Mormon Stories Podcast

The goal of the Mormon Stories"Circling the Wagons" conference was to create a space where LGBTQ or SSA individuals and their families and allies could gather to acknowledge, explore and honor shared experiences. In this second general session noted author and LGBT activist Jimmy Creech speaks, and a panel including Bill Bradshaw, Carol Lynn Pearson, Julia Hunter is moderated by John Dehlin.

The goal of the Mormon Stories"Circling the Wagons" conference was to create a space where LGBTQ or SSA individuals and their families and allies could gather to acknowledge, explore and honor shared experiences. In this first general session Joseph Broom conducted, psychologist Lee Beckstead discussed his perspective on the Mormon LGBT journey, David Zabriskie shared his original composition called"Pioneers" based on a Carol Lynn Pearson poem of the same name, and Carol Lynn Pearson spoke on the Gay and Lesbian Mormon's"Hero's Journey."

We are excited to launch the pilot a new podcast and set of resources located at MormonTransitions.org. The purpose of this project is to support LDS church members who are navigating difficult Mormon-related transitions. In today's episode, Joanna Brooks and Brian Johnston join John Dehlin to provide an overview of navigating a Mormon faith transition.

This episode was recorded as part of the January 2012 Mormon Stories regional conference held in Houston, Texas dedicated to the topic of"Maintaining Positive Relationships Through Empathy and Dialogue." Panel participants include Heather Olson-Beal, Brent Beal, Anne McMullin Peffer, Jacob Brown, and John Dehlin.

This episode was recorded as part of the January 2012 Mormon Stories regional conference held in Houston, Texas dedicated to the topic of"Maintaining Positive Relationships Through Empathy and Dialogue." It is the"Story Sharing" portion of the conference.

This episode was recorded as part of the January 2012 Mormon Stories regional conference held in Houston, Texas dedicated to the topic of"Maintaining Positive Relationships Through Empathy and Dialogue." Speakers in this episode include: Lee Prince, Matthew Nokleby and Jason Moore.

This episode was recorded as part of the January 2012 Mormon Stories regional conference held in Houston, Texas dedicated to the topic of"Maintaining Positive Relationships Through Empathy and Dialogue." In part 1, John Dehlin talks about the costs and benefits of having difficult conversations about Mormonism with family and friends. In part 2, Dan Wotherspoon delivers a presentation called:"Make Love AND War!: Maintaining Positive Relationships During Faith Transitions - A Spiritual Framing."

In this episode Grant Palmer, author of"An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins," returns to Mormon Stories to discuss: 1) Sexual allegations made against Joseph Smith during his early years, 2) the story of William and Jane Law, and 3) an update on Grant’s resignation from the LDS church and his final testimony.

In this episode Grant Palmer, author of"An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins," returns to Mormon Stories to discuss: 1) Sexual allegations made against Joseph Smith during his early years, 2) the story of William and Jane Law, and 3) an update on Grant’s resignation from the LDS church and his final testimony.

In this episode Grant Palmer, author of"An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins," returns to Mormon Stories to discuss: 1) Sexual allegations made against Joseph Smith during his early years, 2) the story of William and Jane Law, and 3) an update on Grant’s resignation from the LDS church and his final testimony.

In this episode John Dehlin discusses his Masters thesis research on Scrupulosity (religious/moral Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). This presentation covers: 1) an overview of obsessive-compulsive disorder, 2) an overview of Scrupulosity, 3) a review of the most common treatments for OCD/Scrupulosity, and 4) the results of John's recent study of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a treatment for Scrupulosity.

In this episode John Dehlin interviews Denver Snuffer: a progressive, fundamentalist, non-polygamist Mormon who claims to have seen Christ. Denver is the author of several books including The Second Comforter: Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil and Passing the Heavenly Gift.

In this episode John Dehlin interviews Denver Snuffer: a progressive, fundamentalist, non-polygamist Mormon who claims to have seen Christ. Denver is the author of several books including The Second Comforter: Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil and Passing the Heavenly Gift.

In this episode Scott Holley interviews Matt Martinich of the Cumorah Foundation. Matt takes us on a tour of the triumphs and challenges of Mormonism throughout the world. Matt’s blog can be found at: LDS Church Growth.

In this episode Scott Holley and I interview sociologist Dr. Ryan Cragun about his newly published report called,"Mormons in the United States 1990-2008: Socio-demographic Trends and Regional Differences."

Special Announcement: Phoenix Conference -- February 17-19, 2012

In this episode, BYU Professor Charles Harrell discusses his new book entitled:"This Is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology."

In this episode, BYU Professor Charles Harrell discusses his new book entitled:"This Is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology."

In this episode we interview John and Brooke McLay. John served for 14 years as an employee of the LDS Church Education System (CES). In this capacity he served as: a seminary teacher and principal, an institute teacher and director, a BYU Education Week speaker and an EFY Director. John also served as a member of a stake high counsel, and was serving in a bishopric during the months leading up to his decision to leave the LDS Church. John and Brooke resigned their membership of the LDS Church in August of 2011. This is their story.

In this episode we interview John and Brooke McLay. John served for 14 years as an employee of the LDS Church Education System (CES). In this capacity he served as: a seminary teacher and principal, an institute teacher and director, a BYU Education Week speaker and an EFY Director. John also served as a member of a stake high counsel, and was serving in a bishopric during the months leading up to his decision to leave the LDS Church. John and Brooke resigned their membership of the LDS Church in August of 2011. This is their story.

In this episode we interview John and Brooke McLay. John served for 14 years as an employee of the LDS Church Education System (CES). In this capacity he served as: a seminary teacher and principal, an institute teacher and director, a BYU Education Week speaker and an EFY Director. John also served as a member of a stake high counsel, and was serving in a bishopric during the months leading up to his decision to leave the LDS Church. John and Brooke resigned their membership of the LDS Church in August of 2011. This is their story.

In our conversation with Brant Gardner about his new book entitled"The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," we discuss most of the major issues with the Book of Mormon including: Joseph Smith's use of folk magic, the translation process (including the peep stone in the hat), anachronisms, DNA and race.

In our conversation with Brant Gardner about his new book entitled"The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," we discuss most of the major issues with the Book of Mormon including: Joseph Smith's use of folk magic, the translation process (including the peep stone in the hat), anachronisms, DNA and race.

In our conversation with Brant Gardner about his new book entitled"The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," we discuss most of the major issues with the Book of Mormon including: Joseph Smith's use of folk magic, the translation process (including the peep stone in the hat), anachronisms, DNA and race.

In our conversation with Brant Gardner about his new book entitled"The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," we discuss most of the major issues with the Book of Mormon including: Joseph Smith's use of folk magic, the translation process (including the peep stone in the hat), anachronisms, DNA and race.

In our conversation with Brant Gardner about his new book entitled"The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," we discuss most of the major issues with the Book of Mormon including: Joseph Smith's use of folk magic, the translation process (including the peep stone in the hat), anachronisms, DNA and race.

In this episode, we spend two good hours with author and scholar Jana Reiss. Jana discusses: her early years being raised by secular parents, her conversion to God/Christianity, and her ultimate conversion to Mormonism. We also discuss with Jana her new book,"Flunking Sainthood.."

In this episode, we spend two good hours with author and scholar Jana Reiss. Jana discusses: her early years being raised by secular parents, her conversion to God/Christianity, and her ultimate conversion to Mormonism. We also discuss with Jana her new book,"Flunking Sainthood.."

In this episode, four members of the Phoenix Mormon Stories Support Community: Kendahl, Lauren, Scott, and James, discuss: 1) the value that this community has played in their lives, and 2) the lessons they have learned about how to successfully run such a community.

James McLachlan is a professor of philosophy and religion at Western Carolina University, and is actively involved in academic discussions of Mormonism as a co-chair of the American Academy of Religion’s Mormon Studies Group and a board member and past president of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology. But to overplay his academic bona fides is possibly a mistake, because, as this interview with longtime friend and Mormon Stories contributor Dan Wotherspoon reveals, Jim is the opposite of the stuffy scholar stereotype. In this two-part interview, his incredibly quick and inquisitive mind is on full display, but it’s his good humor and ability to use observations from everyday life, great literature, and important films to elucidate powerful philosophical and religious questions that will surely captivate listeners. Among other discussions, through Jim's lenses Mormonism’s fully engaged God—as Sterling McMurrin described: a God with his"own problems"—comes alive and becomes a highly compelling alternative to traditional Christian views that borrow so heavily from Greek ideas about the nature of perfection. Hear, too, Jim's wonderful take on why those of us who experience many of Mormonism’s theological ideas differently from many in the mainstream might still feel confident in answering temple recommend questions affirmatively.

James McLachlan is a professor of philosophy and religion at Western Carolina University, and is actively involved in academic discussions of Mormonism as a co-chair of the American Academy of Religion’s Mormon Studies Group and a board member and past president of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology. But to overplay his academic bona fides is possibly a mistake, because, as this interview with longtime friend and Mormon Stories contributor Dan Wotherspoon reveals, Jim is the opposite of the stuffy scholar stereotype. In this two-part interview, his incredibly quick and inquisitive mind is on full display, but it’s his good humor and ability to use observations from everyday life, great literature, and important films to elucidate powerful philosophical and religious questions that will surely captivate listeners. Among other discussions, through Jim's lenses Mormonism’s fully engaged God—as Sterling McMurrin described: a God with his"own problems"—comes alive and becomes a highly compelling alternative to traditional Christian views that borrow so heavily from Greek ideas about the nature of perfection. Hear, too, Jim's wonderful take on why those of us who experience many of Mormonism’s theological ideas differently from many in the mainstream might still feel confident in answering temple recommend questions affirmatively.

This workshop on LDS Women and Sexual Desire was delivered on September 23rd, 2011 by Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife. In this presentation, Jennifer speaks to LDS women about the cultural and psychological barriers to sexual desire, as well as how to shift one’s relationship to sexuality to make it more pleasurable and desirable.

This workshop on LDS Women and Sexual Desire was delivered on September 23rd, 2011 by Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife. In this presentation, Jennifer speaks to LDS women about the cultural and psychological barriers to sexual desire, as well as how to shift one’s relationship to sexuality to make it more pleasurable and desirable.

This is LDS Bishop Kevin Kloosterman's talk on homosexuals in the LDS Church that was given on 11/6/2011 during the Mormon Stories"Circling the Wagons" conference in Salt Lake City, UT in support of our LDS LGBT brothers and sisters.

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As part of the 2011 Mormon Stories Washington D.C. conference, conference participants close the conference with their testimonies.

As part of the 2011 Mormon Stories Washington D.C. conference, John Dehlin discusses the motives behind Mormon Stories, Steve Kovalenko explains why he left the LDS Church, and Chesea Shields Strayer explains why she stays in the LDS Church.

For the keynote address at the 2011 Mormon Stories Washington D.C. conference, noted author, scientist and philanthropist Greg Prince discussed the history of Mormon thought, and his vision for"Big Tent Mormonism."

In today’s interview, Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dr. Barbara Morrell — a licensed psychologist working in the Brigham Young University Counselling and Psychological Services. She divides her time between doing psychotherapy and coordinating the Stress Management and Biofeedback Services. Her interest in and experience with treating childhood sexual abuse began during her masters program in 1985 working as a volunteer counselor with AMACs (Adults Molested as Children). She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from BYU in 1997 and wrote her dissertation on adult men who had been sexually abused as children. Barbara began working in the BYU Counseling Center in 1996 and for many years was the sexual assault liaison between the center and the University Police, county law enforcement, and other agencies. Students who had been sexually assaulted were referred directly to her for immediate help and ongoing therapy. Dr. Morrell has served two LDS missions, one to Taiwan at the normal missionary age, and 10 years later she took a leave of absence from her work as a high school counselor for a second mission to Geneva Switzerland. She loves teaching in the Church and loved working for two years as a temple worker in the Provo temple.

Terryl Givens did graduate work at Cornell University in Intellectual History and UNC Chapel Hill where he received his PhD in Comparative Literature. He holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English, and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, where he teaches courses in 19th century studies, and the Bible’s influence on western literature. As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, he has appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN. Author of ten books, his writing has been praised by the New York Times as “provocative reading,” and includes, most recently, When Souls had Wings, a history of the idea of premortal life in western thought, and a two volume history of Mormon theology underway for Oxford University Press.

Terryl Givens did graduate work at Cornell University in Intellectual History and UNC Chapel Hill where he received his PhD in Comparative Literature. He holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English, and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, where he teaches courses in 19th century studies, and the Bible’s influence on western literature. As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, he has appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN. Author of ten books, his writing has been praised by the New York Times as “provocative reading,” and includes, most recently, When Souls had Wings, a history of the idea of premortal life in western thought, and a two volume history of Mormon theology underway for Oxford University Press.

Terryl Givens did graduate work at Cornell University in Intellectual History and UNC Chapel Hill where he received his PhD in Comparative Literature. He holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English, and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, where he teaches courses in 19th century studies, and the Bible’s influence on western literature. As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, he has appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN. Author of ten books, his writing has been praised by the New York Times as “provocative reading,” and includes, most recently, When Souls had Wings, a history of the idea of premortal life in western thought, and a two volume history of Mormon theology underway for Oxford University Press.

Terryl Givens did graduate work at Cornell University in Intellectual History and UNC Chapel Hill where he received his PhD in Comparative Literature. He holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English, and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, where he teaches courses in 19th century studies, and the Bible’s influence on western literature. As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, he has appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN. Author of ten books, his writing has been praised by the New York Times as “provocative reading,” and includes, most recently, When Souls had Wings, a history of the idea of premortal life in western thought, and a two volume history of Mormon theology underway for Oxford University Press.

Terryl Givens did graduate work at Cornell University in Intellectual History and UNC Chapel Hill where he received his PhD in Comparative Literature. He holds the James A. Bostwick chair of English, and is Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond, where he teaches courses in 19th century studies, and the Bible’s influence on western literature. As a commentator on Mormon religion and culture, he has appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN. Author of ten books, his writing has been praised by the New York Times as “provocative reading,” and includes, most recently, When Souls had Wings, a history of the idea of premortal life in western thought, and a two volume history of Mormon theology underway for Oxford University Press.

Natasha Helfer Parker interviews Dr. Christopher Helfer and Dr. Vicki Winkle, two 4-year residents at the University of Utah in the psychiatric program, regarding depression. Both were raised in the LDS faith. This podcast offers basic education as to what clinical depression entails, current"best practice" treatments that are backed by scientific research, and includes some discussion as to how depression manifests within Mormon culture.

D. Michael Quinn is one of the most important Mormon historians of the 20th century. In this episode audience members share their thanks for Michael's contributions.

D. Michael Quinn is one of the most important Mormon historians of the 20th century. In this episode a private dinner group asks D. Michael questions.