Mormon Stories Podcast

On June 25th My Book of Mormon podcast host David Michael came to Salt Lake City to discuss the conclusion of his reading the Book of Mormon from cover to cover.  The event was held at Squatter's Pub and was so heavily attended that people had to be turned away at the door.

An audio recording of a meeting held June 13th, 2015. Dallin H Oaks and Richard E Turley Jr. spoke to a congregation about church history and apostasy.

On June 3rd, 2015 Alan Rock Waterman (blogger at Pure Mormonism) was excommunicated from the LDS (Mormon) Church for blogging about his beliefs and differences with LDS Church policies.  In this episode Rock and his wife Connie retell the experience of his disciplinary council.      

Rock Waterman is a prominent Mormon blogger who maintains belief in all of the fundamental LDS Church truth claims (e.g., God, Jesus, Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon).  His beliefs are similar to those of Denver Snuffer, in that he believes that the modern, corporate LDS Church is  failing to follow the teachings of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, and consequently has strayed from Christ's and Joseph Smith's core teachings.   In this episode we discuss Rock Waterman's recent notice that he will be facing an LDS disciplinary council for apostasy on Wednesday evening June 3, 2015 at 7:30p.m. at the stake center at 2745 Eastern Ave. Sacramento, CA 95821.   Interestingly, Rock has been told by his church leaders to stop blogging at his blog (Pure Mormonism), but these same leaders have acknowledged that they have not spent much time reading his writings, have been instructed by an LDS area authority to hold a disciplinary council on Rock, but have been unwilling to tell Rock which of his teachings or statements are problematic.      

Marisa and Carson tiscuss their excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 21, 2015.

Dr. Gina Colvin is an essential progressive Mormon voice in 2015 for many reasons: She is a "multi-generation life long Mormon" with a multi-racial/international perspective on Mormonism.  Specifically, she is a New Zealander of Māori, English, Irish, Welsh, German and French descent. She is a professor (i.e., lecturer) at the University of Canterbury, with an emphasis on "the history and future of ideas." She is an insightful thinker and writer, and writes for a fantastic blog called KiwiMormon.  She also hosts the A Thoughtful Faith podcast. She is an important and somewhat fearless voice for progressive Mormon thought, and advocates very publicly and strongly for issues such as female ordination (serving on the Ordain Women board), same-sex marriage, and intellectual freedom within the LDS Church.  She is also a staunch opponent of polygamy (including Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants), and of the recent round of excommunications within the LDS Church. While retaining her activity in the LDS Church, she is an unflinching supporter of "Mormon heresy," and openly expresses doubt and/or disbelief regarding various orthodox LDS teachings including the idea of an anthropomorphic God, the LDS Church as the "One True Church," exclusive LDS priesthood authority, and the historicity of the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham. She also has an incredibly fascinating story, which includes an adolescence of considerable trouble-making, a scandalous early divorce from her own bishop/husband, and several other stories of general delight and intrigue. This is Gina's story.  I am certain that you will enjoy it immensely.

Dr. Gina Colvin is an essential progressive Mormon voice in 2015 for many reasons: She is a "multi-generation life long Mormon" with a multi-racial/international perspective on Mormonism.  Specifically, she is a New Zealander of Māori, English, Irish, Welsh, German and French descent. She is a professor (i.e., lecturer) at the University of Canterbury, with an emphasis on "the history and future of ideas." She is an insightful thinker and writer, and writes for a fantastic blog called KiwiMormon.  She also hosts the A Thoughtful Faith podcast. She is an important and somewhat fearless voice for progressive Mormon thought, and advocates very publicly and strongly for issues such as female ordination (serving on the Ordain Women board), same-sex marriage, and intellectual freedom within the LDS Church.  She is also a staunch opponent of polygamy (including Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants), and of the recent round of excommunications within the LDS Church. While retaining her activity in the LDS Church, she is an unflinching supporter of "Mormon heresy," and openly expresses doubt and/or disbelief regarding various orthodox LDS teachings including the idea of an anthropomorphic God, the LDS Church as the "One True Church," exclusive LDS priesthood authority, and the historicity of the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham. She also has an incredibly fascinating story, which includes an adolescence of considerable trouble-making, a scandalous early divorce from her own bishop/husband, and several other stories of general delight and intrigue. This is Gina's story.  I am certain that you will enjoy it immensely.

Taylor Knuth-Bishop was an active LDS Church member and seminary graduate who considered himself "heterosexual with same-sex attraction" until he met the love of his life, Sean Knuth-Bishop. Taylor and Sean fell in love and were eventually legally married during the now-famous 2014 Grammy performance wherein Macklemore, Madonna, and Queen Latifa married 33 same-sex couples during the performance of "Same Love." Taylor and Sean have been living a happy life in New York City in the theatre industry, but recently (after moving home for the summer) Taylor was contacted by his LDS bishop and informed that he will be tried in a disciplinary council for the simple act of being legally same-sex married to Sean.  This is Taylor's story. Here is a link to the engagement video mentioned in the interview:       Here is a link to the 2014 Grammy wedding ceremony.       Here is the letter Taylor received from his bishop, Morgan J. Roberts. Here is a link to Taylor's response to his bishop. More photos of Taylor, Sean, and Taylor's wonderful family. Information about Taylor's Art program for LGBT youth and young adults:

This event, organized by Kate Kelly, was held in New York City on Saturday, April 25th, 6:30pm.  Billed as "A Curated Revue of Hilarious Tales from Mormondom," it entailed a delightful evening of Mormon (and post-Mormon) storytelling and humor. Sean Carter: Harvard Law graduate and professional legal humorist (www.lawhumorist.com). Sean is the author of the first-ever comedic legal treatise – “If It Does Not Fit, Must You Acquit?: Your Humorous Guide to the Law.” His syndicated legal humor column has appeared in general circulation newspapers in more than 30 states. Sean was baptized into the Mormon Church in May, 2011. Jill Wagner: High school Spanish teacher and Story League Legend whose family comes from the Mormon colonies in Juarez, Mexico http://www.storyleague.org/legends/jill/. Steven Puente: Licensed social worker practicing in a methadone clinic in Bronx, NY. Steven is a featured performer at The Moth (http://themoth.org/posts/storytellers/steven-puente), and Steven was featured in a New York Times story about young, hip Mormons (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/fashion/young-mormons-find-ways-to-be-hip.html).   Troy Williams: Returned missionary, Executive Director of Equality Utah and unofficial 'gay Mayor of Salt Lake City.' Troy worked at 90.9 FM KRCL for 10 years and was the executive producer and host of RadioActive. In 2009 he co-wrote the one-woman show, The Passion of Sister Dottie S. Dixon, and was also the producer on the TLC original series Breaking the Faith. Sara Burlingame: Faith organizer at the Human Rights Campaign, from Cheyenne, Wyoming and spends more time investing in the Mormon community than any never-mo…EVER! Sara has never been a Mormon, but she has been an artisan bread baker, a poet, a Bahai and an enthusiastic casserole consumer. She is a perma-blogger at Feminist Mormon Housewives, among other fabulous endeavors. Elna Baker: writer and performer of humorous stories. Her stories have been featured on radio programs such as NPR’s This American Life, The Moth, BBC Radio 4 and Studio 360. Author of The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir.

In June of 2012 I interviewed Tom Phillips, former LDS church stake president in London, England U.K.  In this interview he discusses the following: His early experiences as a bishop and stake president in the LDS church, along with is friendship with LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland. His experience receiving a secret/sacred LDS church ordinance called the "Second Anointing," wherein he was anointed by the hands of Elder M. Russel Ballard, and assured exaltation in there hereafter. His subsequent loss of faith over historical and scientific issues with the church. His direct correspondence with then friend, LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, over these troubling issues. The pain, suffering, and ultimate divorce that he and his family experienced as a result of his faith crisis. Additional detail about Tom's story can be found here. At the time I conducted this interview I was in deep discussions with my stake president, Mark Jensen, over my status with the church, and my ability to baptize my son.  Out of fear of church discipline, and as a sign of good will to President Jensen, I decided to not release this episode via Mormon Stories podcast, and instead granted permission to Tom to do with it as he saw fit. Over the subsequent months and years I have come to regret this decision made largely out of fear, and want to publicly apologize to Tom for it.  I now feel it is appropriate to release this interview, not because I seek to show disrespect for the LDS church or its temple ordinances, but because Tom's story a very poignant example of the pain and suffering that can come about as many LDS members continue to experience legitimate struggles with the LDS church's truth claims. Since this interview openly discusses secret/sacred LDS temple ordinances, listener discretion is strongly advised.