Welcome to the MormonNewsRoundup where Dives ruminates on the great and spacious Beehive!

It stands out today as one of the only known sex education-style films ever produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Whether viewed as sincere instruction or outdated moral messaging, "The Trouble With Jack" has become a strange cultural artifact of its time. Meet Jack: an Eagle Scout battling obsessive thoughts, sexual urges, and the ultimate test of "self-contr...

Welcome back to another Throwback Thursday episode of the Mormon News Roundup! Today we're revisiting Episode 84, featuring the always insightful Rebecca Bibliotheca. Rebecca joins Dives for a wide-ranging discussion about Mormonism, faith transitions, LDS culture, and some of the most important issues affecting the Mormon and ex-Mormon communities. Rebecca is well known as the co-host of Morm...

In this presentation-style breakdown, we explore why Utah has become a major hub for MLM companies, pyramid schemes, and high-profile fraud cases. Journalist Lynn Packer has covered a number of controversial business practices and allegations tied to financial schemes and corporate structures in the region, raising questions about how these systems develop and operate. This video is not about reli...

Rachel and Benjor share their personal journey of leaving the Mormon Church and what their beliefs look like now. In this video, they talk openly about why they stepped away, how their worldview has changed, and what they currently believe after Mormonism. Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKh_403BE7MA thoughtful conversation about faith transitions, deconstruction, and rebuilding be...

Content Warning: self harm, brief mention of child SA** From forced Molly Mormon into rockstar, Irene discusses what her life was like being raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormonism) and the extreme manipulation tactics that were used to keep members active. She attended the Mormon university BYU and served a mission in Honduras, before meeting someone who completely ch...

In today’s video, BJ the Laminate takes a closer look at well-known faith-promoting stories and accounts associated with Russell M. Nelson. The discussion explores how these stories are presented, how they’ve been repeated over time, and the broader context in which they appear in Latter-day Saint discourse. BJ brings his signature mix of humor, commentary, and sourcing as he walks through the nar...

In this Throwback Thursday episode, we revisit one of the most intense and talked-about conversations from Mormon News Roundup Episode 78, featuring highlights from the Peter Bleakley interview. Peter Bleakley, a prominent ex-Mormon commentator and outspoken critic of the LDS Church, dives into themes that sparked widespread discussion across the Mormon and ex-Mormon community—often referred to by...

In this highlight compilation, we revisit one of the most engaging debates on Mormonism featuring prominent atheist and ex-Mormon **Aron Ra** and active Latter-day Saint **Kyle Adams** on the Modern Day Debate channel. The original discussion explored the question, **“Is Mormonism true?”** and covered topics including evidence, scripture, history, science, faith, and critical thinking. Rather than...

In this powerful interview, Tim Howse shares his personal story of growing up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He reflects on what his early years in the Mormon Church were really like, the culture he was raised in, and the experiences that shaped his beliefs and identity. Tim opens up about his journey with honesty and perspective, offering insight into life inside the Church d...

The Deception of Paul H. Dunn: Fabricated Miracles and False LegaciesElder Paul H. Dunn was once one of the most popular, charismatic, and beloved General Authorities in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Renowned for his moving sermons to the youth, Dunn built an entire legacy [00:05] on spectacular personal anecdotes—claiming he was a professional pitcher for the St. Louis Ca...

Faith Unraveled is one of my favorite deconstruction channels. In this episode, Elisha Lee and her husband share their thoughts on one of the most common questions former believers face: What happens to your morals when you lose your faith? Through authentic storytelling and thoughtful discussion, they explore life after Mormonism, confronting patriarchy, overcoming toxic perfectionism, rebuilding...

The God-versations Archive is going viral for exposing some of the most controversial and unexpected experiences inside LDS culture. In this clip, a young woman shares how she was allegedly told she couldn’t serve a mission because she wore a bikini in a photo. What started as a simple social media moment turns into a much bigger conversation about modesty rules, control, and religious expectation...

In this throwback episode of the Mormon News Roundup, Dives sits down with former LDS Bishop and well-known ex-Mormon podcaster Bill Reel for a wide-ranging conversation that still hits hard today. We dig into major issues shaping modern Mormon discourse, including the finances of the LDS Church, ongoing faith transitions and deconstruction, and the Church’s evolving (and often controversial) stan...

In this episode, we revisit the 2015 LDS Church policy that restricted children from baptism and confirmation if they had a parent in a same-sex relationship. Church leaders later described the policy as revelation and doctrinally consistent, but it was quietly reversed just a few years later. We walk through key public statements and interviews from senior LDS leadership, including Russell M. Nel...

If you've spent years examining your beliefs, changing your mind based on evidence, and carefully considering both sides of an issue, does refusing to be persuaded by the same old arguments make you closed-minded? In this video, I respond to a claim I've heard hundreds of times: that former believers who don't return to faith after hearing familiar religious arguments are somehow unwil...

In today's episode, I spotlight the excellent work being done by Chelsey at Wild Bloom Therapy, a channel dedicated to helping people navigate life after high-demand religions. Chelsey explores the often-overlooked topic of religious trauma and how it can continue to affect people long after they leave a faith tradition. Drawing from both her professional experience as a therapist and her pers...

Join me, Dives, as I make my only appearance on Mormonism After Dark alongside two absolute legends of Mormon podcasting: Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon. In this episode, we dive into faith crises, Mormon culture, behind-the-scenes podcasting stories, controversial topics in the LDS world, and plenty of laughs along the way. Whether you're navigating Mormonism, deconstruction, or just enjoy l...

In this episode, I talk about a powerful video from a creator known as Beeba the Beautiful, where she reflects on her experience with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and why some people choose to leave — while others stay. She shares her personal journey of serving a mission and eventually stepping away from the faith. The video is honest, emotional, and thought-provoking, offering...

The LDS Church has reportedly filed a trademark lawsuit against Mormon Stories and John Dehlin. But what exactly are the damages? Can a church claim it lost tithing revenue because members listened to a podcast? Can it argue that people were "led astray" by long-form interviews featuring believing Mormons, former Mormons, scholars, historians, and everyday members sharing their experienc...

Steve was a sixth-generation Mormon who spent decades believing that faith, obedience, and prayer could change the deepest parts of who he was. For 35 years, he tried to live a life shaped by expectation, fear, and devotion—while quietly struggling with his identity. Everything changed after 9/11, when a moment of global shock triggered a personal crisis of belief. What followed was a rapid unrave...

Can Mormonism and historic Christianity truly be considered the same faith? In this episode, we examine an article by Eric Johnson of Mormonism Research Ministry (MRM) that presents seven challenging questions for Latter-day Saints. Topics include the Great Apostasy, the nature of God, premortal existence, exaltation and becoming gods, salvation by grace, temple ordinances, and baptism for the dea...

In this video, Lexy shares her personal story of growing up in the Mormon Church and the experiences, questions, and discoveries that ultimately led her to leave. Whether you're a current member, former member, questioning your beliefs, or simply curious about Mormonism, this is an honest and thoughtful discussion about faith, identity, and personal growth. Original Video:https://www.youtube.c...

The ultimate supercut is here. In this compilation, we break down the full Bricks & Minifigs Mormon scandal, including the controversy, public reactions, social media fallout, community responses, and the broader conversations that followed within Mormon and ex-Mormon circles. This supercut combines coverage, commentary, analysis, and reactions into one complete video so viewers can follow the...

Welcome back to another Throwback Thursday episode of Mormon News Roundup! In this special highlight reel, I’m revisiting episode 108 where I cohosted an entire show with the one and only Backyard Professor — Kerry Shirts. Full Episode: https://youtu.be/4b7VUrsfffUKerry is one of the most recognizable voices in the Ex-Mormon and spiritual discussion space on YouTube, known for his deep dives into...

Morgan and Jared Higdon from My Spiritual Life sit down for a fun and insightful Exmormon reaction to the hit Broadway musical The Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon. We watch, laugh, and break down some of the most iconic (and controversial) moments from the show, discussing how it hits differently through an ex-LDS lens. From satire and shock humor to deeper reflections on faith transitions, this...