Mormon Stories - Lds

John John, Jenn, and special guest Aimee Heffernan as we check in with Natasha Helfer on the one year anniversary of her excommunication from the Mormon church, largely in response to her work as a licensed sex therapist to Mormons and ex-Mormons. Show Notes: Natasha Helfer's Pre-Excommunication reflections on Mormon Stories Live Vigil at Natasha's Excommunication Natasha's Post-Excommunication Debrief on Mormon Stories Ward-less: A Post-Mormon Field Guide podcast with Aimee Heffernan "My Official Stance on Masturbation," by Natasha Helfer, August 6, 2012 "I Am Not Broken," Natasha Parker, Thrive 2019 "To Young Men Only," Boyd K. Packer's 1976 General Conference talk, in which he uses an extended metaphor comparing male genitals to a "Little Factory" to discourage masturbation Natasha's first interview on Mormon Stories, in which she was still afraid to talk openly about masturbation Feminist Mormon Housewives Natasha interviews Jennifer Finlayson-Fife on Mormon Mental Health podcast American Association of

In this interview, Sandra Tanner talks about her journey with the book of Mormon from an LDS member who believed the Book of Mormon to be scripture, to a born-again Christian who continued to use the Book of Mormon as scripture, to her doubts about the Book of Mormon, to her ultimate rejection of the book as Scripture, and finally to her later work as a critic of the book. Show Notes: Jerald and Sandra Tanner: Their Story by Ronald V. Huggins, coming from Signature Books in 2022 "Jerald and Sandra Tanner: The Early Years," on Mormon Stories "Reflections on Mark Hofmann and Murder Among the Mormons," with Sandra Tanner on Mormon Stories "Mormon Polygamy Apologetics," with Sandra Tanner on Mormon Stories Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 "Pauline Hancock and Her 'Basement Church,'" by Jason R. Smith,The John Whitmer Historical Association Journal, April 2022 Transcript of the 1826 "Glass-Looker" Trial, State of New York v. Joseph Smith, Jr. The Tanners’ "Dear Friend" Letter, explaining why they were resigning from the L

Legendary researcher Sandra Tanner joins us for our third episode on Joseph Smith's polygamy and how the LDS church deals with this controversial subject. In this final episode, we will discuss the final part of Doctrine and Covenants 132, which tends to go unnoticed by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Follow along with textual references to Doctrine and Covenants 132 Show Notes: "Doctrine and Covenants 129-132 with Dr. Kate Holbrook," on followHIM podcast An Insider's View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer "Preguntas y Respuestas con Elder Bednar para JAS" (English audio), in which Bednar says Mormons do not have free agency because when they got baptized they agreed to follow their church leaders and God Full text of "The Happiness Letter," Joseph Smith's Alleged 1842 Letter to Nancy Rigdon "Your Divine and Eternal Destiny," Dale G. Renlund addressing the Women's Session of General Conference, April 2022 The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy: Haunting the Hearts and Heaven of Mormon Wome

Cara Santa Maria is a Los Angeles Area Emmy and Knight Foundation Award winning journalist, science communicator, television personality, author, and podcaster. Cara is the science correspondent on National Geographic's popular television series Brain Games as well as the creator and host of the weekly science podcast Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria. In addition to co-hosting the long-standing Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, she also coauthored the Skeptics Guide to the Universe book. Cara was also raised Mormon. This is her story. *Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation. If you need help, reach out: National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-8255 Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ+ Youth (866) 488-73876 Show Notes: National Geographic's Brain Games Talk Nerdy podcast with Cara Santa Maria Talk Nerdy The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake by Steven Novella

Over the last decade the Mormon Church has officially admitted that Joseph Smith and his family believed in and practiced treasure-seeking using folk magic and occult methods. However, many people overlook how these illegal and disreputable practices are closely related to the stories that Joseph would tell later, including the creation of the Book of Mormon. In this episode, Mike from LDS Discussions talks to us about Joseph Smith’s treasure digging and how it relates to the Book of Mormon story and the Church as a whole.   LDS Discussions Essay: Treasure Digging   Episode Show Notes _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter: @l

Join us for part 5 of our interview with Steven Pynakker, host of Mormon Book Reviews. Show notes: Steven Pynakker Podcast: Mormon Book Reviews Ryan White - AIDS Aids Quilt at Washington Monument Exodus International - The Downfall of the Ex-Gay Movement New Evidence That Demands Verdict MS Podcast episode with David Bokovoy MS Podcast episode with Bart Ehrman A letter to a Christian nation book Shawn McCraney Podcast MS Podcast episode with Shawn McCraney MS Podcast episode with Chris Thomas ————— We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming! Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50 ————— MSP on Spotify MSP on Apple Podcasts MSP Blog Instagram Patreon TikTok Discord   Contact Us! *MormonStories@gmail.com *PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Join us for part 4 of our interview with Steven Pynakker, host of Mormon Book Reviews. Show notes: Steven Pynakker Podcast: Mormon Book Reviews David Hall Chris Thomas ————— We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming! Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50 ————— MSP on Spotify MSP on Apple Podcasts MSP Blog Instagram Patreon TikTok Discord   Contact Us! *MormonStories@gmail.com *PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Join us for part 3 of our interview with Steven Pynakker, host of Mormon Book Reviews. Show notes: Steven Pynakker Podcast: Mormon Book Reviews John Hamer BH Roberts Dan McClellan TikTok A Pentecostal reads the Book of Mormon MS Paul H. Dunn Episode (Lynn Packer) Steven’s episode on reviewing BH Roberts on Mormon Book Reviews MS Episodes with Thomas Murphy MS Brent Metcalfe Episode MS Fawn Brodie episode with Newell Bringhurst ————— We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming! Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50 ————— MSP on Spotify MSP on Apple Podcasts MSP Blog Instagram Patreon TikTok Discord   Contact Us! *MormonStories@gmail.com *PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Have you ever wanted a credible explanation for how the Book of Mormon was created? Steven Pynakker knows more about Mormonism and Mormon history than 99.9% of all Mormons…. combined. Join us today as Steven shares his views on how the Book of Mormon was created. Show notes: Steven Pynakker Podcast: Mormon Book Reviews Kathlene Melanocus - Secret Combinations: Evidence of Early Mormon Counterfeiting Alexander Campbell review of the Book of Mormon Thomas Payne Grant Palmer Johnathan Edwards “Natural Man is an enemy to God” Adam Clarke: Biblical translation William Morgan - Wrote exposé of Masons Thomas Murphy - Interview Dan Vogel CES Letter The Late War 1812 Ethan Smith - View of the Hebrews The Glass Looker - Mark Elwood Benny Hinn Sally Chase Luman Walters John Hamer William Davis’ Theory Visions in the Seer Stone - William L. Davis Mormon Think timeline Letter for my wife Mike Brown Essays & Timeline ————— We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming! Click here

Steven Pynakker, host of the Mormon Book Reviews YouTube channel, shares with us his story of how he gained an avid interest in Mormonism growing up as an Evangelical Christian. Show notes: Steven Pynakker Podcast: Mormon Book Reviews Gospel Tangents Podcast A Pentecostal reads the Book of Mormon MS Chris Thomas Episode Full Gospel Business Men Association The late great planet earth: (1988)  Godmakers Cartoon Ed Decker MS Interview No Man Knows My History Martha Beck - Leaving the Saints Encyclopedia of Mormonism Gospel Tangents Don Bradley: Lost 116 pages Palmer: The incomparable Christ Richard Bushman ————— We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming! Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50 ————— MSP on Spotify MSP on Apple Podcasts MSP Blog Instagram Patreon TikTok Discord   Contact Us! *MormonStories@gmail.com *PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Since the founding of Mormonism in 1830 there has been a core belief in the imminent 2nd coming of Jesus Christ (thus the "Latter-day Saints" portion of the Mormon church's official name). Within modern Mormonism over the past few decades there has been an increasing trend towards "end times" preparedness - wherein ultra-orthodox Mormons begin preparing for the 2nd coming of Jesus by selling their 401k's and retirement plans, moving to rural areas, attending "Prepper" conferences like "Preparing a People," building fortresses, stockpiling food/weapons/ammunition/tents/trailers, denying traditional health care to children, etc., and preparing (i.e., "prepping") for the arrival of Jesus. This movement has been at best benign (for a few), but for many has led to extreme behaviors, divided families, financial ruin, a host of emerging "prophets" (e.g., charlatans) who prey on this mentality (e.g., Julie Rowe), and in some cases murder (e.g., Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow story). Emma was raised in a Mormon Prepper

In Part 2 of our 3-part interview with Emma about being raised as a Mormon "prepper," Emma discusses what it was like to serve an LDS mission in the Philippines, which included a corrupt wherein missionaries were encouraged to baptize impoverished Filipinos at any cost and by any  means necessary, largely out of a desire to inflate mission statistics. See Parts 1 and 3 of this series with Emma to learn about the Mormon "Prepper" movement. Show Notes: "I-Thou vs I-It Conversions: The Mormon 'Baseball Baptism' Era," by D. Michael Quinn, Sunstone Magazine, December 1993 "Dr. Ted Lyon on LDS Church Change, Latin American Missions, LDS Membership Statistics, and Thoughtful Faith" on Mormon Stories "Kiddie Baptisms? My Mission Experience in Guatemala," John Dehlin on Mormon Stories "Stories from a CES Director, Mission President, and Trustee for Deseret Trust Company," Roger Hendrix on Mormon Stories "How a Mormon Mission President Lost His Testimony," Roger Hendrix on Mormon Stories "Tithing and the LDS/Mormon

Since the founding of Mormonism in 1830 there has been a core belief in the imminent 2nd coming of Jesus Christ (thus the "Latter-day Saints" portion of the Mormon church's official name).  Within modern Mormonism over the past few decades there has been an increasing trend towards "end times" preparedness - wherein ultra-orthodox Mormons begin preparing for the 2nd coming of Jesus by selling their 401k's and retirement plans, moving to rural areas, attending "Prepper" conferences like "Preparing a People," building fortresses, stockpiling food/weapons/ammunition/tents/trailers, denying traditional health care to children, etc., and preparing (i.e., "prepping") for the arrival of Jesus.  This movement has been at best benign (for a few), but for many has led to extreme behaviors, divided families, financial ruin, a host of emerging "prophets" (e.g., charlatans) who prey on this mentality (e.g., Julie Rowe), and in some cases murder (e.g., Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow story). Emma was raised in a Mormon Preppe

Join Margi, John, and Gerardo for our next episode of Thrive Stories this coming Tuesday at noon (MST). Come listen and participate in the conversation as we talk to Jake Bellenfant. Find out how Jake has processed the damaging experiences of his youth and young adulthood growing up gay in the church and how he has reclaimed his own mental health. In addition, listen to how Jake has navigated grief and loss in witnessing both the death of his mother and the loss of his community. Jake is now a mental health advocate, studying at the #1 ranked Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Vanderbilt University. He aspires to improve the mental health of populations across the lifespan and in marginalized groups that are struggling with mental illness-- particularly those who have suffered the mental health effects of undue influence, high demand belief systems, abusive family dynamics, and religious trauma. Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John and Carah) will be intervie

We've whipped up another epic episode discussing the context left out of LDS church curriculum around early Mormon polygamy. Sandra Tanner joins Mormon Stories as a special guest to address comments made on the followHIM podcast by church historian Kate Holbrook. Join John, Sandra, and Gerardo live Monday at 4:30pm MT. Show Notes: "Doctrine and Covenants 129-132 with Dr. Kate Holbrook," on followHIM followHIM podcast with Hank Smith and John Bytheway Full text of "The Happiness Letter," Joseph Smith's Alleged 1842 Letter to Nancy Rigdon "A Study in Religious Manipulation," Jonathan Streeter on "The Happiness Letter" "Nancy Rigdon and the Happiness Letter," on Mormon Discussion podcast Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer "Kingdom Come," by David Van Biema, Time, June 24, 2001 A Woman's View, Helen Mar Kimball Whitney's Journals "Joseph Smith and Other Men's Wives," by Dan Vogel Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Full court transcript of the "Temple Lot Case" "'Warts and all' in Smit

Join us for Part 3 of our interview with Rodney Meldrum, wherein we discuss his beliefs regarding the Book of Mormon Heartland model. Show Notes: Steven Hawkings Ancient Society - Lewis Henry MorganRodney Meldrum Book Jonathan Neville Camorah Gospel Topic Essays Charles Darwin  Kay Godfrey Heartland Model Thomas Stuart Ferguson Gregory Smith’s article Hannah Stoddard Mormon Stories Interview with Thomas Murphy ————— We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming! Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50 ————— MSP on Spotify MSP on Apple Podcasts MSP Blog Instagram Patreon TikTok Discord   Contact Us! *MormonStories@gmail.com *PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Join Margi, John, and Carah for our next episode of Thrive Stories this coming Tuesday at noon (MST). Come listen and participate in the conversation as we discuss sexuality, body confidence, and owning our own stories from this minute forward. Faith has found deeper meaning and exhilaration in celebrating sexuality and body autonomy in her life after Mormonism. Thrive Stories is a new podcast series where Margi (alongside John and Carah) will be interviewing a member of the community twice per month.  The interviews will be shorter (1-2 hours), story-based, but will be focused on a particular aspect of healing and growth AFTER a Mormon faith crisis (thus the THRIVE name).  They will happen on Tuesdays at noon (MST). Some examples of areas of thriving include:  Family Relationships, Healthy Boundaries, Finding Community, Finding Meaning/Purpose, Dealing with Grief/Death, Religion after Mormonism, Health Sexuality, Parenting, Improving Physical Health, Identity, Health Marriage/Relationships, Secular Spiritual

Join us for Part 1 of a multi-part series where John Larsen discusses Mormonism and logical fallacies. We talk about how fallacious arguments are natural to the human brain and how people in and outside of the Mormon church use bad reasons to keep their line of thinking alive. Please support this content and having John Larsen on by donating to the Mormon Expressions fund HERE! Show Notes: Encyclopedia of Mormonism Mormonism - What everyone needs to know By Terryl Givens Richard Bushman Rough Stone Rolling Rodney Meldrum Books Mormon Expression Donations Mormon Expression Podcast Link ————— We are 100% donor funded! Please click HERE to donate and keep this content coming! Click here to donate monthly: $10 $25 $50 ————— MSP on Spotify MSP on Apple Podcasts MSP Blog Instagram Patreon TikTok Discord   Contact Us! *MormonStories@gmail.com *PO Box 171085 Salt Lake City, UT 84117 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Join hosts John Dehlin and Gerardo Sumano as they explore what happens when a Mormon missionary reads the CES Letter. Kolby Sorensen was raised a devout Mormon in West Valley and West Jordan, Utah. In 2020, he was called to serve a mission as the COVID pandemic began, when missionaries were encouraged to use social media to proselytize.   Show Notes: Letter to a CES Director by Jeremy Runnells "Reflections on the CES Letter," Daniel Peterson, FAIRmormon Conference 2014 "Belief after the CES Letter," Jim Bennett on Mormon Stories "A Faithful Reply to the CES Letter from a Former CES Employee," by Jim Bennett Jeremy Runnell's responses to "Debunkings of the CES Letter" "Missionaries returning home at their own insistence," Mission President's Handbook, Ch 4 Kolby's posts on Ex-Mormon Reddit Kolby’s Instagram "Telling Your Loved Ones About Losing Your Faith," on Mormon Stories "Mormon Inoculation" on Mormon Stories "Personal Peace in Challenging Times," Quentin L. Cook, General Conference October 2021 "Bri

Welcome back Lizzy and Spencer Bean for the third and final part to their delightful, authentic, hilarious Mormon Stories interview! We dive in head-on in this episode hearing about how marriage for these two young Mormons was not what they expected. But with an interesting reframe to spirituality from an LDS therapist, Lizzy and Spencer’s autonomous spirituality began to emerge like never before. After having enough of spiritual gatekeeping and finding a way to make marriage finally work from them, Spencer describes almost being kicked out of BYU and the situation he was put in by a bishop telling him he had one week to read the Book of Mormon or lose his ecclesiastical endorsement. There are too many topics to list that we cover in this epic final episode with Lizzy and Spencer, but among them are: How and why some Mormons decide to supplement LDS church teachings with New Age spirituality, how wearing garments and Mormon body standards affect women, how empathizing with friends in the LGBTQ community can w