Mormon Stories Podcast

Live from the Salt Lake City Community of Christ, we welcome singer/songwriter Angela Soffeto Mormon Stories Podcast.  No doubt you have heard her song "Rocks" in our bumper music for many episodes this year, and we were honored to have her in Salt Lake City in front of a live audience to hear her faith transition story and listen to songs that were born from that period in her life. Part 1: Angela shares her experience growing up as a Mormon and what eventually led her to experiencing a faith transition as a young mother with small children, and in a period of life where she was feeling intense isolation from being in a new city and having few friends outside of her local LDS ward.  In this segment of the interview, Angela gives great advice and hope for those who may be in their darkest moments during a faith transition. Part 2: Angela performs songs from her album "Second Wind," and then continues the conversation with John about her faith journey, particularly the joy she feels now as she makes authentic choices in her life.

Live from the Salt Lake City Community of Christ, we welcome singer/songwriter Angela Soffeto Mormon Stories Podcast.  No doubt you have heard her song "Rocks" in our bumper music for many episodes this year, and we were honored to have her in Salt Lake City in front of a live audience to hear her faith transition story and listen to songs that were born from that period in her life. Part 1: Angela shares her experience growing up as a Mormon and what eventually led her to experiencing a faith transition as a young mother with small children, and in a period of life where she was feeling intense isolation from being in a new city and having few friends outside of her local LDS ward.  In this segment of the interview, Angela gives great advice and hope for those who may be in their darkest moments during a faith transition. Part 2: Angela performs songs from her album "Second Wind," and then continues the conversation with John about her faith journey, particularly the joy she feels now as she makes authentic choices in her life.

In light of a statement on LDS.org declaring, “An inability to feel the spirit … is often a symptom of poor mental health,” Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT CST and John Dehlin, Ph.D. are joined by our guest Matt to speak about his experiences with Mormon faith crises, depression, and suicidality—issues he has dealt with for 20 years. According to Matt, it makes him angry to read that his struggles were a trial, test, or blessing from God, or that he could have been healed if he had more faith, prayed, or hadn’t “sinned.” Matt believes that religious observance is not a cure for mental health illness, and in these episodes, Natasha and John discuss how Mormonism, and in particular a faith transition in the context of Mormonism, can exacerbate the symptoms of depression. ___________________________ Part 1: Natasha and John discuss depression and then introduce our guest, Matt Part 2: Matt shares his faith transition and how it affected his mental health Part 3: Natasha, John, and Matt discuss the LDS Church’s statement regarding mental health and the ability to feel the “Spirit” ___________________________

In light of a statement on LDS.org declaring, “An inability to feel the spirit … is often a symptom of poor mental health,” Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT CST and John Dehlin, Ph.D. are joined by our guest Matt to speak about his experiences with Mormon faith crises, depression, and suicidality—issues he has dealt with for 20 years. According to Matt, it makes him angry to read that his struggles were a trial, test, or blessing from God, or that he could have been healed if he had more faith, prayed, or hadn’t “sinned.” Matt believes that religious observance is not a cure for mental health illness, and in these episodes, Natasha and John discuss how Mormonism, and in particular a faith transition in the context of Mormonism, can exacerbate the symptoms of depression. ___________________________ Part 1: Natasha and John discuss depression and then introduce our guest, Matt Part 2: Matt shares his faith transition and how it affected his mental health Part 3: Natasha, John, and Matt discuss the LDS Church’s statement regarding mental health and the ability to feel the “Spirit” ___________________________

In light of a statement on LDS.org declaring, “An inability to feel the spirit … is often a symptom of poor mental health,” Natasha Helfer Parker, MFT CST and John Dehlin, Ph.D. are joined by our guest Matt to speak about his experiences with Mormon faith crises, depression, and suicidality—issues he has dealt with for 20 years. According to Matt, it makes him angry to read that his struggles were a trial, test, or blessing from God, or that he could have been healed if he had more faith, prayed, or hadn’t “sinned.” Matt believes that religious observance is not a cure for mental health illness, and in these episodes, Natasha and John discuss how Mormonism, and in particular a faith transition in the context of Mormonism, can exacerbate the symptoms of depression. ___________________________ Part 1: Natasha and John discuss depression and then introduce our guest, Matt Part 2: Matt shares his faith transition and how it affected his mental health Part 3: Natasha, John, and Matt discuss the LDS Church’s statement regarding mental health and the ability to feel the “Spirit” ___________________________

Continuing our theme of interviewing past guests from some of our most popular and impactful interviews, we interview Shawn McCraney who first appeared on Mormon Stories in February 2010to discuss his experience as a "Born-Again Mormon."  Shawn currently leads a church in Murray, Utah called C.A.M.P.U.S and has continued the ministry through a weekly streaming service, called Heart of the Matter. Shawn is widely known for his bold and sometimes bare-knuckled approach when comparing Mormonism to Christianity, and given his reputation as an animated and articulate speaker, this interview will keep you entertained and perhaps inspired. In this interview we cover: Part 1: Shawn provides a brief recap of his born-again experience, and then discusses the meteoric rise, and ultimately descent of his tv program Heart of the Matterafter he confronted local Utah Christian churches for focusing more on programs and tithes, and less on the Bible.  According to Shawn, these churches were providing the same "bondage" to people as the Mormon Church was. Part 2: This segment of the interview is a conversation focusing on Shawn's theology and beliefs, and Shawn provides a pitch for why a questioning Mormon or post-Mormon should seek the Jesus of the Bible Part 3: Shawn describes the "bondage" he sees when local churches focus more on "religion" and less on the teachings of Jesus.  After our interview with the South Mountain Community Church earlier this year, Shawn voiced concerns to Mormon Stories about our visit and in this segment, we engage in a respectful dialogue about churches such as SMCC and how they serve their congregants.

Continuing our theme of interviewing past guests from some of our most popular and impactful interviews, we interview Shawn McCraney who first appeared on Mormon Stories in February 2010to discuss his experience as a "Born-Again Mormon."  Shawn currently leads a church in Murray, Utah called C.A.M.P.U.S and has continued the ministry through a weekly streaming service, called Heart of the Matter. Shawn is widely known for his bold and sometimes bare-knuckled approach when comparing Mormonism to Christianity, and given his reputation as an animated and articulate speaker, this interview will keep you entertained and perhaps inspired. In this interview we cover: Part 1: Shawn provides a brief recap of his born-again experience, and then discusses the meteoric rise, and ultimately descent of his tv program Heart of the Matterafter he confronted local Utah Christian churches for focusing more on programs and tithes, and less on the Bible.  According to Shawn, these churches were providing the same "bondage" to people as the Mormon Church was. Part 2: This segment of the interview is a conversation focusing on Shawn's theology and beliefs, and Shawn provides a pitch for why a questioning Mormon or post-Mormon should seek the Jesus of the Bible Part 3: Shawn describes the "bondage" he sees when local churches focus more on "religion" and less on the teachings of Jesus.  After our interview with the South Mountain Community Church earlier this year, Shawn voiced concerns to Mormon Stories about our visit and in this segment, we engage in a respectful dialogue about churches such as SMCC and how they serve their congregants.

Continuing our theme of interviewing past guests from some of our most popular and impactful interviews, we interview Shawn McCraney who first appeared on Mormon Stories in February 2010to discuss his experience as a "Born-Again Mormon."  Shawn currently leads a church in Murray, Utah called C.A.M.P.U.S and has continued the ministry through a weekly streaming service, called Heart of the Matter. Shawn is widely known for his bold and sometimes bare-knuckled approach when comparing Mormonism to Christianity, and given his reputation as an animated and articulate speaker, this interview will keep you entertained and perhaps inspired. In this interview we cover: Part 1: Shawn provides a brief recap of his born-again experience, and then discusses the meteoric rise, and ultimately descent of his tv program Heart of the Matterafter he confronted local Utah Christian churches for focusing more on programs and tithes, and less on the Bible.  According to Shawn, these churches were providing the same "bondage" to people as the Mormon Church was. Part 2: This segment of the interview is a conversation focusing on Shawn's theology and beliefs, and Shawn provides a pitch for why a questioning Mormon or post-Mormon should seek the Jesus of the Bible Part 3: Shawn describes the "bondage" he sees when local churches focus more on "religion" and less on the teachings of Jesus.  After our interview with the South Mountain Community Church earlier this year, Shawn voiced concerns to Mormon Stories about our visit and in this segment, we engage in a respectful dialogue about churches such as SMCC and how they serve their congregants.

In this edition of Mormon Stories, we continue our conversation with Roger Hendrix– possibly the highest ranking and most well-connected LDS church leader interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast to date.  In these final 3 episodes, _________________________ Part 6: Roger describes how the LDS Church's involvement in Proposition 8 in California, and his daughters' questions surrounding polygamy, led him to have a more deep and informed conversation internally as he tried to reconcile Mormonism and church history Part 7: Roger describes his evolution on opinions of church history, and how new sources of information including Richard Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling and Mormon Stories Podcast contributed to his faith evolution Part 8: Roger answers questions submitted by our listeners, including questions regarding whether he has received the 2nd Anointing.  Roger also tells us why he decided now to share his Mormon Story on the podcast

In this edition of Mormon Stories, we continue our conversation with Roger Hendrix– possibly the highest ranking and most well-connected LDS church leader interviewed on Mormon Stories Podcast to date.  In these final 3 episodes, _________________________ Part 6: Roger describes how the LDS Church's involvement in Proposition 8 in California, and his daughters' questions surrounding polygamy, led him to have a more deep and informed conversation internally as he tried to reconcile Mormonism and church history Part 7: Roger describes his evolution on opinions of church history, and how new sources of information including Richard Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling and Mormon Stories Podcast contributed to his faith evolution Part 8: Roger answers questions submitted by our listeners, including questions regarding whether he has received the 2nd Anointing.  Roger also tells us why he decided now to share his Mormon Story on the podcast