or Acadia". Perhaps most significantly, Dr....

Any discussion of women in the LDS Church would be incomplete without first understanding a bit about the history of women more broadly within the context of 19th and 20th century America. Consequently, in part 2 of this multi-part series on Women in the LDS Church, we will hear from an LDS woman who also teaches women's studies at a division 1 university in the US. She will discuss the 3 major ph...

This episode kicks off an multi-part podcast series on women in the LDS Church.

Born to Sunstone and Dialogue - style parents, Nate Oman was raised to expect"messiness" within both the world, and his Church. After serving a mission in Korea and graduating from BYU, Nate attended Harvard Law School. During law school, Nate became one of the very first Mormon bloggers on the Internet, and is one of the founders of the juggernaut blog timesandseasons.org. Nate is also a positive...

At 6:44pm on February 13th in Salt Lake City, Utah -- an 18-year-old Salt Lake City resident and Bosnian immigrant named Sulejman Talovic entered Trolley Square mall with a shotgun and began a shooting spree. In the end, 9 people were shot, and 6 were killed, including Talovic himself. One of the witnesses to this event was Matt Lund -- father of 6 children, and member of the LDS Church. This is h...

J. Bonner Ritchie thoughtfully discusses the nature of both organizations and individuals -- and how there must be a healthy tension between the two. He discusses the importance of paradox in a mature and faithful world view -- and provides invaluable tips on how to healthily remain a thinking member of the LDS church.

John Dehlin offers some closing thoughts on his time with Brother Bushman, and Dr. Bushman himself provides some final musings on the challenges of dealing with tough Mormon issues. He then concludes with his testimony of Joseph Smith

Brother Bushman discusses the historicity of the Book of Mormon, and the credibility of the 3 and 8 Witnesses to the Book of Mormon.

Brother Bushman discusses Joseph Smith's bringing to light of the Book of Mormon, from angel Moroni's visit, to the obtaining of the plates, to the mechanics of the translation process. He also discusses the process of receiving revelation within Mormonism.

In this episode we tackle 4 main topics. First, brother Bushman provides a high level review of the major Joseph Smith biographies that preceded Rough Stone Rolling, including Fawn Brodie's"No man knows my history." Next, brother Bushman discusses the art of writing history, and the challenges involved in trying to arrive at"the facts" and"the truth" for both historians, and readers of history. Fi...

In part 1 of a multi-part series, Dr. Richard Bushman, the world's foremost scholar on Joseph Smith and early Mormonism and the author of Rough Stone Rolling, discusses his early years--including his struggle with faith as a Harvard undergraduate, his decision to get a PhD in history, and his experiences with Leonard Arrington, Dialogue and Sunstone. He also discusses the role of candid, honest hi...

In part 5 of a 5 part series, Anne B. Wilde (Independent Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist) discusses her Mormon Fundamentalist beliefs in depth, talks abou the future of Mormon Fundamentalism, and concludes by sharing her testimony with us.

In part 4 of a 5 part series, Anne B. Wilde (Independent Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist) discusses modern polygamy gone wrong and right.

In part 3 of a 5 part series, Anne B. Wilde (Independent Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist) discusses her story--recounting how she went from being a traditional member of the LDS Church, BYU graduate, married in the temple, and mother of 3 children--to becoming a practicing Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist--all while remaining active in the LDS church, and raising her children therein.

In part 2 of a 5 part series, Anne B. Wilde (Independent Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist) discusses the rise of Mormon Fundamentalism after the LDS Church decided to stop teaching plural marriage as an official church doctrine. She also discusses the schism within Mormon Fundamentalism, resulting in the various sects that exist today, in the 21st century.

In part 1 of a 5 part series, Anne B. Wilde (Independent Mormon Fundamentalist and polygamist) discusses the early practice of polygamy within the LDS Church.

In this episode, Mormon author Christopher Bigelow discusses his early years--from his days as a teenage Dungeons and Dragons publisher, to his 6 years of service as a writer for the Ensign.

What's it like to actually try to publish a Mormon-themed book? As an author, how many copies are you likely to sell, and how much money do you stand to make? And how do Mormon authors view the implications of the recent acquisition of Seagull Book and Tapes and Covenant communications by Deseret Book? As we continue part 3 in our series on this acquisition, we interview Christopher Bigelow, presi...

Lowell Bennion is without a doubt one of the most important Mormon figures in the 20th century. Along with T. Edgar Lyon, Lowell Bennion founded the University of Utah LDS Institute, and taught and inspired many of the great Mormon minds of the 20th century, including Eugene England, and many of the founders of Dialogue and Sunstone. Lowell Bennion was also commissioned to author several sunday sc...

Deseret Book recently decided to acquire Seagull Book and Tape and Covenant Communications — 2 of Deseret Book’s top competitors in the LDS book publishing and retail market. In part 2 in a series on this topic, LDS book publisher Kent Larsen discusses the history of the LDS book industry, and his views on the implications of this acquisition.

Deseret Book recently decided to acquire Seagull Book and Tape and Covenant Communications — 2 of Deseret Book’s top competitors in the LDS book publishing and retail market. In part 1 of a series on this topic, LDS book publisher Kent Larsen discusses the history of the LDS book industry, and his views on the implications of this acquisition.

In episode 2 of a 3 part series, Jim tells us about Harold Poole--member of the LDS church, and survivor of the Bataan Death March. This episode discusses in detail how Mr. Poole survived one of the most infamous historical events of the 20th century.

In episode 1 of a 3 part series, we meet James W. Parkinson--a high profile personal injury lawyer, and a member of the LDS Church. In this episode we discuss Jim's early years in Indio, CA, his early career as a law student and lawyer, his involvement in the"Big Tobacco" settlement, and his introduction to Harold Poole--LDS member and survivor of the Bataan Death March.

Grant Palmer served as a CES Institute Director and Seminary/Institute Teacher for over 30 years. In part 4 of this 4 part series, Grant discusses the early reactions to his book, his trial with the LDS Church for apostacy (which ultimately led to his disfellowship), his thoughts about how the LDS Church might constructively deal with these tough historical issues, and his testimony of how focusin...

Grant Palmer served as a CES Institute Director and Seminary/Institute Teacher for over 30 years. In part 3 of this 4 part series, Grant takes us through a deep dive into his 1st book--An Insider's View of Mormon Origins. During this episode we cover Joseph Smith's treasure seeking and usage of peep stones, the actual mechanics of the Book of Mormon Process, the actual accounts of the witnesses to...