Mormon Stories Podcast

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 and threatened to sue the church if they continued with such insistences. Eventually she decided to leave the LDS church, and has experienced significant improvement in her mental health, and elimination of her suicidality, as a result of this decision.  At present, she is engaged to be married and works as a nurse at Planned Parenthood in California.

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.

John Dehlin answers questions from a live audience via Facebook Live!  This episode was recorded on July 20, 2016.

Elder Steven E. Snow candidly explains why the LDS Gospel Topics Essays are not publicized by the LDS Church.

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.

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.

Summer 2016 Mormon Transitions Events: Phoenix, Salt Lake City/Park City, Dallas, Los Angeles/Las Vegas

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.  

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.  

#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.