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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 Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

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 the Church's teachings on relationships, consent, and sexuality. The women share their experiences with dating apps, "soaking," and the confusion between spiritual promptings and anxiety. Other key topics include the Church's influence on women’s roles, the challenges of single life, political and faith landscapes, and deconstructing teachings like the Family Proclamation. With insights into the CES Letter, Joseph Smith’s history, and financial concerns, this video offers a candid, thought-provoking look at life within the Mormon framework and beyond. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help

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 deconstructing religious beliefs, and the impact of leaving the Church after COVID. Her story also touches on her evolving perspective on topics like polygamy, women's roles, and Heavenly Mother, along with finding empowerment through fitness, creative expression, and fantasy literature. Join us for a candid and heartfelt conversation about redefining purpose, embracing authenticity, and thriving in "Plan B." Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo

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 events like the fake apology prank, the “Be One” celebration, and Elder Oaks’ and President Nelson’s statements on race. Conversations extend to BYU’s Race Equity and Belonging Report, Brad Wilcox’s remarks, and efforts to make the Church and its institutions more inclusive. Join us as we examine how the Church addresses racism, the call for accountability, and the path forward for healing and equity. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Ven

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 teenage struggles with modesty, faith and mental health. Their love story, temple experiences, and navigating higher callings in the Church, including Jared's time as a bishop, reveal the pressures and impacts of leadership roles. Join us as we explore how these experiences transformed their lives, their perspectives on faith, and how their mental health and relationship have evolved since leaving the Church. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 Pay

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 Bott, and the creation of the Gospel Topics Essays. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

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 questions about what inspired them to create the film, what messages they wanted to share, and how they wanted the film to impact their viewers. This is an episode you wont want to miss! Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join

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 complexities of a mixed-faith marriage, her evolving views on agency, motherhood, and partnership, and the challenges of leaving the Church. This discussion dives into mental health, deconstructing religious beliefs, and finding empowerment by trusting oneself. Join us as she reflects on rebuilding her identity, embracing uncertainty, and choosing authenticity. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon S

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. McConkie’s book “Mormon Doctrine” lived on even after his death. Professors Eugene England and Steven Epperson were pushed out of BYU for their more liberal views. How the Strengthening the Church Members Committee keeps these members in check. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: In

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 reconciling his personal beliefs with his upbringing. Throughout this heartfelt conversation, Andrew opens up about his eventual decision to leave the Church, reconnect with his biological family, and navigate acceptance and understanding within his adoptive family. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 8

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 website and in manuals. How should members make sense of these conflicting messages? Today, we're joined by Matt Harris and Summur-Rayn to discuss this topic. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

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-day Saints. She also discusses her work designing temples, her struggles with the 2015 Exclusion Policy for children of gay couples, her excommunication, and the church’s evolving policies on transgender individuals. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tik

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 on chapter eight of Matt Harris’ book, "Second Class Saints." We are thrilled to announce that we have reached our donation goal to compensate Dr. Matt Harris for his contributions to this series. We sincerely thank everyone who supported this effort. While the goal to pay Matt has been met, producing this series incurred significant costs for the Open Stories Foundation. If you find value in this content and want to help cover these expenses and support future productions, we encourage you to donate at https://www.mormonstories.org/donate/ Your generosity makes a difference—thank you! Show Notes YouTube Mormon S

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 Society President, Scout Leader, and member of the Stake Young Women’s Presidency, Jen also reflects on her experiences with church leadership and the inequalities she witnessed. The conversation touches on her son coming out as gay and the impact of her decision to leave the church on Rian's mission. Join them as they candidly discuss their stories and the complexities of their faith journey. Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo O

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 answers the real reason why (and how) the ban was lifted. We are thrilled to announce that we have reached our donation goal to compensate Dr. Matt Harris for his contributions to this series. We sincerely thank everyone who supported this effort. While the goal to pay Matt has been met, producing this series incurred significant costs for the Open Stories Foundation. If you find value in this content and want to help cover these expenses and support future productions, we encourage you to donate at https://www.mormonstories.org/donate/ Your generosity makes a difference—thank you! Purchase Matt Harris' book here! “

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 advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. Meanwhile, Lexi discusses her mission in California, where she faced mental health struggles, including undiagnosed bipolar disorder and a companion with alarming ideations. Discover how a priesthood blessing empowered her to step away from the church. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on faith, identity, and personal growth! Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotif

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 whether we should trust the prophets or the apologists. Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion! Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

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 others through their divorce experiences. Join Julia, Margi, and John Dehlin for this important discussion! Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

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 Smith seeking divorce due to polygamy, the possibility of Joseph sending men on missions to marry their wives, and individuals trying to deny that Joseph ever lived polygamy. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the complexities of polygamy and its historical context! Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake Ci

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 health. She opens up about her challenges during her mission in Taiwan, her journey through depression, and her evolving understanding of the church's history. Join us as Michelle reads from her journal and reveals the pivotal moments that led her to question her beliefs. Don’t miss this insightful discussion! Show Notes YouTube Mormon Stories Thanks Our 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 PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us:MormonSto