Mormon Stories Podcast

Join immigration attorney Justin Sweeney, who grew up in the LDS community and held various leadership roles, as he candidly shares his faith crisis journey. He dives deep into questioning church history, including the controversial topics of Joseph Smith's polygamy and the authenticity of church rituals. Justin discusses the emotional turmoil of reconciling personal beliefs with institutional truths and the importance of transparency in faith journeys. His story underscores the connection between professional inquiry and spiritual exploration.

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has unanimously rejected James Huntsman's fraud lawsuit against the LDS/Mormon Church, which claimed that the church misled the membership over its tithing usage.Join John, Gerardo, and attorney Kolby Reddish to break down the decision.Show NotesYouTube00:04:26 Initial reactions to the news 00:13:00 Huntsman Procedure Explained00:15:45 Where the Three Tithing Cases started00:21:55 False statements made by the Church saying it would NOT use tithing funds00:48:22 What is the definition of fraud?01:01:05 The Church omitted half of the statement that changed the meaning01:10:50 “Reserve funds” come from tithing for a “rainy day”01:31:00 Why we should all become churches01:34:47 More from the Majority Decision01:42:55 Closing thoughts - we need to be accurate on how we talk about it01:45:10 Judge Bress’ Concurrence02:06:55 Bumatay’s Concurrence02:20:55 Summary of the judicial breakdownMormon 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 VenmoOur Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

Austin Wheeler, a U.S. Army veteran with over six years of service, shares his transformative journey through Mormonism and military culture. He discusses the trauma of navigating the toxic elements of both the military and the church, particularly the influences of violence and masculinity. Austin reflects on the emotional struggles of identity and purpose shaped by these experiences. He also addresses the implications of faith loss and the impact of militarism within religious contexts, ultimately seeking personal meaning beyond disillusionment.

Join Paul Martinez, a courageous Mormon convert with high-functioning autism and ADHD, as he shares his deeply personal journey. He discusses how neurodivergence can lead to vulnerabilities in abusive relationships and the emotional complexities of faith in a high-demand religious context. Paul reflects on childhood challenges, family dynamics, and the transformative impact of embracing his identity. With insightful anecdotes, he navigates the intersection of mental health and spirituality, celebrating resilience and self-discovery in the face of adversity.

BYU Professor Anthony Sweat brings art to life, exploring troubling truths about church history as outlined in the CES Letter. The discussion delves into Joseph Smith's controversial practices, including treasure digging and polygamy. Sweat's artwork reveals the discrepancies in traditional narratives, challenging accepted church teachings. The conversations also reflect on transparency in church history and the evolving perceptions of significant figures, all while highlighting the emotional turmoil created by past practices.

In this conversation, Erika Nordfelt, a mental health professional from Rexburg, Idaho, shares her enlightening journey from a strict Mormon upbringing to healing and self-discovery. She dives into the intricacies of sexual shame within the Mormon community and the importance of open dialogue about sexuality. Erika reflects on her experiences navigating faith, identity, and relationships, while advocating for a more compassionate approach to mental health. Her insights shed light on the often stigmatized topics of pornography, shame, and the challenges faced by those transitioning out of rigid belief systems.

January 9 saw the release of a new Netflix series, American Primeval, set in the context of mid-19th-century Utah. Though the series is fictionalized, many of the events and peoples depicted are real, including the Utah War, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, the Mormon settlers, and the Shoshone, Ute, and Paiute Indians.Historians Barbara Jones Brown and Darren Parry join host John Dehlin for this live podcast to answer viewer's questions about which aspects of the series are factual and which are historical fiction. Barbara is co-author of Vengeance Is Mine: The Mountain Meadows Massacre and Its Aftermath, and Darren is the author of The Bear River Massacre: A Shoshone History. Barbara and Darren offer a unique perspective because they are not only historians of this time period in Utah, they are direct descendants of peoples depicted in the mini-series--Darren is Northwestern Shoshone, and Barbara is a descendant of perpetrators of the horrific massacre at Mountain Meadows. Show NotesYouTube00:00:00 Intro00:06:25 Photos of ancestors00:14:15 The creators did not intend this to be historically accurate 00:23:55 We need to debunk that this was done by the Native Americans, it was NOT00:33:45 Jim Bridger’s character was the funnest character in the show00:42:45 Brigham Young (Kim Coates) what is right and wrong00:47:40 Jedediah M. Grant and the Mormon Reformation00:57:25 Elias Higbee and John M. Higbee01:07:45 Mountain Meadows started as a cattle raid01:18:50 Made up fiction from the Nauvoo Legion01:26:11 Two Moons - great female lead who had had her tongue cut out01:30:40 Red Feather01:35:00 Winter Bird - Strong female character01:39:10 Sarah Rowell and Devin Rowell - neither were Mormon, main characters, 01:43:20 Jacob Pratt and Abish Pratt were both Mormon01:46:55 Wild Bill Hickman - member of the Nauvoo Legion01:51:20 What Barbara said about the missed opportunity in the TV show01:55:00 Ned BlackhawkMormon 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 VenmoOur Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

Join Lauren Johnson Matthias (@HiddenTrueCrime ) Megan Conner (@Third_Verse ) Mindy Caldwell, and John Dehlin as they react to Shari Franke's new book "The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom" by Shari Franke, Ruby Franke's oldest daughter.Show NotesYouTube00:02:15 Trigger warning for the book00:14:30 Questions that will be covered in this episode involving Jodi, Ruby, Kevin, and the Mormon church00:19:32 Ruby and Kevin’s formation of their relationship and early family life00:28:30 Was Ruby Franke set up with a disadvantage by Mormon gender roles?00:35:18 Personality dynamics in the Franke family and Ruby’s profile as a mom and how much room the children had for their emotions00:39:42 Childhood emotional neglect with Ruby Franke and her children00:43:25 The pajama story and Ruby telling Shari she’d been friends after she had a baby00:57:38 Mormonism and Vlogging01:05:20 Consent and ethics in family vlogging01:12:00 Shari Franke’s mental health - thinking that her tummy aches are demonic possession01:29:03 Ruby removed Shari from therapy after Shari wanted to quit piano01:40:50 Shari starts her own YouTube channel, while Ruby did not help her grow it she demand some of the proceeds of the account01:43:46 Chad’s involvement in Shari’s story01:52:30 Why Ruby reached out to Jodi was because of Chad02:13:30 Meeting with Jodi as their therapist and showing her business structure as a cult02:21:10 Truth and Distortion became the bane of Shari’s existence02:34:50 Jodi’s tactics around isolation02:41:18 How Jodi saw sex everywhere and how she and Ruby were queer02:49:23 Visions of Glory and how it ties in with Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt02:56:34 Shari Franke compared Lori Vallow to Ruby Franke03:00:30 Thom Harrison and his influence over these cult leaders within the Mormon church03:11:35 The darkest part of the book was about Derek and Shari’s sexual assault03:31:14 Church disciplinary part of Shari’s story involving what happened with Derek03:41:55 Shari is familyless for a while, running into her dad on the BYU campus and he was afraid to talk to her04:04:05 Who is the main villain in this story? Is it Jodi or Ruby?04:12:24 Shari drawing connections in the Mormon church04:27:15 Shari’s final comments at the end of the book about her mother being narcissistic 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 VenmoOur Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

Clare Howell Adams, a former devout Mormon, shares her struggles with anxiety, OCD, and the pressures of purity culture, alongside her husband, Jackson Adams, who discusses his battles with pornography and a difficult missionary experience. They delve into the emotional toll of faith transition, exploring topics like the impact of modesty on body image, the overwhelming shame cultivated by strict teachings, and the long-lasting effects of their missionary journeys. Together, they highlight their healing journey, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and open dialogue in overcoming their past.

Brigham Young University faculty are grappling with new policies that enforce strict adherence to church teachings. Professors face job insecurity over social media activity and personal beliefs, with some losing their positions for supporting LGBTQ+ rights. The culture at BYU is shifting towards suppression of diverse thought, raising concerns about academic freedom and fear among faculty. As the university's rankings decline, discussions center on the impact of these changes and the pressing need for greater inclusivity and integrity within the institution.