Mormon Stories - Lds

Sam Young lived as an orthodox Mormon for several decades, including a full term as an LDS bishop and many years as a stake high counselor. After stumbling on the LDS Gospel Topics Essays and learning about Joseph Smith's polyandry, the Book of Abraham translation problems, etc. -- and specifically after the LDS Church November 2015 policy change regarding LGBT members and their children -- Sam experienced an LDS faith crisis. Over time, Sam developed his own method for expressing concern about LDS policy and administrative problems -- he decided to begin living the Law of Common Consent as found in Doctrine and Covenants 26, which to him means that during every ward, stake and general conference Sam will be voting opposed when asked to sustain the LDS first presidency and the quorum of the 12 apostles. Sam is also inviting other LDS church members to consider a similar approach if they object to recent policy and administrative changes. This interview includes Jamie Hanis Handy and Sam's 85 year old mother,

Jacob realized he was gay only a few months before he left for his LDS mission. He served in the San Jose, Costa Rica mission from August 2012 to September 2013. While serving in Costa Rica, a zone leader became attracted to Jacob, and as they began to do "splits," During these splits, Jacob and his ZL would occasionally "cuddle" in bed - but did not engage in any overt sexual behaviors. This is Jacob's mission story. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Rose Sorenson was raised in a devout LDS household (Idaho Falls, ID), but began having doubts as a 12 year old. Although she continued to struggle with perfectionism and doubts as a teenager, Rose decided that the LDS church's decision in 2013 to lower the missionary age for women was a "sign" that she should serve a mission to strengthen her testimony. She served in the Georgia Atlanta North Mission from March 2013 to August 2014. After a year of struggling with her testimony, including bouts of depression and anxiety -- and after reading the Book of Mormon four times without receiving a spiritual witness that the book was true -- Rose decided that she was an atheist, but remained determined to complete her mission. This is Rose's story. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Tre was raised in Oakland, CA as a bi-racial Mormon (Filipino mother and New Zealander/Maori father).  While he was very committed doctrinally to Mormonism, he was not crazy about Mormon culture, and was taught the fundamentals of critical thinking from a young age.  Prior to and during his mission, Tre was tormented by doubts, along with teachings and rules regarding "self abuse." For over a year on his mission Tre was taught that lack of success on his mission was due to these practices/weaknesses.  After becoming zone leader, Tre became aware of a sex scandal that reached the highest levels of missionary leadership. This is Tre’s story.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Mike Woodruff knew that he was attracted to men by age 14. After consulting with his LDS bishop, he was told that his “same-sex attraction” would “resolve itself” once he served an LDS mission. His LDS patriarchal blessing also assured him that he would serve a complete LDS mission. After being called to the Leeds, England mission, Mike was physically and emotionally abused by his first companion. Suffering with severe PTSD symptoms, he tried for two months to remain in the mission, but did not receive appropriate mental health care. Instead, his mission-assigned therapist focused primarily on encouraging Mike to read his scriptures and pray more, which only reinforced his feelings of shame/blame as an abuse victim. In addition, Mike’s abusive companion was never punished for the abuse (to his knowledge), and was simply reassigned to other missionaries. Mike ended up returning home early from his mission (after 3 months of service), and spent several years trying to reconcile the shame/guilt that he felt, hea

Today's interviewee was a graduate of Dartmouth University and a regular listener to Mormon Stories podcast when she decided to serve an LDS mission in 2012. Towards the latter half of her mission she began to experience depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, due in part to a culture of perfectionism within Mormonism, along with doubts she began to experience as a missionary (primarily around LGBT and historical issues). When she informed her mission president of her depressive symptoms, he allowed her only three visits to a talk therapist. Over time on her mission, she began to experience significant suicidal ideation, and on the final month of her mission was self-admitted to a psychiatric behavioral health unit/hospital.  After her stay in the hospital, she decided that she no longer believed the church to be true, and terminated her mission service early (a few weeks shy of completion). While the LDS church attempted to make her parents pay her hospital bills while a missionary, her parents declined a

Joshua Tesch served in the California Roseville Mission from 2013 to 2015.  When the LDS church introduced the use of Facebook and iPads to missionaries, Elder Tesch was asked by his mission president to become one of the "Tech Missionaries" to help the mission adopt the new technology.  Through this new program Elder Tesch was exposed to credible information critical of the LDS church, including the http://cesletter.org.  Over time Elder Tesch developed a faith crisis and turned to the Mormon Stories Podcast Community on Facebook for support.  Ultimately his involvement in the MSPC was reported to his mission president and his iPad was taken away.  He continued as a missionary until his final month, when his mission president sent him home dishonorably for openly sharing his doubts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

John Dehlin answers questions from a live audience via Facebook Live!  This episode was recorded on July 20, 2016. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Elder Steven E. Snow candidly explains why the LDS Gospel Topics Essays are not publicized by the LDS Church. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

In this episode we invite Mica McGriggs, Dr. Darron Smith, and Dr. Fatimah Salleh to discuss the recent (and continual) loss of black lives in America due to to police action. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

In this episode Gina Colvin, Ph.D., Dan Wotherspoon, Ph.D., and Thomas McConkie  explore the path of staying active in the LDS Church as an unorthodox member.  This episode was recorded live at Studio at 50 West in Salt Lake City on June 15, 2016. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Summer 2016 Mormon Transitions Events: Phoenix, Salt Lake City/Park City, Dallas, Los Angeles/Las Vegas --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

In 2002 anthropologist Thomas Murphy, Ph.D. published the first peer reviewed academic journal article on DNA and the Book of Mormon, demonstrating that DNA evidence (at the time) did not support the Book of Mormon's historical claims.  Dr. Murphy was subsequently summoned to an LDS disciplinary council for apostasy, but the disciplinary council was "called off" at the last minute, and he has not been pursued since.  In this podcast series, Dr. Murphy discusses: His early years in the LDS church. His loss of LDS belief as a young adult as a result of military service, demonstrated lack of inspiration on the part of his church leaders, and information he learned as an anthropologist working primarily amongst native Americans. His research and publication regarding DNA and the Book of Mormon. His work as an anthropologist in Latin America, including work in Mexico and Guatemala.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

In 2002 anthropologist Thomas Murphy, Ph.D. published the first peer reviewed academic journal article on DNA and the Book of Mormon, demonstrating that DNA evidence (at the time) did not support the Book of Mormon's historical claims.  Dr. Murphy was subsequently summoned to an LDS disciplinary council for apostasy, but the disciplinary council was "called off" at the last minute, and he has not been pursued since.  In this podcast series, Dr. Murphy discusses: His early years in the LDS church. His loss of LDS belief as a young adult as a result of military service, demonstrated lack of inspiration on the part of his church leaders, and information he learned as an anthropologist working primarily amongst native Americans. His research and publication regarding DNA and the Book of Mormon. His work as an anthropologist in Latin America, including work in Mexico and Guatemala.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

#55 The Line February 18, 2016 “I was so thirsty and hungry after the truth, my whole body aching for answers.” Hans Mattsson, LDS Church leader 2000-05 This week we have a story about a big group of people with the same questions. Difficult, complicated, heartbreaking ones. These people all have one thing in common — they’re Mormons. Reporter Karen Duffin tells their story.   Further Reading Mormon Stories Podcast New York Times story, “Some Mormons Search the Web and Find Doubt” New Essays on LDS Church Website   The Facts Our theme song is by The Mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder. Our ad music is by Build Buildings. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

The Mama Dragons group consists of almost 1,000 Mormon, post-Mormon, and now never-Mormon women who are dedicated to: 1) Loving their LGBT children. 2) Preventing LGBT youth suicide. 3) Supporting parents of LGBT children to better love and support their children. 4) Rescuing rejected LGBT children from homelessness and abuse. 5) Attending funerals of deceased LGBT youth in support of the surviving families. The Mama Dragons Story Project attempts to collect portraits and autobiographical essays from mothers with LGBT children for their children. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

In this episode Dr. John Dehlin and Lindsay Hansen Park (Feminist Mormon Housewives, Sunstone, Year of Polygamy, Color of Heaven) host a panel discussion about rape within Mormon culture.  The panel features Aubri Parameter, an assault survivor, Kathryn Jones-Porter, a victim's advocate in Salt Lake County, and Donna Kelly, who has worked as a prosecutor for the last twenty-four years, devoting much of her time to working with victims of sex crimes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

In this episode 5 Mormons (Dr. Jana Riess, Dr. Kristy Money, Samy Galvez, Derrick Clements, and Samantha Louise Shelley) discuss, explore, and interpret Tyler Glenn's new and controversial music video entitled "Trash." Trash Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNqnLdX4TM8 Trash Lyrics: http://genius.com/Tyler-glenn-trash-lyrics --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

In December, 2015 Mormon Stories interviewed Clay Christensen and his brother-in-law Matt Elggren about Matt's loss of LDS faith in 2003, and Clay's subsequent loss of LDS faith in October of 2015 after 50 years active LDS membership, and after 7 years as a high-level LDS Church employee. In April, 2016 Clay was contacted by his stake president and invited to a disciplinary council to be excommunicated for apostasy.  This is Clay's update since his December, 2015 interview. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/message

Tyler Glenn is best known as the lead singer of the multi-platinum alternative pop band Neon Trees.   Tyler was raised LDS/Mormon in Temecula, California.  After discovering a love for music in high school and serving an LDS mission, Tyler moved to Provo, UT with his buddy Chris to form Neon Trees (named after the trees on the In and Out signs).  Neon Trees signed with Mercury Records in 2009 and went on to release three successful alternative pop albums: Habits (2010), Picture Show (2012), and Pop Psychology (2014). Tyler knew he was gay as a child, but struggled as a teen and adult to reconcile his sexuality with his LDS faith.  These struggles took Tyler to some sad/dark places, which were only exacerbated by his fame as a pop star.  At age 27 (around the release of Picture Show), Tyler seriously contemplated ending his life. In spite of these struggles, Tyler remained a full and literal believer in the LDS Church.  In 2014 Tyler decided that being a closeted gay man was contributing to his suicidality.  C