Mormon Stories Podcast

Join us for Part 1 of our interview with Gerardo who is a dear friend of the podcast! Growing up in an orthodox Mormon home, his story gives a unique perspective on the church in Mexico and the “Lamanite ancestry” that plays into the testimony of many of the members in Latin America. After realizing his attraction to men in his youth, Gerardo worked to keep up with expectations as the son of a prominent LDS family hoping God would “turn his weakness into strengths.” Through stories about Evergreen, conversion therapy, Mexican EFY, and serving a faithful mission, we hear how strongly Gerardo tried to pursue the covenant path and deny his gay identity. Gerardo went to BYU-I where he met his husband, a wild story filled with intense highs and lows. Eventually questioning his faith, losing his connection to being a descendant of the Lamanites and working through disagreements with LDS family, Gerardo put his whole heart out there in this interview. Listen along for some life-changing insights from Gerardo on this epic episode of a Mexican Mormon Story!

Kelly and Kayla Mikesell are a dynamic step-mother/daughter pair. Only recently did Kelly start to investigate the troubling issues with Mormon history that had been eating away at her children. In an effort to learn, love, and empathize with her children, she investigated the church and grew in ways that surprised her and her family. As Kelly chose love and understanding over dogma and compliance, she was able to open her heart to the members of her family in the LGBTQ community, including her step-daughter Kayla. Teenage years filled with the unimaginable amounts of shame and guilt, Kayla was able to grow into her own independent, confident adult, even winning Miss Salt Lake City and making her platform one of advocacy for the Utah Pride Center. We are honored to interview two thoughtful, articulate women putting a lot on the line to speak out while Kelly’s husband still currently serves as her bishop! Warning: This episode contains discussions of self-harm. Show Notes: Last Podcast on the Left Mormonism episode  "Ghost of Eternal Polygamy" by Carolyn Pearson  Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis podcast  Jennifer Fife Donna Showalter Mormon Stories Podcast Episode Leah and Cody Young Mormon Stories Podcast Episode "Listen, Learn and Love" by Richard Ostler  Follow Kayla on Instagram

Happy Utah Pride Week everyone! To celebrate Utah Pride week, I am sharing one of the most important interviews in the history of Mormon Stories Podcast. It is the story of Kyle Ashworth - a dear, brilliant, talented friend, and the host of Latter Gay Stories podcast. This interview is important for at least 3 reasons: Kyle is a truly brilliant, caring human. That should be enough. It conveys super powerfully the myriad of ways in which the Mormon Church harms its LGBTQ members AND its straight members - including a deep dive into the serious problems of mixed-orientation marriages within Mormonism, along with the deep ineffectiveness and deceptiveness of organizations like North Star International. Finally, It is ultimately a story of "love winning out" as Kyle, his ex-wife, and her family fulfill their mantra, "One Family, Two homes." Join us today to hear the conclusion of Kyle's truly inspiring story. Please watch and enjoy, and please spread the word!!!

Happy Utah Pride Week everyone! To celebrate Utah Pride week, I am sharing one of the most important interviews in the history of Mormon Stories Podcast. It is the story of Kyle Ashworth – a dear, brilliant, talented friend, and the host of Latter Gay Stories podcast. This interview is important for at least 3 reasons: Kyle is a truly brilliant, caring human. That should be enough. It conveys super powerfully the myriad of ways in which the Mormon Church harms its LGBTQ members AND its straight members – including a deep dive into the serious problems of mixed-orientation marriages within Mormonism, along with the deep ineffectiveness and deceptiveness of organizations like North Star International. Finally, It is ultimately a story of “love winning out” as Kyle, his ex-wife, and her family fulfill their mantra, “One Family, Two homes.” Today we will show Part 1 of the interview, and tomorrow we will share Part 2. Please watch and enjoy, and please spread the word!!!

Every year I try to provide donors and listeners with a "State of the Union" address for the Open Stories Foundation (the 501c3 non-profit that I lead which houses Mormon Stories Podcast), along with the overall success of Mormon Stories Podcast and the other OSF podcasts (Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis Podcast, A Thoughtful Faith Podcast, and Mormon Mental Health Podcast). The topics for today will be: OSF / Mormon Stories Podcast Mission & What we are about Fiduciary stuff, governance Board status Effectiveness/reach of Mormon Stories Podcast OSF Finances OSF Strategy for 2021 and beyond OSF staff changes, including the addition of Carah Burrell to the staff for a trial period Plan for events and community OSF challenges/needs

After converting to Mormonism as a teen and attending BYU, Haleigh Evert’s relationship with the Mormon church grew unfulfilling and complicated. After leaving the church for a time, Haleigh came back to the Mormon church, married in the temple, and started making videos and writing about her Mormon journey. Haleigh eventually published the book “Why I Left the Mormon Church and Came Back,” which is still sold at Deseret Book today. Then, after years of promoting and defending the Mormon church, Haleigh read the CES Letter for the first time (just a month and a half ago). In this episode we discuss Haleigh's conversion, her reach on social media as a Mormon influencer, and her life now after reading the CES letter. Show Notes: Haleigh’s YouTube Channel  Haleigh's Instagram The CES Letter by Jeremy Runnells Unveiling Grace by Lynn Wilder

Despite a happy facade, Lexi struggled with anxiety and perfectionism as many young LDS people do. Subjected to the lessons specifically directed towards LDS teen girls hyper-focusing on modesty and sexual purity along with the belief that LDS men who serve missions were always trustworthy, Lexi blames herself when she is assaulted as a teen by a returned missionary. This turns into hyper-vigilance as a newlywed and mother, even going as far as to use a marker to “censor” cleavage on cartoon characters on a family board game! Things started to unravel for Lexi when a trusted Bishop is arrested for sexually assaulting minors in her ward and when a close friend starts questioning the Church. Hoping to help her friend and shore up her own shaken testimony, Lexi starts researching LDS Church history and truth claims with devastating results. An early conversation with her father during this time wakes Lexi up to the harm silence causes and gives her the courage to start speaking out and speaking up. Find Lexi on Social Media: YouTube TikTok Instagram Twitter 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 Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App  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

Today I am honored to share the story of Drew Manning - author, TV star, and founder of the viral brand, "Fit2Fat2Fit." Join us as we continue with Part 2 of Drew's Mormon story, which will cover: Healing after a divorce Discovering meditation Finding new wisdom outside of the church Spirituality through psychedelics Fit2Fat2Fit and the identity crisis that followed Drew’s beliefs around God and an afterlife as a post Mormon Show Notes: Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal  How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz

Today I am honored to share the story of Drew Manning - author, TV star, and founder of the viral brand, "Fit2Fat2Fit." In part 1 of Drew's story, we will discuss, among other things: His upbringing in Mormonism LDS mission in Brazil Marriage & pornography use in a Mormon marriage, followed by the LDS church addiction recovery program Their eventual divorce Learning about problematic church history & the 2015 LGBT+ exclusion policy The Fit2Fat2Fit story & Drew’s mission to bring empathy to fitness Show notes: Fit2Fat2Fit: The Unexpected Lessons from Gaining and Losing 75lbs on Purpose by Drew Manning Complete Keto: A Guide to Transforming Your Body and Your Mind for Life by Drew Manning Loving What Is by Byron Katie Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity by Esther Perel

Join me today for this truly inspiring interview with Lance Allred, the grandson of Rulon C. Allred - the prophet of a fundamentalist polygamous sect called the “Apostolic United Brethren." In addition to this, Lance is the first legally-deaf player in NBA history, an inspirational speaker (including a highly successful TedX presentation, "What is Your Polygamy?"), and celebrated author of six books, including his most recent publication, “The New Alpha Male: How to Win the Game When the Rules are Changing.” Join along as we discuss the concepts of misogyny, toxic masculinity, how they function within religions, and how we can begin to combat and "unlearn" these unhealthy habits. More books by Lance Allred: Lanceallred41 Daily Perseverance Tracker Basketball Gods How to Give the Million View TEDx Talk: What is Your Polygamy? The Pesaro Poems Longshot: The Adventures of a Deaf Fundamentalist Mormon Kid and His Journey to the NBA The New Alpha Male: How to Win the Game When the Rules Are Changing