Mormon Stories Podcast

Do you miss the "spirituality" that you once felt as an active Mormon? Have you struggled to find joy/meaning/mental health after losing your Mormon faith? Are you still active in the LDS Church, but feeling spiritually empty as of late? Join me as I assemble am amazing panel of wise humans to discuss "Spirituality After Mormonism." Panelists include Margi Weber Dehlin, Anthony D. Miller, Samantha Shelley (Zelph On The Shelf), and Holly Ashton Wallin. You will not be disappointed with this amazing lineup of wise humans. Feel free to bring your own questions, comments, and suggestions!!!!! Show Notes: Anthony's lists: Books: A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell / Bill Moyers Braving the Wilderness, Brene Brown Lost Connections, Johann Hari Untamed, Glennon Doyle Everything is Spiritual, Rob Bell Love Wins, Rob Bell The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer Searching for Sunday, Rachel Held Evans Secular Buddhism, Noah Rasheta Finding God in the Waves, Mike McHargue This: Becoming Free, Michael Gungor The Heart of Christianity, Marcus Borg Falling Upward, Richard Rohr Universal Christ, Richard Rohr Spiritual Athiest, Nick Senaca Jankel Bathing With God, Glenn Ostlund Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion, Sam Harris Podcasts: A Thoughtful Faith, Gina Colvin Almost Awakened, Bill Reel Another Name for Everything, Richard Rohr Bathing with God, Glenn Ostlund Exmormonology, Amy Logan Making Sense, Sam Harris Mormon Sabbatical, Mette Ivie Harrison On Being with Krista Tippett Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations Secular Buddhism, Noah Rasheta The Liturgists Podcast The RobCast, Rob Bell Unlocking Us, Brene Brown Other: Sara Hughes-Zabawa's Spiritual Values Exercise Samantha's Lists Books: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle https://amzn.to/2OidTMZ The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer https://amzn.to/3sE6dDm Inner Bonding by Margaret Paul https://amzn.to/3bUcowp Conscious Loving by Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks https://amzn.to/2NOIX7e True Refuge by Tara Brach https://amzn.to/3sG151N Podcast: 10% Happier Meditation App: Headspace Holly's Lists: Books: A New Earth Mans Search for Meaning The Four Agreements Universal Christ Seat of the Soul The 8 Human Talents Breath UnTamed Tiny Beautiful Things The Awakened Family Big Magic Real Love Poetry: Drew Lanham Mary Oliver Rumi Podcasts: On BEING Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis Mormon Stories Podcast Secular Buddhism Another Name for Everything The Resilience Breakthrough UnLocking Us Tara Brach The Meditative Story Margi's Lists: Books A New Earth Untamed Tiny Beautiful Things The Course of Love The Awakened Family Getting the Love You Want Broken Open Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents Magical Journey Poetry Mary Oliver David Whyte Andrea Gibson Podcasts The Meditative Story A New Earth with Oprah The Living Experiment 10% Happier Podcast ————— 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 us today on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Mike Rinder - former top-level Scientology Executive. Mike was raised a Scientologist, knew L. Ron Hubbard personally, and became David Miscavige's "right hand man" as he lead Scientology's "Office of Special Affairs" (OSA). The OSA handled media and public relations, legal and government relations, and dealing with the "enemies of Scientology." Mike appeared in the Scientology documentary "Going Clear," as well as in the documentary TV Series "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath." He currently co-hosts a podcast with Leah Remini called "Scientology: Fair Game."

Join us as we talk with cult expert Steven Hassan about how to help a loved one who believes in and follows the QAnon conspiracy cult. Questions we will address include: What is QAnon? Does QAnon qualify as a harmful cult? How is QAnon harming people, families, and our nation? How can you help a loved one who believes in and follows AQnon, or any other destructive cult? Dr. Steven Hassan's Reddit AMA (Q&A) at QAnonCasualties entitled "How to Help People Involved in QAnon" can be found here. Steven's main web site is: Freedom of Mind. Books Mentioned in Today's Episode: Combating Cult Mind Control Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs The Cult of Trump Cult Documentaries Mentioned in Today's Episode: The Vow NXIVM Documentary Series Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult The Great Hack The Social Dilemma People You May Know Going Clear Wild, Wild Country 4th Generation Warfare

Is it possible to stay active in the LDS Church in 2021 after.... ....learning all of the problematic history... ....becoming an ally for LGBTQ Mormons... ...becoming a feminist... ...becoming an "intellectual Mormon"... and after losing one's orthodox faith? More importantly, why would anyone WANT to? In Part 1 of my two-part interview with dear friend and faith transitions coach Jana Spangler, Jana told us the story of her Mormon faith journey, which includes: Battling with perfectionism as an LDS teen and young adult. Feeling broken and inadequate as a single Mormon woman attending the University Utah, struggling to meet the church's standards of "worthiness." Being threatened with an LDS Disciplinary Council be a well-meaning Mormon bishop, and how that actually HELPED turn Jana's life around at the time. Finding and marrying Rob - who "checked all the Mormon boxes" at the time. Batting with infertility. Experiencing self-doubt and depression as a Mormon Mom. How Jana's passion for self-improvement and retreats/workshops led to a Mormon faith crisis. Jana's shifting views of Christ's atonement, which include absolute, unconditional love. Jana's courage to share her testimony struggles with her Holladay, Utah ward and stake. How untraditional Mormon podcast hosts, authors, and organizations (such as Bill Reel, Gina Colvin, Dan Wotherspoon, John Dehlin, Thomas Wirthlin McConkie, Sunstone, etc.), along with a supportive husband and understanding church leaders, helped Jana find a way to stay ACTIVE in the LDS Church. What factors led Jana to decide to stay active in the LDS Church...for now. In Part 2, Jana provides a more detailed framework for how others can find a way to remain active in the LDS Church if they so desire, inspired by the works of Richard Rohr and James Fowler (among others).

Is it possible to stay active in the LDS Church in 2021 after.... ....learning all of the problematic history... ....becoming an ally for LGBTQ Mormons... ...becoming a feminist... ...becoming an "intellectual Mormon"... and after losing one's orthodox faith? More importantly, why would anyone WANT to? In Part 1 of my two-part interview with dear friend and faith transitions coach Jana Spangler, Jana tells us the story of her Mormon faith journey, which includes: Battling with perfectionism as an LDS teen and young adult. Feeling broken and inadequate as a single Mormon woman attending the University Utah, struggling to meet the church's standards of "worthiness." Being threatened with an LDS Disciplinary Council be a well-meaning Mormon bishop, and how that actually HELPED turn Jana's life around at the time. Finding and marrying Rob - who "checked all the Mormon boxes" at the time. Batting with infertility. Experiencing self-doubt and depression as a Mormon Mom. How Jana's passion for self-improvement and retreats/workshops led to a Mormon faith crisis. Jana's shifting views of Christ's atonement, which include absolute, unconditional love. Jana's courage to share her testimony struggles with her Holladay, Utah ward and stake. How untraditional Mormon podcast hosts, authors, and organizations (such as Bill Reel, Gina Colvin, Dan Wotherspoon, John Dehlin, Thomas Wirthlin McConkie, Sunstone, etc.), along with a supportive husband and understanding church leaders, helped Jana find a way to stay ACTIVE in the LDS Church. What factors led Jana to decide to stay active in the LDS Church...for now. In Part 2, Jana provides a more detailed framework for how others can find a way to remain active in the LDS Church if they so desire, inspired by the works of Richard Rohr and James Fowler (among others).

Recently, BYU Egyptologist John Gee published an article via the online Mormon apologetic website "The Interpreter" - attacking the scholarship of the Joseph Smith Papers Project, specifically Volume 4 of "The Joseph Smith Papers Revelations and Translations." The article is entitled: "Fantasy and Reality in the Translation of the Book of Abraham." Gee's main attack targets are recently retired BYU professor Brian Hauglid and current LDS church employee Robin Jensen. - Why would a BYU professor be attacking the work of the Joseph Smith Papers project - both of which are owned and controlled by the LDS Church? - What issues are at stake in this battle between old style and new style Mormon apologists? Join me and Radio Free Mormon on Friday at 11:15am Utah time as we discuss the history and details of this "civil war" within the world of Mormon apologetics.

Please join me as I interview Dr. William L. Davis about his book "Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon." In this interdisciplinary work, William L. Davis examines Joseph Smith's 1829 creation of the Book of Mormon, the foundational text of the Latter Day Saint movement. Positioning the text within the history of early American oratorical techniques, sermon culture, educational practices, and the passion for self-improvement, Davis elucidates both the fascinating cultural contexts for the creation of the Book of Mormon and the central role of oral culture in early nineteenth-century America. Drawing on performance studies, religious studies, literary culture, and the history of early American education, Davis analyzes Smith’s process of oral composition. How did he produce a history spanning a period of 1,000 years, filled with hundreds of distinct characters and episodes, all cohesively tied together in an overarching narrative? Eyewitnesses claimed that Smith never looked at notes, manuscripts, or books—he simply spoke the words of this American religious epic into existence. Judging the truth of this process is not Davis's interest. Rather, he reveals a kaleidoscope of practices and styles that converged around Smith's creation, with an emphasis on the evangelical preaching styles popularized by the renowned George Whitefield and John Wesley. William L. Davis, an independent scholar, holds a Ph.D. in theater and performance and has published in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought; John Bunyan Studies: A Journal of Reformation and Nonconformist Culture; Leviathan: A Journal of Melville Studies; Style; Text and Performance Quarterly; and Textual Cultures. Dr. William L. Davis’ book, “Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon” can be purchased in the following ways: University of North Carolina Press Amazon

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Join us for a review of Fiona and Terryl Givens' new book: "All Things New: Rethinking Sin, Salvation, and Everything in Between." According to Amazon: "In this book, Fiona and Terryl Givens trace the roots of our religious vocabulary, explore how a flawed inheritance compounds the wounds and challenges of a life devoted to discipleship, and suggest ways of reformulating our language in more healthy ways all in the hope that, as B. H. Roberts urged, we may all cooperate in the works of the Spirit to find a truer expression of a gospel restored." Panelists include Jana Spangler, Anthony D. Miller, and Brittney Hartley.

After being raised by an orthodox Mormon mother and a "redneck, somewhat Jack Mormon Pioneer stock dad," Gretchen Day decided that she was going to be an "all in" Mormon mother.  After getting engaged at age 19 (as a BYU Freshman), Gretchen went on to get married in the LDS temple, and to fulfill many of the stereotypes of a Utah County Ultra-Orthodox Mormon mother, including: Having 8 children. Homeschooling her children using Book of Mormon-based curriculum. Raising her children with little to no media. Imposing strict "modesty" guidelines on her children (mostly her daughters). Doing at least one underwater home birth. Pursuing strict dietary practices ("perfect eating) such as restricting sugar, eating only raw, vegan foods, etc. Over time, Gretchen's ultra-orthodox Mormon dream began to crumble in several different ways: She began to experience serious depression. She started making serious life decisions based on "spiritual experiences" based on feelings -- that may not have been very healthy for her (in hindsight). Some of her children started to lose their testimonies of the church. She had a son who became seriously depressed and ultimately suicidal, based in part on inhumane "worthiness" interviews conducted by well-intentioned bishops, mission, and stake presidents - who were/are operating within an abusive system.  This included feeling pressure to lie about his faith crisis to his home ward and BYU bishop, in order to keep his place at BYU and to stay in good standing with the church. She began learning about factual Mormon church history (e.g., polygamy, Book of Mormon problems), which became deeply triggering for her. As Gretchen's faith began to crumble, she started to feel trapped within the Utah County Mormon bubble. Should she lie to her son about her faith journey, as he was preparing to leave on his mission, or should she be honest with him and risk spoiling his experience? Was she trapped in a "Mormon mafia" of sorts, with no escape? Should she "come out" to fellow ward members and leadership, and risk social ostracization? Or should she quietly "fade away" from church activity to avoid any conflict? In Gretchen's case, she decided to leave the church in a very vocal fashion.  This has included: Writing a letter/email ward members to explain why she was leaving the church. Inviting her bishopric to attend a "Resignation Speech" that she offered to them, primarily with the intent of recovering her lost voice as a Mormon woman, and speaking her truth. Diving deeply into the "cult" and "unethical persuasion" literature, Creating a web site to share her story and perspectives with the world. Authoring a series of children's books to help parents educate their children about how to avoid falling prey to undue influence of any sort. If you are seeking a powerful, inspiring story of one ultra-orthodox Utah county Mother's journey out of Mormonism, this is it.  If you enjoyed the interviews of folks like Donna Showalter, Leah Young, you will deeply treasure this interview (but only after it breaks your heart).