Mormon Stories Podcast

A Mormon Military Story w/ Army Ranger Ross “Marty” Martin | Ep. 1977

Dec 30, 2024

Ross “Marty” Martin, an Army Ranger, discusses his upbringing in a Mormon family, touching on his childhood in a trailer park and his military experiences. Alongside him, his wife Margie shares insights on their journey together. Marty reflects on struggling with faith during his mission in Jamaica, facing the horrors of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and dealing with personal trauma. The conversation explores themes of resilience, identity, and healing, as they navigate the complexities of faith, the challenge of military life, and the search for meaning.

05:56:26

Creator website

Episode guests

Margie Martin

Ross “Marty” Martin

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Ross Martin shares his journey from a humble upbringing in a trailer park to finding identity within his Mormon faith and military service.

Marty reflects on the challenges of growing up with family turmoil while simultaneously experiencing kindness from the church community.

Enlisting in the military was Ross's way of fulfilling a perceived spiritual duty, intertwining his faith with a commitment to serve.

The complexities of war left Ross grappling with guilt and shame, influencing his understanding of morality and spirituality post-combat.

After enduring personal loss, Ross found solace in spirituality and family, reshaping his beliefs about faith and purpose in life.

Ross aims to teach resilience and strength to future generations, drawing from both his military experiences and evolving personal beliefs.

Deep dives

Introduction to Military Mormon Stories

The podcast features a discussion with Ross Martin, who served in the Army as a Ranger. He shares his experiences within both the military and the Mormon faith, highlighting the intersection of these two aspects of his life. Ross expresses a desire to share his story in hopes that his family and posterity will understand the motivations behind his actions. He reflects on the significance of his upbringing and the foundational role of his Mormon heritage in shaping his identity.

Intro

2min

Roots of Faith and Family

26min

Legacy of Service and Self-Discovery

15min

Navigating High School: Sports, Work, and the Outdoors

2min

Growing Through Struggles

7min

Journey of Faith and Growth

32min

Journey to Enlistment: A Personal Reflection

13min

Faith and Duty: A Soldier's Journey

32min

Rivalries Among Elite Military Forces

2min

10.

Reflections on War and Personal Growth

23min

11.

Reflections from the Frontlines

9min

12.

Elite Forces and Unexpected Encounters in Baghdad

2min

13.

Navigating Conflict: Reflections on War and Faith

25min

14.

Delivering Life: A Soldier's Unexpected Fatherhood Experience

4min

15.

Facing the Shadows of War

15min

16.

Navigating Faith and Trauma Post-Military Service

11min

17.

Navigating Doubt and Belonging in Faith

27min

18.

Navigating Guilt and Identity in Military Life

29min

19.

Transformative Journeys: Faith, Protection, and the Cycle of Life

2min

20.

Navigating Grief and Identity: A Journey of Healing

15min

21.

A Serendipitous Encounter on the Road

3min

22.

Faith and Suffering

7min

23.

Reflections on War and Identity

20min

24.

Geopolitics and Appeasement: Lessons from History

14min

25.

Navigating Faith and Adversity

13min

26.

The Principles of a True Warrior

5min

27.

Reflections on a Unique Personal Journey and Community Engagement

2min

This powerful and emotional story takes you through Marty’s life journey—from his upbringing in Mormonism, his experiences in high school and seminary, to his time in the military and beyond. Marty reflects on growing up in a trailer park, his mission to Jamaica, his struggles with faith, and his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. He candidly shares deeply personal moments: battling depression, losing loved ones, questioning his beliefs, and finding peace through family, a farm, and humanism.Explore topics of resilience, transformation, and healing as Marty recounts leaving Mormonism, confronting the trauma of war, and redefining his spiritual beliefs. A heartfelt account of faith, doubt, and the search for meaning.

Show Notes

YouTube

00:02:30 Intentions for Marty

00:10:20 Growing up in Mormonism

00:24:00 The dynamic of his mother working and his dad being abusive

00:30:50 Interests in High School

00:50:30 Meeting his wife

00:51:20 Getting called to serve his mission in Jamaica

01:23:40 He joined the army without talking to his wife

02:04:45 Going to Afghanistan

02:22:00 Having their first daughter

02:34:35 Feeling the Spirit of Darkness while fighting in Iraq and questioning God

02:54:20 Catching Saddam Hussein and understanding why he did what he did

03:06:00 Reading the book Rough Stone Rolling changed his life

03:09:10 He delivered his daughter in their van by himself

03:14:40 Doing the Lord’s work at finding better ways to kill bad guys

03:24:10 Feeling unworthy to baptize his daughter due to his involvement in war violence

03:36:40 Finding Mormon Stories

03:41:46 Reading The CES Letter and discovering that it was not true

03:58:12 Leaving Mormonism helped him to not be so judgmental

04:18:20 Living a farm life has helped him find peace and connect better to himself and others

04:32:00 How he felt about the Mormon church and being in the military

04:49:56 Story of his father's death while in hospice and his belief in a higher power

05:43:20 Living his life by this new code

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Mormon Stories Podcast

A Mormon Military Story w/ Army Ranger Ross “Marty” Martin | Ep. 1977

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Introduction to Military Mormon Stories

Roots and Early Mormon Connections

Family Dynamics and Childhood Experiences

Early Mormon Faith and Experiences

Adolescence, Self-Discovery and Military Aspirations

The Call to Military Service

Experiences in Training and Deployment

The Fractured Aura of Trauma

Family Life, Loss, and Grief

The Role of Spirituality and Healing

Navigating Beliefs Post-Military Life

Embracing Dual Identities

A Warrior's Legacy

Get the Snipd
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highlights

Save any
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Discover
highlights

Mormon Stories Podcast

A Mormon Military Story w/ Army Ranger Ross “Marty” Martin | Ep. 1977

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Introduction to Military Mormon Stories

Roots and Early Mormon Connections

Family Dynamics and Childhood Experiences

Early Mormon Faith and Experiences

Adolescence, Self-Discovery and Military Aspirations

The Call to Military Service

Experiences in Training and Deployment

The Fractured Aura of Trauma

Family Life, Loss, and Grief

The Role of Spirituality and Healing

Navigating Beliefs Post-Military Life

Embracing Dual Identities

A Warrior's Legacy

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Save anymoment

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