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Today we are continuing our series of interviews with LDS Church Education System employees. Today’s guest is extra special, as he resigned from his seminary teaching position just days before the filming of this episode!Riley Davis was born into the church and grew up in a very traditional Mormon family in Utah. As the son of an LDS bishop, Riley struggled with depression due to religious scrupulosity in his youth, but found healing and growth through church youth programs like the Boy Scouts of America—an experience that inspired him to continue working with youth for the rest of his life. After serving a mission in Buenos Aires, Riley eventually became a math and science teacher but was soon presented with an opportunity to work for CES as an LDS seminary teacher.Riley also shares with John insights into the current state of the CES program and where it may be headed in the future.Content Warning: This episode discusses self-harm. Please listen with care.___________________YouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our

We are back with Chapter Twelve of John Turner’s new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” Today we are covering Chapter Twelve which is titled: “Olive Leaves” that covers the years 1832-1833 in Kirtland, Ohio.We tackle topics like the excommunication of Jesse Gause, one of the first General Authorities and other conflicts between the Mormon leaders.We also answer questions like...-Was the idea of the different priesthoods original to Joseph Smith?-Did Joseph Smith speak in tongues?-Did Joseph Smith actually predict the Civil War?-Is the School of the Prophets unique and where did the Solemn Assembly come from?You won’t want to miss this important installment of the Joseph Smith Podcast!___________________YouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:⁠⁠One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠Venmo⁠⁠Our Platforms:⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠Socia

Join us live today as we welcome back Ganesh Cherian who is here to discuss the aspects of the Book of Mormon that clearly show its 19th century origins. What influences did Joseph Smith use to write the Book of Mormon? Do unique aspects of his life show up in the text?From American patriotism and Native American policy to slippery treasure and evolving doctrines, this deep dive challenges the traditional narrative that the Book of Mormon is an ancient text. Based on Ganesh’s new book “Joseph Smith: The Architect of Mormonism” we answer the question: Did Book of Mormon Lamanites Exist?___________________Show NotesYouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:⁠⁠One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠Venmo⁠⁠Our Platforms:⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠Social Media:⁠⁠Insta: @mormstories⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Discord⁠⁠Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comP

We are very excited this week to release a first-of-its-kind Mormon Stories episode! Born and raised in Hyderabad, India, Sirisha Shumway converted to Mormonism at the age of 14, against the wishes of her family. She quickly became a very devout member of her LDS community, served a mission, and even worked for the church as a translator.After moving to the US to completer her education, Sirisha faced increasing pressure to marry and raise a family in the LDS faith. But when her husband began questioning church history, she embarked on her own faith crisis, uncovering disturbing truths about Joseph Smith, polygamy, and other deceptions about church history.Topics include:-Sirisha's upbringing in India-Structure of the LDS church in India-Church interfetance in family relationships-And the long-lasting impact of high-demand religions on personal identityWe are grateful to Sirisha for sharing her story with us, and hope you enjoy this very unique episode.___________________Show NotesYouTubeMormon Stories Th

We are back again with historian Dr. John Turner to explore Chapter Eleven of his new book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. The chapter is titled “Pure Language” and covers the years 1831-1832 in Kirtland, Ohio. Turner discusses the stories of healing on the part of Joseph Smith, the controversy surrounding the publishing of the Book of Commandments as well as some of the members questioning Joseph Smith’s revelations. Dr. Turner also discusses Joseph Smith’s revelation on the three degrees of heaven and the possible connections to Emanual Swedenborg (as well as the fact that Hitler is in Mormon heaven!)We also tackle some big questions:-Is John Turner’s book just another hagiography idealizing his subject?-Why did Alexander Campbell oppose Mormonism so vehemently?-What are we to make of these stories of healing?-Was the tar and feathering of Joseph Smith having to do with sexual impropriety?You won’t want to miss this important episode in the Joseph Smith Podcast series!_______________

What happens when a Mormon woman questions her faith—but doesn’t walk away entirely? In this week's interview, Olivia Calvert shares her journey of embracing doubts and shifts in belief. Choosing to live Mormonism in her own way, Olivia’s path leads her to what she calls “casual discipleship.” While we have explored stories like this before from men in the church, it is rare for an LDS woman to open up about her faith in this way.Topics include:-Purity culture-Faith crises-Church history-Choosing to stay Mormon—on your own terms. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit the Mormon mold, this story might be exactly what you need to hear. Join us as we talk about the many ways people are navigating Mormonism today.___________________Show NotesYouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:⁠⁠One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠Venmo⁠⁠Our Platforms:⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠Ap

Tune in today to hear John Turner discuss chapter 10 of his book, Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. This chapter will focus on the question of if Joseph Smith gave early church missionaries permission to take Native Americans as plural wives. You will also get the chance to her John Turner answer listener questions regarding the series so far. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy thoughtful conversations on religious history.Please purchase the book ⁠here⁠.To support this series please donate ⁠here⁠. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.___________________Show Notes⁠YouTube⁠Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:⁠⁠⁠One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Venmo⁠⁠⁠Our Platforms:⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠Social Media:⁠⁠⁠Insta: @mormstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: @morm

Join us today for a unique Mormon Stories episode that is the first of its kind. Myndee Tollefson was born in Bountiful, Utah to an orthodox Mormon family. At just 19, she became pregnant and, feeling immense pressure from the Church and her family, gave her baby up for adoption through LDS Family Services—only to later discover that her child's life in the adoptive family was not what the Church promised.Topics include:-Toxicity of purity culture-Unplanned pregnancy in Mormonism-Harsh backlash from her family and LDS community-Adoption within the LDS Family services program-The church's role in facilitating and encouraging adoption-Being a "birth mom"-Troubled teen culture within MormonismHer story sheds light on the emotional and spiritual costs of institutional coercion, and the healing that comes with breaking free from this control. ___________________Show NotesYouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:⁠⁠One-ti

Welcome to another episode with Dr. John Turner! Today we are covering Chapter Nine of his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet." Chapter nine is titled “Flying High” and covers the year 1831 which mostly took place in Kirtland, Ohio for Joseph Smith and the early Saints.Topics include:-Comments from listeners on this podcast series-Why Joseph Smith didn’t preach from the Book of Mormon-Early criticism of the Book of Mormon-Demonic possessions and miracles-The United Order-Missionaries teaching the LamanitesNon-Mormon historian, John Turner, approaches these topics in refreshing and informed ways. You won’t want to miss this episode!Please purchase the book here: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300255164/joseph-smith/To support this series please donate here: https://donorbox.org/josephsmith. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.___________________YouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue t

Join us today as we resurface another classic Mormon Stories episode! Originally filmed in 2007, this interview is with Elbert Peck who was the editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986-2001.Topics will include:-His early years in Washington D.C.-His time at BYU with the Seventh East Press publication-What led to him taking over Sunstone Magazine-Interactions with other key Sunstone members-Events leading up to the September Six excommunications of 1993-The decline of Sunstone publicationsWe hope you enjoy the re-broadcast of this important interview, and look forward to seeing all of you at the 50th anniversary Sunstone Symposium this weekend! (July 31st - August 1st)___________________YouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:⁠⁠One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠Venmo⁠⁠Our Platforms:⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠Social Media:⁠⁠Insta: @mormstories⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: @mormon

Join us today for a unique Mormon Stories episode! Gabriella Zelaya shares her story of growing up amidst Mormon culture in Farmington, Utah as a non-member. Surrounded by an LDS-dominated community and extended family, Gabby navigated social pressure, exclusion, and judgment by the members that surrounded her.From feeling like an outsider in school to eventually converting to Mormonism as a teenager for a sense of belonging, Gabby opens up about the emotional toll of purity culture, “love bombing,” and the struggle to find self-worth. She recounts her journey through mental health challenges, her eventual disaffection from the Church, and the healing work she’s done to break cycles of shame and rebuild her life on her own terms.Topics Include:-Growing up non-Mormon in a Mormon world-Conversion for community and survival-Love bombing and disillusionment-Breaking free and healing from traumaJoin us for this raw and inspiring conversation.___________________YouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help

In this episode, we dive into Chapter Eight of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet by John G. Turner, focusing on the fall of 1830 through the move to Kirtland, Ohio. We explore major challenges to Joseph Smith’s authority, including Hiram Page’s seer stone revelations and Oliver Cowdery’s pushback on church governance. Why did Joseph stop using a seer stone? What does it mean when revelations clash?We also discuss:-The origins of the concept of Zion-Apocalyptic expectations, blood moons, and the Second Coming-The influence of the Book of Enoch and Joseph’s expanding biblical vision-Missionary work among Native Americans and the designation of Jackson County as the New Jerusalem-Sidney Rigdon’s introduction and influence, including debates about his possible prior contact with Joseph Smith-The emotional and financial sacrifices demanded of early followers—and what Joseph himself was giving up (or not)With theological innovation, power struggles, failed prophecies, and spiritual fervor, this

What happens when faith, culture, and conscience collide?In this gripping full-length interview, Sara (Croatian-American) and Mitja (Slovenian) share their deeply personal Mormon journeys—from conversion, missions, marriage, and cultural clashes to faith crises, public dissent in Utah church meetings, and ultimately, excommunication.With raw honesty, they open up about the emotional toll of leaving the LDS Church, the pressure to conform, navigating belief in a mixed-faith marriage, and the high cost of asking difficult questions. Featuring moments of courage, heartbreak, and awakening, this episode explores what it means to choose integrity over silence.Key Moments Include:-Serving a missions in Croatia-Struggles with identity, marriage, and belief-Mitja’s public opposition in sacrament meeting-Facing church discipline and excommunication-Sara’s emotional departure from the LDS ChurchA powerful story of love, loss, disruption—and starting over.___________________YouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Dono

In this intimate follow-up episode, journalist Lauren continues her powerful story—this time focusing on her path from reporter to advocate, wife, and co-founder of Hidden True Crime. Lauren shares the deeply personal journey that brought her to John Matthias, their relationship, marriage, and parenting as a mixed-faith couple—all while navigating the high-stakes world of reporting on religious extremism and the Lori Vallow Daybell case.She reflects on pivotal moments in Mormonism, including the excommunication of progressive voices, the Church’s stance on same-sex marriage, and the Ordain Women movement. As her career unfolds, Lauren breaks major stories from inside Mormon and FLDS communities, reporting from Hildale, Utah, and uncovering secrets in St. George.Her life is upended again by the Daybell case, which becomes the catalyst for launching Hidden True Crime. Balancing her professional calling with profound personal loss—her brother’s accident and coma—Lauren makes the gut-wrenching decision to attend

In this powerful and emotional episode, journalist Lauren tells her Mormon story publicly for the first time. Known for covering others’ experiences—including the high-profile Lori Vallow Daybell trial—Lauren now opens up about her own journey through faith, trauma, resilience, and healing.She shares her upbringing in the LDS Church, the influence of her legally blind father, and her early fears around death that led to a fascination with true crime. Lauren details her mission to Ohio, her shock upon learning about polygamy, and her love for investigative storytelling.The story takes deeply personal turns as she opens up about receiving a misdiagnosis of Stargardt disease, her father’s arrest and trial, her own struggles with mental health, sexual assault, marriage trauma, and the challenges of being a Mormon woman in journalism.From painful experiences to moments of empowerment in her career and community, Lauren’s account is raw, inspiring, and unflinchingly honest.Hear about her upcoming memoirStay for the

In this episode, we dive into Chapter seven of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet by John G. Turner. We explore early public criticism of Joseph Smith by figures like Abner Cole, the satirical Book of Pukei, and Luman Walters' possible influence. We also examine Joseph’s efforts to sell the copyright of the Book of Mormon in Canada, what that reveals about his intentions, and the revelation that supposedly authorized it.We discuss how Joseph’s financial motives, revelations, and treatment of Martin Harris raise important questions, and consider the book's early lack of demand—even as Joseph continued to pivot and adapt. From legal troubles and claims of treasure seeking, to his revisions of the Bible and the rise of anti-Masonry, this episode looks at how Joseph’s evolving theology and personal ambitions shaped early Mormonism.We also tackle difficult questions around gender and divine authority: Why were no women, including Emma Smith, called as witnesses to the golden plates? Wha

In this raw and emotional deep-dive, Laurel shares her powerful story of growing up in an extremely orthodox Mormon household as the youngest of eight children. From uncovering her Danish-Mormon ancestry to dealing with abuse, purity culture, and her father's secret polygamist "revelation" that led to his excommunication, Laurel reflects on how early trauma, sexual repression, and church doctrine shaped her identity.She opens up about her mission to Poland, her battle with anxiety, shame, and identity within the church, and how the toxic dynamics of Mormon Young Single Adult (YSA) culture pushed her to the edge. Ultimately, Laurel's journey of deconstruction—triggered by political events, therapy, and research into church history—leads her to reclaim her sexuality, leave the church, and finally begin to heal.Topics include: abuse, purity culture, sexual trauma, polygamy, depression, and suicidal ideation. Viewer discretion advised.___________________YouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous

In Part 6 of our Joseph Smith podcast series, we dive deep into Chapter 6: "A Choice Seer." This episode explores the controversies surrounding the Book of Mormon—its origins, witnesses, and textual issues. We examine the arguments for and against its authenticity, its biblical parallels, and Joseph Smith’s role as translator vs. author.Topics include:-Were the witnesses in on a scam?-Historicity of the Book of Mormon-Anachronisms and biblical borrowings-Criticism from early figures like Alexander Campbell-Literary structures like chiasmus-Theology, archeology, and universalism-Is the Book of Mormon scripture?A thoughtful, critical, and respectful look at how scholars and believers wrestle with faith, history, and evidence.___________________YouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:One-time or recurring donation through DonorboxSupport us on PatreonPayPalVenmoOur Platforms:YouTubePatreonSpotifyApple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@

In this powerful and emotional interview, voice actor Cam Clarke (known for iconic roles in animation and video games) shares his deeply personal journey growing up in a famous Mormon-Hollywood family. From his early years navigating faith, family expectations, and same-sex attraction, to starring in Saturday’s Warrior and undergoing electroshock therapy at BYU, Cam opens up about the emotional toll of trying to reconcile his identity with his religion.He discusses coming out, surviving the AIDS crisis, finding healing through art, and ultimately resigning from the LDS Church. Cam’s story is raw, heartfelt, and inspiring—a testament to resilience, authenticity, and the power of self-love.Topics include:Growing up Mormon in a showbiz familyStruggles with sexuality and faithSaturday’s Warrior and mission lifeConversion therapy and coming outVoice acting career and ComicCon lifeReflections on love, loss, and legacyShow NotesYouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality cont

In this episode, we dive deep into the attacks on the CES Letter and its author, Jeremy Runnells, unpacking why apologetic responses—no matter how weak—are often accepted by believing members. This is the first in a multi-part series analyzing the LDS Discussions CES Letter project.We tackle critical questions about the Book of Mormon, including:-Why does it contain errors from the 1769 King James Bible?-What about the italicized words from the KJV showing up in the text?-Why doesn’t the Book of Mormon match Joseph Smith’s own translation of the Bible?-What does DNA evidence say about the Book of Mormon narrative?-And how do apologists handle the serious anachronisms in the text?Along the way, we explore FAIR Mormon’s increasingly irrelevant defenses, the hidden Gospel Topics Essays, and shifting church narratives.This is an essential deep-dive for anyone curious about Mormonism’s truth claims, historical issues, and the apologetics surrounding them.Join the conversation and subscribe for future episodes in t