Recently John Dehlin had lunch with a mid-level Mormon church leader along the Wasatch front who was eager to share insider information regarding the statistical and programmatic health of the Mormon church since the COVID-19 epidemic.   Topics that were covered include: - The pervasiveness of "faith crisis" issues within Mormon stakes and wards. The rise of conservative/fundamentalist/"Prepper"/"Trumpers"/anti-vaxxers/Q-Anoners as a source of disaffection from the Mormon church. Attempts to increase the involvement of women. How post-COVID Mormon apathy has led to a decline in church activity. The rise of "PIMO" Mormons (Physically in, mentally out). The decline of the Mormon youth programs, with a dramatic decline in young men church participation and mission service. The leader was willing to share activity statistics within his stake to demonstrate the post-COVID decline. Finally, the source was willing to share information regarding three significant changes at Mormon church headquarters: The dramatic rise in temple building since Russel M. Nelson became the Mormon prophet, and the effect this is having on the temple department. A new Mormon temple prep course that will soon be released. Significant upcoming changes regarding 1 on 1 youth interviews. Show Notes: Brad Wilcox's Alpine Youth Fireside on February 6, in which he made racist and sexist remarks, and said that other faiths are only "playing church"  The Black Menaces denounce Brad Wilcox on TikTok "Saying he has been 'corrected,' LDS leader Brad Wilcox again apologizes for his remarks on race," by Tamarra Kemsley, Salt Lake Tribune, February 14, 2022 Brad Wilcox's apology "Alpine Utah Mormon Youth Rescue With Brad Wilcox," on Mormon Stories "Top 10 Problems with Mormonism that Brad Wilcox's Speech Unveiled," on Mormon Stories "Listeners Call In: Responses to Brad Wilcox's Talk," on Mormon Stories "Brad Wilcox showed up at my religion class at BYUI today to say hi" "How the LDS Church made $22B during the pandemic," by Tony Semerad, Salt Lake Tribune, February 15, 2022 Questions From the Closet, with Charlie Bird and Ben Schilaty "The Gay Mormon Reformation," on Mormon Stories "The Mormon Influences on Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow," on Mormon Stories "Ezra Taft Benson and the Making of the Mormon Right," with Matt Harris on Mormon Stories Part 1Part 2 "The LDS Church's Coverup of Sterling Van Wagenen's Sexual Abuse of Sean Escobar," on Mormon Stories Mormon Enlightenment Facebook group Protect LDS Children Mormonism Live with Radio Free Mormon and Bill Reel "Will Mormons Get Their Own Planets?" A panel discussion on Mormon Stories "Cognitive Dissidents: Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and the Damage of Dogma" on Mormon Discussions "Experiencing Sexual Assault as a Missionary: Camille and Maddy" on Mormon Stories "Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Urges BYU to Embrace Its Uniqueness, Stay True to the Savior," an August 2021 speech in which Holland called for "musket fire" in defense of the school's opposition to LGBTQ+ equality "BYU cancels care for transgender clients receiving voice therapy at its speech clinic," by Courtney Tanner, Salt Lake Tribune, February 10, 2022 "Mormon British Rescue? The Britvengers React" on Mormon Stories 21st Century Saints Podcast with Jane Christie Ruben Hoyos' TikTok "Anastasia Bigun: A Ukrainian Mormon Journey" on Mormon Stories Trans, Nonbinary, and Genderqueer Network ————— 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

Join hosts Mike, Nemo, and John Dehlin as they explore spiritual witnesses within Mormonism, delving into the reliability of emotions as evidence for beliefs. They discuss indoctrination, repetition, and psychological mechanisms like confirmation bias and the backfire effect. The podcast examines the challenges of trusting LDS church leaders and the manipulative power of music and false stories in shaping beliefs. They also cover topics such as confirmation bias, fact-checking, and the impact of collective behavior. This episode provides insights into understanding spiritual experiences and recognizing attempts to manufacture them.

Nate Byrd, an advocate for racial issues in the Mormon community, joins Summer-Rayn, a researcher in racial dynamics, and Dr. Darron Smith, an academic in race and religion, alongside John Dehlin, a social issues researcher. They delve into the uncomfortable truths of Mormon leadership's historical support for racial segregation. Discussion points include the impact of patriarchal blessings on Black members, the legacy of racist ideologies, and the need for critical reevaluation of church doctrines. The dialogue is rich with personal experiences and calls for inclusivity within the faith.

The podcast discusses the Jubilee channel's 'Mormons vs Ex-Mormons' episode, highlighting logical fallacies and manipulative tactics used by Mormon debaters. It delves into personal wounds from damaging teachings on LGBTQ identities and gender roles within the religion. The intense debate explores if Mormons and Ex-Mormons can find common ground amidst differing beliefs.

In this eye-opening episode of LDS Discussions, Mike, John Dehlin, and Nemo the Mormon explore the Mormon church's approach to handling doubt. They take a brief historical journey into the realm of Mormon doubt and apologetics. We critically examine the church's framing of doubters as “unruly children” and labeling doubts that lead away from the church as “evil.” They discuss the reliance on the church as the sole source of authority on truth and the discouragement of critical thinking. With insights from various church authorities, this episode provides valuable perspectives on navigating doubt within the Mormon church. Listeners who have experienced doubts or questioned their faith may find this episode particularly enlightening and relatable. Overview of How the Church Handles Doubts (ldsdiscussions.com) Episode Show Notes 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.com  PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117  Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord