Mormon Stories Podcast

Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we do an all-day, live-streamed series of interviews on "How to Survive BYU as an Unorthodox or Non-Believing Student." Please share your questions, comments, and stories here so we can use them in the show. 

This segment focuses on the BYU Survival Guide, created by our panel of guests today.

And please share this info with anyone who you think might benefit from it, including any past, present, or future Brigham Young University-Provo or Brigham Young University–Idaho students. Thanks in advance.

Join us now for Part 4 of our Mormon Stories Podcast series on “How to Survive BYU as an Unorthodox or Non-Believing Student.” We will be interviewing Andrew, one of the co-founders of the “BYU Survival Guide” - a survival guide for unorthodox and non-believing BYU students. 

http://www.byusurvivalguide.com

Please share your questions, comments, and stories here so we can use them in the show.

And please share this info with anyone who you think might benefit from it, including any past, present, or future BYU-Provo or Brigham Young University–Idaho students.

Join us now for Part 3 of our Mormon Stories Podcast series on “How to Survive BYU as an Unorthodox or Non-Believing Student.” We will be interviewing Jared Brinton, brother of dear friend and Mormon Stories Podcast listener Janelle Brinton.

Please share your questions, comments, and stories here so we can use them in the show.

And please share this info with anyone who you think might benefit from it, including any past, present, or future BYU-Provo or Brigham Young University–Idaho students. Thanks in advance.

Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we do an all-day, live-streamed series of interviews on "How to Survive BYU as an Unorthodox or Non-Believing Student." Please share your questions, comments, and stories here so we can use them in the show. 

And please share this info with anyone who you think might benefit from it, including any past, present, or future Brigham Young University-Provo or Brigham Young University–Idaho students. Thanks in advance.

Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we do an all-day, live-streamed series of interviews on "How to Survive BYU as an Unorthodox or Non-Believing Student." 

And please share this info with anyone who you think might benefit from it, including any past, present, or future Brigham Young University-Provo or Brigham Young University–Idaho students. Thanks in advance.

SUMMARY: While I am pleased to finally see extensive news coverage of Mormon Bishop/Stake High Councilman Steven Murdock’s voyeurism story, I feel strongly that the reporters are missing the most important part of this story: basically, that Mormon church leadership explicitly knew of Bishop Murdock’s history of sexual harassment as early as 2017, but chose to ignore the reports, kept him in as bishop for several months after the firing, and eventually “promoted” Steven Murdock to the Stake High Council in spite of at least three different direct reports regarding his pattern of behavior.

The following report comes from personal interviews with over 20 individuals who have personal relationships with Steven Murdock, either as friends, co-workers, neighbors, or ward/stake members.

Presented at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference in Salt Lake City, UT

Presented at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference in Salt Lake City, UT

Anthony shares the feedback he received from his Mormon Story

Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.

On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:

*What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
*How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
*How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
*How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis

....and so much more.

We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.

Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.

On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:

*What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
*How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
*How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
*How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis

....and so much more.

We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.

Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.

On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:

*What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
*How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
*How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
*How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis

....and so much more.

We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.

Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.

On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:

*What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
*How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
*How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
*How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis

....and so much more.

We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.

Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.

On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:

*What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
*How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
*How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
*How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis

....and so much more.

We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.

Anthony Miller is widely known across post- and progressive- Mormon internet communities for his thoughtful contributions on faith, spirituality, religion, scripture, and relationships. Anthony has presented at multiple Sunstone Symposium sessions in the past and at this Summer's Thrive Conference where he gave a presentation titled "Growing Beyond Grief" which we hope to feature on a future episode of Mormon Stories / The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis. Anthony has also given past interviews with Gina Colvin's A Thoughtful Faith and appeared on multiple episodes with Bill Reel and Allan Mount (linked on Anthony's blog) unpacking the Gospel Topic Essays.

On these episodes with Mormon Stories, we hope to dig deep into Anthony's personal Mormon story including:

*What he calls his "literal faith" in the truth claims of the Mormon Church, including using his patriarchal blessing as the literal guidebook for the choices and direction he pursed in life
*How his faith began to unravel after he discovered the LDS-published Gospel Topic Essays
*How he sought community and healing during his faith crisis, including the founding of a Mormon Spectrum group
*How he deconstructed his past beliefs and is reconstructing a sense of spirituality after his faith crisis

....and so much more.

We hope our listeners will draw from Anthony's rich experience in learning to navigate a mixed faith marriage, communicating across faith and belief, reconstructing a sense of spirituality after a faith crisis, and creating support communities for people inside and outside the edge of Mormonism.

Presented by John Dehlin at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah

http://thrivebeyondmormonism.org

Presented by Natasha Helfer Parker at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah

Presented by Margi Dehlin at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah

What could cause one of the Mormon church's "best and brightest" women to lose their faith in the church? 

For part 2 of today’s interview with Donna Showalter, we will hear how an east bench, Provo, Utah Mormon mother, former Relief Society President, former Stake Young Women’s President, and BYU employee navigated her Mormon faith crisis.

- This story includes the gripping account of what happened when they asked Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to heal their son of his gayness.

- It also includes Donna's touching experiences as a Relief Society President.

- We also learn about the impact of the November 2015 LGBTQ policy on Donna, Michael and her family - along with the 2019 policy reversal.

What could cause one of the Mormon church's "best and brightest" women to lose their faith in the church? 

For part 2 of today’s interview with Donna Showalter, we will hear how an east bench, Provo, Utah Mormon mother, former Relief Society President, former Stake Young Women’s President, and BYU employee navigated her Mormon faith crisis.

- This story includes the gripping account of what happened when they asked Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to heal their son of his gayness.

- It also includes Donna's touching experiences as a Relief Society President.

- We also learn about the impact of the November 2015 LGBTQ policy on Donna, Michael and her family - along with the 2019 policy reversal.

What could cause one of the Mormon church's "best and brightest" women to lose their faith in the church? 

For part 2 of today’s interview with Donna Showalter, we will hear how an east bench, Provo, Utah Mormon mother, former Relief Society President, former Stake Young Women’s President, and BYU employee navigated her Mormon faith crisis.

- This story includes the gripping account of what happened when they asked Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to heal their son of his gayness.

- It also includes Donna's touching experiences as a Relief Society President.

- We also learn about the impact of the November 2015 LGBTQ policy on Donna, Michael and her family - along with the 2019 policy reversal.

What could cause one of the Mormon church's "best and brightest" women to lose their faith in the church? 

For part 2 of today’s interview with Donna Showalter, we will hear how an east bench, Provo, Utah Mormon mother, former Relief Society President, former Stake Young Women’s President, and BYU employee navigated her Mormon faith crisis.

- This story includes the gripping account of what happened when they asked Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to heal their son of his gayness.

- It also includes Donna's touching experiences as a Relief Society President.

- We also learn about the impact of the November 2015 LGBTQ policy on Donna, Michael and her family - along with the 2019 policy reversal.

What could cause one of the Mormon church's "best and brightest" women to lose their faith in the church? 

For part 2 of today’s interview with Donna Showalter, we will hear how an east bench, Provo, Utah Mormon mother, former Relief Society President, former Stake Young Women’s President, and BYU employee navigated her Mormon faith crisis.

- This story includes the gripping account of what happened when they asked Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland to heal their son of his gayness.

- It also includes Donna's touching experiences as a Relief Society President.

- We also learn about the impact of the November 2015 LGBTQ policy on Donna, Michael and her family - along with the 2019 policy reversal.

For part 1 of today’s interview with Donna and Michael Showalter, we will hear the story of the Showalter family’s Mormon journey, which includes living in very conservative Provo, Utah, Michael coming out as gay, and Donna’s journey to fully accept/embrace/love/celebrate Michael.

For part 1 of today’s interview with Donna and Michael Showalter, we will hear the story of the Showalter family’s Mormon journey, which includes living in very conservative Provo, Utah, Michael coming out as gay, and Donna’s journey to fully accept/embrace/love/celebrate Michael.

Should the Mormon Church Conduct Worthiness Interviews for 8-11 Year Old Children?

Earlier this week The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a marketing research survey inquiring from members about the idea of lowering the age of youth interviews with clergy from age 12 to eight.

Today we have assembled an all-star panel to discuss whether or not this is a good idea. Panelists include:

- Natasha Helfer Parker (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Sex Therapist)

- Roger Hendrix (former Mormon Bishop, Stake Presidency Member, Mission President, and CES Director)

- Sam Young (founder of Protect LDS Children and Protect All Children)

- Joelle Casteix ( leading global expert, advocate and spokesperson for survivors of child sexual assault and institutional cover-up. Joelle has considerable experience fighting the Mormon church in state legislatures in support of sexual abuse victims )

In this episode of The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis licensed marriage and sex therapist and active Mormon Natasha Helfer Parker shares with us a more effective approach to masturbation and pornography for both teens and adults.

In this episode of The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis licensed marriage and sex therapist and active Mormon Natasha Helfer Parker shares with us a more effective approach to masturbation and pornography for both teens and adults.

In this episode of The Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis licensed marriage and sex therapist and active Mormon Natasha Helfer Parker shares with us a more effective approach to masturbation and pornography for both teens and adults.

On 6/30/2019 Mormon Bishop Jared Lusk attended a Mormon church disciplinary council in the Farmington, New Mexico stake on the charges of apostasy. His "sins" included:
 
1) Losing his Mormon faith after reading the Mormon church's own Gospel Topics essays, which discussed topics such as : a) discrepancies in the multiple accounts of Joseph Smith's first vision, b) Joseph Smith's polygamy and polyandry, c) concerns about the authenticity of the Book of Mormon and Book of Abraham, etc.
 
2) Writing publicly about his loss of faith on Facebook, and
 
3) Supporting Mormon Bishop Sam Young's efforts to protect Mormon children from sexual abuse.
 
During the disciplinary council Jared's Mormon Stake President read the charges of apostasy, including several of Jared's Facebook statements. Then, Jared's wife, Gwen, along with two of their daughters (Taylor and Madison) testified on Jared's behalf. Then Jared provided his own response to the charges.
 
At the close of the disciplinary council, Jared's stake president twice asked Jared explicitly if he would agree to stop commenting on social media about his disbelief in fundamental Mormon truth claims. Both times Jared told his stake president that he would NOT stop expressing his disbelief on social media - explicitly defying the counsel of Jared's priesthood leadership (which in and of itself is ground for apostasy).
 
In a somewhat unexpected and heretofore unheard of act in the modern area, Jared was informed by his Stake President that he has been Disfellowshipped for Apostasy.

Join us today on Mormon Stories Podcast as Allan and Kattie Mount share with us their top tips for thriving as a Mormon mixed-faith couple. Allan and Kattie Mount co-host the “Marriage on a Tightrope” podcast which is focused on supporting Mormon mixed-faith couples. This presentation was first delivered in Salt Lake City at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference

Join us today on Mormon Stories Podcast as Allan and Kattie Mount share with us their top tips for thriving as a Mormon mixed-faith couple. Allan and Kattie Mount co-host the “Marriage on a Tightrope” podcast which is focused on supporting Mormon mixed-faith couples. This presentation was first delivered in Salt Lake City at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference

Join us today on Mormon Stories Podcast as Allan and Kattie Mount share with us their top tips for thriving as a Mormon mixed-faith couple. Allan and Kattie Mount co-host the “Marriage on a Tightrope” podcast which is focused on supporting Mormon mixed-faith couples. This presentation was first delivered in Salt Lake City at the June 2019 THRIVE Conference

For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we are interviewing Kattie and Allan Mount (co-hosts of Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast) about:

1) how they have navigated their mixed-faith Mormon marriage,
2) what it has been like to start a podcast to support others in a mixed-faith marriage, and
3) what tips they have for Mormon mixed-faith married couples.

For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we are interviewing Kattie and Allan Mount (co-hosts of Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast) about:

1) how they have navigated their mixed-faith Mormon marriage,
2) what it has been like to start a podcast to support others in a mixed-faith marriage, and
3) what tips they have for Mormon mixed-faith married couples.

For today’s Mormon Stories Podcast episode we are interviewing Kattie and Allan Mount (co-hosts of Marriage on a Tightrope Podcast) about: 

1) how they have navigated their mixed-faith Mormon marriage, 

2) what it has been like to start a podcast to support others in a mixed-faith marriage, and 

3) what tips they have for Mormon mixed-faith married couples.

Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).

The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.

Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.

After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.

This is their story.

Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).

The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.

Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.

After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.

This is their story.

Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).

The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.

Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.

After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.

This is their story.

Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).

The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.

Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.

After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.

This is their story.

Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).

The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.

Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.

After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.

This is their story.

Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Jared, Gwen, and Madison Lusk. This episode is a continuation in our series highlight former Mormon bishops and their families who have experienced a faith crisis. Jared is set to be excommunicated on June 30th, 2019 for apostasy (details below).

The Lusks live in Farmington, New Mexico. Jared and Gwen were raised as devout Mormons, married in the Jordan River temple, had 6 children, and established a successful dental practice in Farmington, NM. Jared and Gwen devoted their lives to the Mormon church for 45+ years, including Jared serving as bishop from 2008-2013, and Gwen serving in multiple callings.

Jared’s faith crisis was triggered in 2015 when he began reading the LDS Gospel Topics Essays. Jared and Gwen experienced a mixed faith marriage for a few years. In April of 2018, while being released from a stake calling, Jared shared with his stake president and one of the counselors details regarding his faith crisis. The stake president immediately took Jared’s temple recommend away, and then released Gwen from her calling and took her temple recommend away a few weeks later. Madison (18) resigned from the church in April, 2019.

After Jared began expressing public support for Sam Young and the Protect LDS Children movement, along with expressing public feelings about the church’s truth claims, Jared was summoned to a disciplinary council. Jared faces excommunication on June 30th, 2019 at 6pm at the Farmington, NM stake center.

This is their story.

Join us now on Mormon Stories Podcast as we interview Tonya Guest. Tonya will be sharing with us her story, which includes experiencing a Mormon faith crisis, expressing a public statement on social media - specifically regarding issues of women and the church - and then having her bishop question and shame her publicly for what she shared. We will also be discussing Tonya’s attempts to discuss the issue with her stake president, and we will read stories/experiences from others with similar experiences.

Join us now for today's Mormon Stories Podcast episode as we interview ex-Jehovah's Witness Amber Scorah about her new book: "Leaving the Witness: Exiting Religion and Finding a Life." Building off of our previous interview with former Jehovah's Witness, Lloyd Evans, we continue to discover the parallels between the JW Movement and Mormonism, particularly surrounding the struggle to form a new identity after leaving the religion. In this interview Amber shares her experience leaving her religion. From the book's abstract:

"Amber's loss of faith culminated in her own personal apocalypse, the only kind of ending possible for a Jehovah's Witness.

Shunned by family and friends as an apostate, Amber was alone in Shanghai and thrown into a world she had only known from the periphery--with no education or support system. A coming of age story of a woman already in her thirties, this unforgettable memoir examines what it's like to start one's life over again with an entirely new identity. It follows Scorah to New York City, where a personal tragedy forces her to look for new ways to find meaning in the absence of religion. With compelling, spare prose, Leaving the Witness traces the bittersweet process of starting over, when everything one's life was built around is gone."

In this episode, we talk with Crystal Escobar about her new book: My Life as a Wannabe Balanced Mom, specifically how she has navigated both motherhood and being a business entrepreneur. Those familiar with Mormon Stories Podcast will recall our earlier episodes with both Crystal and her husband Sean that detailed Sean's experience as a victim of sexual abuse and also detailing their journey out of Mormonism. Today's interview will expound on Crystal's experience as she learned to balance motherhood with her other life's interests, and how she rebuilt her idea of motherhood outside the paradigm of the Mormon Church.

We will also be joined by a few of her readers in the second part of the interview.

In this episode, we talk with Crystal Escobar about her new book: My Life as a Wannabe Balanced Mom, specifically how she has navigated both motherhood and being a business entrepreneur. Those familiar with Mormon Stories Podcast will recall our earlier episodes with both Crystal and her husband Sean that detailed Sean's experience as a victim of sexual abuse and also detailing their journey out of Mormonism. Today's interview will expound on Crystal's experience as she learned to balance motherhood with her other life's interests, and how she rebuilt her idea of motherhood outside the paradigm of the Mormon Church.

We will also be joined by a few of her readers in the second part of the interview.

Please join us now for our Mormon Stories Podcast interview with Spencer Nugent. Spencer, along with his parents and sibling, were the first Jamaicans baptized on the island into the Mormon church. Later Spencer’s family moved to Orem, Utah. Spencer attended UVSC and BYU, served a mission to San Antonio, Texas, and became an Industrial Designer. Spencer is a renaissance man of sorts. His many talents/interests include karaoke/music, art, travel, design, drawing, landscape architecture, teaching, etc.

After Spencer was married in the Salt Lake City temple and had two sons, he and his ex-wife eventually experienced a Mormon faith crisis and divorced.

Today’s episode will cover numerous topics, including Mormon cultural imperialism/whitewashing, being black in the Mormon church, Spencer’s mission, male eating disorders, parenting, divorce, faith crises, and finding identity, morality, and community as a black ex-Mormon man in Utah.

Please join us now for our Mormon Stories Podcast interview with Spencer Nugent. Spencer, along with his parents and sibling, were the first Jamaicans baptized on the island into the Mormon church. Later Spencer’s family moved to Orem, Utah. Spencer attended UVSC and BYU, served a mission to San Antonio, Texas, and became an Industrial Designer. Spencer is a renaissance man of sorts. His many talents/interests include karaoke/music, art, travel, design, drawing, landscape architecture, teaching, etc.

After Spencer was married in the Salt Lake City temple and had two sons, he and his ex-wife eventually experienced a Mormon faith crisis and divorced.

Today’s episode will cover numerous topics, including Mormon cultural imperialism/whitewashing, being black in the Mormon church, Spencer’s mission, male eating disorders, parenting, divorce, faith crises, and finding identity, morality, and community as a black ex-Mormon man in Utah.

Please join us now for our Mormon Stories Podcast interview with Spencer Nugent. Spencer, along with his parents and sibling, were the first Jamaicans baptized on the island into the Mormon church. Later Spencer’s family moved to Orem, Utah. Spencer attended UVSC and BYU, served a mission to San Antonio, Texas, and became an Industrial Designer. Spencer is a renaissance man of sorts. His many talents/interests include karaoke/music, art, travel, design, drawing, landscape architecture, teaching, etc.

After Spencer was married in the Salt Lake City temple and had two sons, he and his ex-wife eventually experienced a Mormon faith crisis and divorced.

Today’s episode will cover numerous topics, including Mormon cultural imperialism/whitewashing, being black in the Mormon church, Spencer’s mission, male eating disorders, parenting, divorce, faith crises, and finding identity, morality, and community as a black ex-Mormon man in Utah.

On this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we travel to Davis, California to visit with the Purves family as they share their unique experience with a Mormon Faith Crisis.

In this interview we cover:

• The goodness that Mormonism brought Scott and Joanna as youth, including a nurturing community and a sense of purpose
• Scott and Joanna's decision to raise their family in Mormonism, culminating in the calling of Scott as Bishop
• The rewards and challenges of serving as a Bishop, and how the demanding service impacted Joanna and the rest of the family
• What made a Mormon Bishop question and then lose his testimony?
• What happens when a Mormon Bishop's daughter comes out as lesbian and how does the family handle that?
• How does the Purves family rebuild and regroup to find joy and fulfillment outside of Mormon orthodoxy?
• And so much more...

Join us as this amazing and loving family becomes both strong and vulnerable to share the joys and challenges of their Mormon Faith Crisis!