Sunstone Podcast

Ryan McKnight and Ethan Dodge believe that the LDS Church would be a better place if it were transparent about its finances and policies. Toward that end, they have established MormonLeaks which releases internal documents and recordings from the LDS Church. John Larsen interviews McKnight and Dodge about some of the surprising results of their work.

During his years of watching the ex-Mormon community, John Larsen has seen an interesting pattern. As they leave the LDS Church, ex-Mormons often accidentally deprive themselves of emotional and psychological benefits to which Mormonism doesn’t have exclusive claim. What are these benefits, and how can ex-Mormons reclaim them?  

Could returning to church actually be a sign of significant spiritual growth for post-Mormons? Or would they just be sucked back into the cultural ailments they were trying to escape in the first place? Stephen Carter argues that eventually returning to church is essential—but for reasons that would surprise both orthodox Mormons and post-Mormons.

Are LDS borderlanders the only ones who can slow down, or even stop, the Pride Cycle as described in the Book of Mormon? Stephen Carter thinks so, because they’re the only ones who have been both inside and outside the “technology” of the LDS Church. With a few tips from Jesus, Stephen thinks borderlanders can sabotage the Church toward Zion.

Imagine if the Book of Mormon were 116 pages longer. That’s what Don Bradley has been doing for the past 15 years as he has reconstructed what might have been in first 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript that Martin Harris lost. Jaxon Washburn interviews Bradley about his methods and findings.

Although an advocate for LGBTQ equality, John Larsen doesn’t believe the LDS Church can bring that community into full fellowship without dismantling its doctrine. In this episode, he lays out his argument and then calls for responses to it, hoping that there is indeed room for LGBTQ equality in the LDS Church.

The loss of the original 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript is often laid at the feet of Lucy Harris. But it’s possible—even likely—that she was innocent. Jaxon Washburn talks with Don Bradley about this traumatic incident in early Mormon history.  

What’s up with John Larsen, anyway? On some episodes, he’s very critical of the LDS Church; on others, he’s very supportive. In this episode, John presents the top ten most important things to know about his approach to Mormonism.

A whistleblower recently alleged to the IRS that the LDS Church has kept $100 billion of funds meant for charitable purposes. The Church maintains that it keeps funds in store for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In this episode, John Larsen analyzes what that statement could mean about the LDS version of the Second Coming—where, apparently, the stock market, the worldwide financial system, and corporations will still be fully functional. A far cry from the apocalyptic vision of most Christians.

Why has Charles Dickens’ story “A Christmas Carol” been one of the most popular stories in the English language for almost 150 years? Stephen Carter thinks he found the answer—one that will completely change how you view the story—one that made Stephen into a reluctant “Christmas Carol’ convert.