Mormon Stories Podcast

In this episode, Samantha, John, and Gerardo unpack the fallout from a leaked audio clip of BYU Football captain and former Mormon Missionary Tyler Batty’s explicit halftime speech, recorded outside the locker room at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The speech, featuring vulgar language, has raised questions about BYU’s Honor Code, which strictly forbids profanity, vulgar language, and...

Join us for our annual status report where we discuss our successes for 2024, our status as a sustainable podcast/non-profit, and our plans for 2025. If you want to donate to help keep Mormon Stories alive, or to support us during "Giving Tuesday" week, you can donate here: https://www.mormonstories.org/donate/ Show Notes YouTube 00:02:55 This is the best year we’ve ever had00:06:00 Why...

Join us as we dive deep into the unique experiences of several women navigating life in and outside of Mormonism. From patriarchal blessings and missions to the complexities of dating, marriage, and personal revelation, these stories explore the pressure to conform to Church expectations and the personal growth that comes from questioning them. We discuss YSA culture, worthiness interviews, and th...

In this episode, we explore one woman's journey of faith, identity, and self-discovery within and beyond the Mormon Church. From her experiences in musical theater auditions, serving a mission, and navigating family trauma, to struggles with infertility and finding her own path, she shares deeply personal insights. We discuss the cultural pressures of motherhood, the challenges of deconstructi...

Today we are discussing pivotal moments, from the Church’s “Race and the Priesthood” essay to public statements on racism, and the ongoing struggle for meaningful engagement on these issues. Highlights include racial inequities, discussions on the lack of diverse representation in leadership, and the emotional impact of past and present racism on Black members. We are also covering controversial e...

In this in-depth interview, Jared and Camille share their intertwined journeys through faith, family, and personal growth within the Mormon Church. They discuss formative experiences, from Jared’s basketball career and mission (under Jeffrey Holland and Brad Wilcox) —where he faced challenges like fraudulent baptisms in Chile and an unexpected interview with Apostle Richard G. Scott—to Camille’s t...

Join us as Matthew Harris returns to discuss Gordon B. Hinckley's efforts to address lingering racism in the church, the push to remove Bruce R. McConkie's Mormon Doctrine from shelves, and members' calls for an apology for the church's past racism. We also explore Elder Holland's attempts to rebrand these doctrines as "folklore," the continuation of racist teachings by BYU professors like Randy B...

Today we are interviewing the creators of the new movie Heretic, staring Hugh Grant. Heretic is a horror film about two Mormon sister missionaries who meet a man named Mr. Reed (Grant) who ensnares them in a deadly game of cat and mouse while locked in his house. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods are an American filmmaking duo who also directed A Quiet Place and Nightlight. Today they are going to answer...

In this heartfelt conversation, Fran Grover shares her journey through life within and beyond Mormonism, from her early upbringing in an orthodox Mormon family to navigating grief, identity, and faith. She opens up about losing her sister, grappling with religious expectations, and experiencing deep personal and spiritual shifts while pursuing law school and marriage. Topics covered include the co...

Join us today as we meet again with historian Matt Harris to discuss his new book “Second Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality.” Matt Harris talks about the relationship between the Church and the John Birch Society and how the church changed its mind on supporting the Martin Luther King holiday. Additionally, Harris discusses how the harmful teachings of Bruce R. McCon...

Join us for an in-depth interview with Andrew Fish as he shares his story of adoption, faith, and self-discovery. Andrew reflects on his family's journey, from his parents’ struggle to adopt, to his biological mother's decision to place him for adoption, and his upbringing within the Mormon Church. He also discusses the impact of religious expectations, his mission experiences, and his journey of...

The priesthood and temple ban began when Brigham Young learned that Black Saints were marrying white women, fearing interracial marriage. When the ban was finally lifted it was only with the caveat that they continued to warn the members against interracial marriage. Church members have received mixed messages since then, with warnings against interracial marriage still found on the Church's websi...

In this episode, we interview Laurie Lee Hall, a former bishop, stake president, and temple designer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who later came out as transgender while serving as a Stake President. Laurie shares her journey of growing up with a gender identity that didn’t match how she felt, her experiences on a church mission, and attending Affirmation for LGBTQ+ Latter-...

In this episode, we join Matt Harris to discuss the aftermath of lifting the priesthood and temple ban in the LDS Church. We explore how Bruce R. McConkie's account of the revelation was embellished and the damage control efforts by top church leaders. We also examine President Kimball's controversial remarks about Native Americans and his later regret over those comments. This discussion focuses...

In this compelling episode, Rian Anderson unites with her mother, Jen, to share their powerful journey of faith and family. While Rian served her Mormon mission, her entire family left the church. Jen is here to tell her side of the story. Jen shares about how her mother battled with cancer while she was in High School and after marriage Jen’s husband struggled with pornography. As a former Relief...

What were the events and who were the key characters that led to the lifting of the priesthood and temple ban for black people? In this episode Matt Harris will answer those questions. Rumors have gone around that the ban was lifted due to the IRS threatening to take away their tax exempt status, or because of the lawsuits involving the NAACP, etc. Matt Harris puts many of these rumors to rest and...

Join Gerardo and Hayley Rawle (from the Girl's Camp podcast) as they dive into the journey of sisters Lexi and Sydney, who both joined the Mormon church in their pre-teens in Ohio. Sydney, an LGBTQ+ ally, shares her mission experience in Bolivia and her challenges with dating in the Young Single Adult Ward. After questioning her faith during the pandemic, she found herself grappling with her advoc...

In this gripping third installment of our series, we dive deep into the Book of Mormon to unravel the true meaning of the cursed “Skin of Blackness." Are recent apologetic theories—claiming it's just paint, dark coats, or tattoos—offering genuine insights, or are they merely attempts to gloss over the text's troubling implications? Join us as we confront these arguments head-on and question whethe...

In this special episode, we're thrilled to welcome Meg Campbell as we tackle the question: Can there be a healthy Mormon/exMormon divorce? Meg reflects on her journey of feeling constrained by church expectations and how her relationship shifted with the pressure of a Mormon Temple marriage. She shares vital dos and don’ts for navigating divorce, insights on dating afterward, and ways to support o...

Join us as we dive into a thought-provoking discussion with Sandra Tanner about Brian Hales' recent video addressing the challenges raised in the CES Letter regarding polygamy. Hales controversially claims that Joseph Smith did not engage in sexual relations with his polyandrous wives (his wives who were already married). We'll explore key topics, including biblical support for polygamy, Emma Smit...

Michelle Clyde shares her journey of faith transition within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Growing up in Springville, Utah, she became more progressive in her views after her friend started the first gay-straight alliance in Utah Valley. Despite serving as a temple worker and in the Relief Society presidency, Michelle struggled with her experiences in the temple and her mental h...

In today's video, we dive into the protests at BYU during the 1970s, including threats from black activists and government pressure to increase diversity in hiring and recruitment. We'll also discuss a shocking incident during a basketball game where a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the crowd, narrowly missing the BYU sports announcer. The church's response to these threats (mostly fabricated by...

Nemo the Mormon was recently summoned to a Disciplinary Council by his local church leaders in Oxford, England. While his Membership Council letter was vague on the exact reasons why this council is being held, he has some pretty good guesses. He recently went on LADBible and flew down to America to speak at the McKinney, Texas City Council. Nemo has also been a staple in the LDS Discussions serie...

We are back again for part three to discuss episodes six, seven and eight of Hulu’s new hit docuseries The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Does Mormonism produce a certain type of husband? Does it create a certain type of wife? How does Mormonism influence the connection, equality, and other aspects of marriages? Join us as we discuss these questions with Alyssa Witbeck,, Hayley Rawle and John and G...

We are joined today by attorney Kolby Reddish to discuss the recent updates in the James Huntsman case against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Huntsman claimed the Church misused funds, alleging fraud and is seeking the return of millions of dollars of his voluntary contributions. This case could have national implications on how religious organizations use the voluntary contribut...