As an independent historian, Russell Stevenson has been studying Mormon history for nearly two decades. His first book, Black Mormon: The Story of Elijah Ables, tells the vexing story of race in nineteenth-century Mormonism through experiences of Elijah Ables, a biracial man ordained to the priesthood during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Drawing on documents unused in other treatments, Black Mormon is the first effort to understand Elijah Ables in all of his identities: black, male, Mormon, and priesthood holder.

As the 10th feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series, we feature Jack Harrell and his short story collection, A Sense of Order and Other Stories. Jack is currently a writing professor at BYU-Idaho. A Sense of Order and Other Stories contains two award-winning stories ("Calling and Election" and "A Prophet’s Story"); the collection won the award for best short fiction from the Association for Mormon Letters in 2010.

Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president before serving in the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy (Europe Central area) from 2000-2005 under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry. In this 5-part interview, and accompanied by his beautiful wife Birgitta, Hans discusses the following: (1) His early years in Sweden, (2) His years as an Area Authority Seventy, (3) His interactions with LDS Apostles and the 1st Presidency, (4) His struggles with faith after being released as an area authority, and (5) His thoughts about the church today.

Special Fireside for Disaffected Swedish Latter-day Saints. Speakers: Elder Marlin K. Jensen (LDS Church Historian) and Richard E. Turley Jr. (Assistant Church Historian). Date: November 28, 2010. Location: Västerhaninge Chapel; Stockholm, Sweden.

Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president before serving in the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy (Europe Central area) from 2000-2005 under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry. In this 5-part interview, and accompanied by his beautiful wife Birgitta, Hans discusses the following: (1) His early years in Sweden, (2) His years as an Area Authority Seventy, (3) His interactions with LDS Apostles and the 1st Presidency, (4) His struggles with faith after being released as an area authority, and (5) His thoughts about the church today.

Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president before serving in the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy (Europe Central area) from 2000-2005 under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry. In this 5-part interview, and accompanied by his beautiful wife Birgitta, Hans discusses the following: (1) His early years in Sweden, (2) His years as an Area Authority Seventy, (3) His interactions with LDS Apostles and the 1st Presidency, (4) His struggles with faith after being released as an area authority, and (5) His thoughts about the church today.

Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president before serving in the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy (Europe Central area) from 2000-2005 under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry. In this 5-part interview, and accompanied by his beautiful wife Birgitta, Hans discusses the following: (1) His early years in Sweden, (2) His years as an Area Authority Seventy, (3) His interactions with LDS Apostles and the 1st Presidency, (4) His struggles with faith after being released as an area authority, and (5) His thoughts about the church today.

Hans H. Mattsson is a 3rd generation LDS church member from Sweden who served as a bishop and stake president before serving in the 3rd Quorum of the Seventy (Europe Central area) from 2000-2005 under LDS Apostle L. Tom Perry. In this 5-part interview, and accompanied by his beautiful wife Birgitta, Hans discusses the following: (1) His early years in Sweden, (2) His years as an Area Authority Seventy, (3) His interactions with LDS Apostles and the 1st Presidency, (4) His struggles with faith after being released as an area authority, and (5) His thoughts about the church today.

In Part 4, John Hamer tells the remarkable story of the RLDS Church’s transformation from a inward-looking sect with a negative, exclusive identity to a progressive denomination with a positive, inclusive identity. Although both the RLDS Church and the LDS Church were faced with the same basic challenges in the societal transformation in North America after World War 2, the churches had completely opposite responses. In the wake of the challenges posed by professional scholarship of the "New Mormon History," RLDS leaders chose to "embrace truth and do what is right, let the consequence follow," rather than to retrench, deny, and retreat into territory that is intellectually indefensible. The path has not been an easy one, but it has led Community of Christ to become a church whose values include "unity in diversity," "the worth of all persons," and the principle that "all are called." Today, women serve at every level of church leadership, up to the First Presidency. Community of Christ has had apostles from Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific Islands, in addition to North America. LGBT members have full priesthood participation in North America and Australia, and in states and countries where it is legal, priesthood members may perform same-sex marriages as a sacrament in Community of Christ.

In Part 3, John Hamer talks about how Latter Day Saints living in the Midwest who continued to oppose polygamy were able to regroup and come together as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. These members included Joseph Smith Jr.’s immediate family. Joseph and Emma’s eldest surviving son, Joseph Smith III, led the RLDS Church as prophet for 54 years. Described by his biographer as a "pragmatic prophet," Joseph III was able to successfully weld diverse old Saints who had been Strangites, Cutlerites, Wightites, Whitermites, Rigdonites, Thompsonites, Brighamites, Morrisites, and more, into a Restoration tradition church that took the Kirtland era as its model. The fact that Joseph III grew up in the ruins of Nauvoo and had learned to live with his neighbors influenced the Reorganization’s strong peace tradition.

In Part 2, John Hamer talks about the pivotal period from 1844-1860, when different Latter Day Saints came up with different solutions for how to remain faithful to their religion in the wake of the founder’s death. John conceptually divides successor churches into three categories: (1) Those who sought to "purify" the church and go back to an earlier form of Mormonism, (2) those who sought to "preserve" the church as it existed in 1844, and (3) those who wanted to continue to "innovate" by having a new prophet ever revealing new doctrine and practices on the model of the founder. John describes how polygamy continued to be the main point of contention and how the organizations of most of Brigham Young’s rivals had faltered by 1860.

In Part 1, John Hamer briefly discusses the diversity within Latter Day Saint or Restoration heritage churches. He then walks us through the early history of the Restoration to explain how the seeds that have ultimately flowered with the Community of Christ and the LDS Church were planted even before Joseph Smith’s martyrdom. John talks about the rapid evolution in Mormonism from its origins to 1844, its inherent tensions, and the direct causes of the schism that emerged after Brigham Young’s showdown with Sidney Ridgon for church leadership in Nauvoo.

As the 9th feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series, we feature Rachel Held Evans and her book A Year of Biblical Womanhood. Rachel Held Evans, from Dayton, Tennessee, is an American Christian columnist, blogger, and author of two books, A Year of Biblical Womanhood and Evolving in Monkey Town. Rachel is a New York Times best selling author.

As the 9th feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series, we feature Rachel Held Evans and her book A Year of Biblical Womanhood. Rachel Held Evans, from Dayton, Tennessee, is an American Christian columnist, blogger, and author of two books, A Year of Biblical Womanhood and Evolving in Monkey Town. Rachel is a New York Times best selling author.

In today’s episode we interview John Hamer, who left Mormonism (and religion/belief altogether) after graduating from BYU with no intent to return. We explore how John’s relationship with his partner, Mike, helped him to discover his love for Mormon history, the Mormon historians community, and the John Whitmer Historical Association. This path ultimately led John to become baptized in the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) on April 6, 2010 - the 150th anniversary of the Reorganization and the 180th anniversary of the organization of the church. How does an ex-Mormon who had left faith altogether rediscover the value of religion within a Joseph Smith tradition church? This is John Hamer’s story.
You can talk to John directly at his facebook group "Latter-day Seekers" or follow the Saints Herald blog.

In today’s episode we interview John Hamer, who left Mormonism (and religion/belief altogether) after graduating from BYU with no intent to return. We explore how John’s relationship with his partner, Mike, helped him to discover his love for Mormon history, the Mormon historians community, and the John Whitmer Historical Association. This path ultimately led John to become baptized in the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) on April 6, 2010 - the 150th anniversary of the Reorganization and the 180th anniversary of the organization of the church. How does an ex-Mormon who had left faith altogether rediscover the value of religion within a Joseph Smith tradition church? This is John Hamer’s story.
You can talk to John directly at his facebook group "Latter-day Seekers" or follow the Saints Herald blog.

As the 8th feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series, we feature Craig Harline and his book Conversions: Two Family Stories from the Reformation and Modern America, accompanied by podcast host Heather Olson Beal and readers Kimberly Brinkerhoff, Hannah Pritchett, Daniel Rawson, and Natasha Helfer Parker. Craig Harline, a native of California, is a cultural historian and a professor of history at BYU. He teaches courses on the Reformation, the history of civilization, film, and Christianity. He has also taught seminars on miracles and toleration and persecution.

Today we interview Dr. Ryan Cragun who is an expert in the sociology of religion. In this episode we discuss his perspective regarding why people are religious and how religion affects peoples' lives and society at large.

As the 7th feature of our Mormon Stories Book Club series, we feature Michael Hicks and his book The Street-Legal Version of Mormon’s Book, accompanied by podcast host Heather Olson Beal and readers Mark Brown and Jonathan Yarrington. Michael Hicks, a composer, performer, scholar, and poet, has been teaching in the BYU School of Music since 1985.

Today we interview Kate Kelly – Co-founder of the Ordain Women website (http://ordainwomen.org). In this episode we discuss: why Kate and her associates are calling for the ordination of LDS women, how female ordination might benefit both the institutional church and its members, and how others can support this initiative.

In this three part interview with Josh and Lolly Weed we discuss: 1) How they fell in love and decided to marry, in spite of both knowing that Josh is gay, 2) the complexities and risks of navigating a mixed-orientation marriage, and 3) LBGT issues within the LDS church

In this three part interview with Josh and Lolly Weed we discuss: 1) How they fell in love and decided to marry, in spite of both knowing that Josh is gay, 2) the complexities and risks of navigating a mixed-orientation marriage, and 3) LBGT issues within the LDS church

In this three part interview with Josh and Lolly Weed we discuss: 1) How they fell in love and decided to marry, in spite of both knowing that Josh is gay, 2) the complexities and risks of navigating a mixed-orientation marriage, and 3) LBGT issues within the LDS church

On this historic day when the United States Supreme Court is considering the legality of gay marriage, we share with you our interview with Brett Bradshaw. Brett is the son of longtime Mormon LGBT advocates Marge and William Bradshaw.

On this historic day when the United States Supreme Court is considering the legality of gay marriage, we share with you our interview with Brett Bradshaw. Brett is the son of longtime Mormon LGBT advocates Marge and William Bradshaw.

On this historic day when the United States Supreme Court is considering the legality of gay marriage, we share with you our interview with Brett Bradshaw. Brett is the son of longtime Mormon LGBT advocates Marge and William Bradshaw.

On this historic day when the United States Supreme Court is considering the legality of gay marriage, we share with you our interview with Brett Bradshaw. Brett is the son of longtime Mormon LGBT advocates Marge and William Bradshaw.

Jay Griffith and Sarah Collett sit with James W. McConkie to speak with him about his personal history and family. As a nephew of Bruce R. McConkie and Joseph B. Wirthlin, Jim has a unique perspective of the Church and the brethren and a valuable approach to the Gospel. Speaking about his faith, parenting, and his views on the historical Christ, Jim explains his approach to doubt and difficult questions.

Jay Griffith and Sarah Collett sit with James W. McConkie to speak with him about his personal history and family. As a nephew of Bruce R. McConkie and Joseph B. Wirthlin, Jim has a unique perspective of the Church and the brethren and a valuable approach to the Gospel. Speaking about his faith, parenting, and his views on the historical Christ, Jim explains his approach to doubt and difficult questions.

In part 4 of a series on Joseph Smith’s polygamy, Brian Hales explains the foundations of his LDS beliefs, and how he maintains belief in the face of detailed knowledge regarding Joseph Smith’s polygamy.

In part 3 of a 4 part series on Joseph Smith’s polygamy, Brian Hales contrasts his views on the naturalistic vs. faithful view of Joseph Smith’s polygamy.

Brian Hales and the Top 12 Myths about Joseph Smith's Polygamy.

Brian Hales Pt. 1 - A Refutation of Grant Palmer’s Treatment of Sexual Allegations Against Joseph Smith

A Short Stay in Hell with Steven L. Peck

Top 5 Myths and Truths about Why Committed Mormons Leave the Church

In this three-part interview conducted by Sarah Collett of A Thoughtful Faith podcast we discuss: My ups, downs, and ups with the church, the story behind the Why Mormons Question survey, including my interactions with a few church leaders, an explanation of the Daniel Peterson/Neil A. Maxwell institute incident last year, the reasons behind the discontinuation of the Mormon Stories conferences and communities, my interactions w/ my bishop and stake president over the past year, and how and why I've returned to full activity in the church. Big thanks to Sarah and Micah for all of their hard work.

In this three-part interview conducted by Sarah Collett of A Thoughtful Faith podcast we discuss: My ups, downs, and ups with the church, the story behind the Why Mormons Question survey, including my interactions with a few church leaders, an explanation of the Daniel Peterson/Neil A. Maxwell institute incident last year, the reasons behind the discontinuation of the Mormon Stories conferences and communities, my interactions w/ my bishop and stake president over the past year, and how and why I've returned to full activity in the church. Big thanks to Sarah and Micah for all of their hard work.

In this three-part interview conducted by Sarah Collett of A Thoughtful Faith podcast we discuss: My ups, downs, and ups with the church, the story behind the"Why Mormons Question" survey, including my interactions with a few church leaders, an explanation of the Daniel Peterson/Neil A. Maxwell institute incident last year, the reasons behind the discontinuation of the Mormon Stories conferences and communities, my interactions w/ my bishop and stake president over the past year, and how and why I've returned to full activity in the church. Big thanks to Sarah and Micah for all of their hard work.

Kristine Haglund and Brent Metcalfe speak at the 2012 Seattle Mormon Stories conference.

In this four-part interview we speak with BYU professor and critic of Mormon liberalism Dr. Ralph Hancock.

In this four-part interview we speak with BYU professor and critic of Mormon liberalism Dr. Ralph Hancock.

In this four-part interview we speak with BYU professor and critic of Mormon liberalism Dr. Ralph Hancock.

In this four-part interview we speak with BYU professor and critic of Mormon liberalism Dr. Ralph Hancock.