Mormon Stories - LDS

In the inagural episode of the Mormon Studies Podcast, host Brent Metcalfe interviews Jan Shipps. Jan is professor emeritus of history at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and a former president of the John Whitmer Historical Association (2004–05) and the Mormon History Association (1979–80)—a scholar’s scholar who has influenced a generation of students of Mormonism, often reaching across and even narrowing the chasm between believer and nonbeliever.

Over the past several years Jan has laid the foundation for a forthcoming book on the history of Community of Christ (a.k.a. “prairie saints”; formerly RLDS) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a. “mountain saints”) from the end of World War II to the present. Explicating 1950s strategic missiology and convert retention to 2010s ecclesiastical polity and women’s priesthood, she has new and trenchant insights that she shares with podcast listeners.

Direct download: MormonStudies-001-JanShipps.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 9:54am MDT

In this episode, Daniel Parkinson MD, host of our sister podcast, Gay Mormon Stories, interviews Meg, Jake and Jon Abhau. Meg and Jake were conservative Mormons when their 13 year old son came out to them 18 months ago.

In Part 3, the Abhaus discuss how they have emerged from this journey as passionate activists for the LGBT Mormon cause.

Direct download: MormonStories-510-MegJakeAbhauPt3.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 5:58pm MDT

In this episode, Daniel Parkinson MD, host of our sister podcast, Gay Mormon Stories, interviews Meg, Jake and Jon Abhau. Meg and Jake were conservative Mormons when their 13 year old son came out to them 18 months ago.

In Part 2, the Abhaus discuss confronting their relationships with the church after learning about Jon's orientation.

Direct download: MormonStories-509-MegJakeAbhauPt2.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 5:58pm MDT

In this episode, Daniel Parkinson MD, host of our sister podcast, Gay Mormon Stories, interviews Meg, Jake Abhau. Meg and Jake were conservative Mormons when their 13 year old son came out to them 18 months ago.

In Part 1, the Abhaus discuss their family, their relationship with their son and coming to terms with their son’s orientation. They also talk about making sure they were protecting him and preparing him for a healthy future.

Direct download: MormonStories-508-MegJakeAbhauPt1.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 5:41pm MDT

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has long affirmed the importance of religious freedom, even issuing a press release in 2013 declaring that "it is the right to think, express and act upon what you deeply believe, according to the dictates of conscience."

But a group of current and former students is concerned about implications for students who find themselves transitioning away from belief in the church while still enrolled at a church-owned school. It creates, they argue, an impossible situation where students are seemingly forced to choose between their integrity and the education they have worked and payed for.

In this episode, we're joined by several members of Free BYU, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of what they consider a lack of religious freedom within the Church Educational System.

We discuss with Free BYU leaders the Honor Code as it relates to religious freedom, ecclesiastical endorsements and how to handle a faith transition while at a church school. We'll also talk with two current students as they talk about how they are trying to navigate their faith transitions while attending BYU.

Direct download: MormonStories-507-FreeBYU.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 6:16am MDT

In the world of politics and media, Carrie Sheffield is a veritable dynamo. She has appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, PBS, HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, BBC Radio and more, as an expert on politics and the economy. Graduating with a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Harvard, she went on to do stints at Goldman Sachs and the Washington Times before settling in as a public policy analyst all over TV and radio.

But Carrie also has a Mormon story. Growing up in the church, then later leaving and exploring other faiths before finding peace with Stoicism, she is also a sort of rare breed as a post-Mormon who still clings tight to deeply conservative values.

In this episode, we talk about her conservative outlook, how and why she still identifies with conservatism after leaving the church as well as her thoughts on Mitt Romney, the recent mid-term elections and more.

Direct download: MormonStories-506-CarrieSheffieldPt2.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 7:32am MDT

n the world of politics and media, Carrie Sheffield is a veritable dynamo. She has appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, PBS, HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, BBC Radio and more, as an expert on politics and the economy. Graduating with a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Harvard, she went on to do stints at Goldman Sachs and the Washington Times before settling in as a public policy analyst all over TV and radio.

But Carrie also has a Mormon story. Growing up in the church, then later leaving and exploring other faiths before finding peace with Stoicism, she is also a sort of rare breed as a post-Mormon who still clings tight to deeply conservative values.

In this episode, we talk to Carrie about her background in the church, the circumstances that led to her leaving, her journey for truth after Mormonism and her thoughts about finding peace through Stoicism.

Direct download: MormonStories-505-CarrieSheffieldPt1.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 6:23am MDT

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