Mormon Stories - LDS

GrimshawElizabeth Grimshaw was raised Mormon. She knew she was lesbian as a teenager, but spent her earl years (teens and 20s) attempting to date men and to marry a man. In her early 30s, after many attempts to be "straight," she came out as a lesbian, stopped attending the LDS church, and began dating women. Elizabeth found a committed partner 10 years ago, and married her partner 8 years ago. They are currently raising a daughter.

Even though Elizabeth has not attended an LDS congregation since her early 30s, she was recently approached by her bishop (whom she'd never met) in her driveway, and told that: 1) she needed to pray to God about whether or not to leave her wife and child, and that 2) if she wouldn't divorce her wife and child, that she would face excommunication from the LDS church. 

This is Elizabeth's story.

Direct download: MormonStories-623-ElizabethGrimshaw.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 3:20pm MDT

In this episode recorded February 17, 2016 we discuss the recent Utah Medical Marijuana legislation from the patient perspective.  This is a sobering, heartfelt, and extremely compelling panel.  

We also briefly discuss the medical/scientific justifications for medical marijuana, and LDS Church participation in attempting to defeat this legislation. 

Panel participants include: Enedina Stanger, Dallas Sainsbury, Aaron Campbell, Brian Stoll, Dr. Legrande Belnap, and activist David Kirkham

Huge thanks to DJ Schanz and Christine Stenquist for organizing this panel, and to Club/Cafe and 50 West for providing the venue and audio/visual services.

Direct download: MormonStores-622-UtahMedicalMarijuana.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 5:35pm MDT

On February 8, 2016, Jeremy Runnells received notice from his stake president, Mark Ivins, that he would face excommunication (a disciplinary council) on February 14, 2016 for publishing his "Letter to a CES Director."  This press conference was held in support of Jeremy.  The next morning after the press conference, Jeremy's disciplinary council was postponed until late March, 2016. 

This press conference was held at the Club/Cafe at 50 West in downtown Salt Lake City.

Direct download: MormonStories-621-JeremyRunnellsPressConference.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 4:21pm MDT

This episode is re-broadcast of the Mormons Building Bridges Community Conversation featuring Dr. Bill Bradshaw and Dr. John Parkinson Dehlin as they summarized the major findings from their 2011 survey of LGBTQ Latter-day Saints.   The discussion was recorded on February 3, 2016.

Background: An on-line survey was conducted in the fall of 2011, under the auspices of Utah State University, which yielded 1612 participants - LGBTQ Latter-day Saints (current and former members of the Church). Responses to the large number questions produced a wealth of data regarding such topics as sexual identity development, religious identity development, interventions engaged in for the purpose of coping with or changing one’s sexual orientation, mental health outcomes, and religiosity and religious trajectories. Seven published papers reporting this work have now appeared in prominent academic journals, with others in preparation.

Direct download: MormonStories-620-LGBTQMormonStudy.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 11:27am MDT

February 2016 Announcements!

Direct download: Feb-2016-Announcements.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 5:56pm MDT

Speaker: Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Title: The Free Exercise of Religion in Our Time

Date: February 9 2016

Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

Description: Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. Yet in many seen and unseen ways its validity is challenged at the margins every day. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will speak about the importance of maintaining and protecting religious liberty in the international sphere. After his remarks he will field questions in an audience Q&A.

Source: This presentation was recorded by Andrew Evans in accordance with District of Columbia law.

Note: As the final question of the evening, Andrew Evans asked Elder Oaks the following question:

Andrew's Question: "Less than a year ago, right here in Washington, DC, my friend killed himself. He was Mormon and gay. You've gone on record that, 'the Church does not give apologies'. Does religious freedom absolve you from responsibility in the gay Mormon suicide crisis?"
 
Elder Oaks' Response: "I think that's a question that will be answered on judgment day. I can't answer that beyond what has already been said. I know that those tragic events happen. And it's not unique simply to the question of sexual preference. There are other cases where people have taken their own lives and blamed a church--my church--or a government, or somebody else for their taking their own lives, and I think those things have to be judged by a higher authority than exists on this earth, and I am ready to be accountable to that authority, but I think part of what my responsibility extends to, is trying to teach people to be loving, and civil and sensitive to one another so that people will not feel driven, whatever the policy disagreements, whatever the rules of the church, or the practices of a church, or any other organization, if they are administered with kindness, at the highest level or at the level of the congregation or the ward, they won't drive people to take those extreme measures; that's part of my responsibility to teach that. And beyond that, I will be accountable to higher authority for that. That's the way I look on that. Nobody is sadder about a case like that than I am. Maybe that's a good note to end on."
Direct download: 2016-02-09-OaksJohnsHopkinsShort.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 1:31pm MDT

Speaker: Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Title: The Free Exercise of Religion in Our Time

Date: February 9 2016

Location: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

Description: Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. Yet in many seen and unseen ways its validity is challenged at the margins every day. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will speak about the importance of maintaining and protecting religious liberty in the international sphere. After his remarks he will field questions in an audience Q&A.

Source: This presentation was recorded by Andrew Evans in accordance with District of Columbia law.

Note: As the final question of the evening, Andrew Evans asked Elder Oaks the following question:

Andrew's Question: "Less than a year ago, right here in Washington, DC, my friend killed himself. He was Mormon and gay. You've gone on record that, 'the Church does not give apologies'. Does religious freedom absolve you from responsibility in the gay Mormon suicide crisis?"
 
Elder Oaks' Response: "I think that's a question that will be answered on judgment day. I can't answer that beyond what has already been said. I know that those tragic events happen. And it's not unique simply to the question of sexual preference. There are other cases where people have taken their own lives and blamed a church--my church--or a government, or somebody else for their taking their own lives, and I think those things have to be judged by a higher authority than exists on this earth, and I am ready to be accountable to that authority, but I think part of what my responsibility extends to, is trying to teach people to be loving, and civil and sensitive to one another so that people will not feel driven, whatever the policy disagreements, whatever the rules of the church, or the practices of a church, or any other organization, if they are administered with kindness, at the highest level or at the level of the congregation or the ward, they won't drive people to take those extreme measures; that's part of my responsibility to teach that. And beyond that, I will be accountable to higher authority for that. That's the way I look on that. Nobody is sadder about a case like that than I am. Maybe that's a good note to end on."
Direct download: 2016-02-09-OaksJohnsHopkins.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 1:29pm MDT

12596121_10201190869410032_595292777_nOn February 1, 2016 the LDS Church re-released a media statement originally released in 2013 entitled “Effectiveness of Church Approach to Preventing Child Abuse.”  In this press release (authored by Kirton & McConkie partner and LDS 1st Quorum of the 70 member Elder Von G. Keetch) the LDS Church claimed that "no religious organization has done more" to prevent child abuse, and touted their child abuse approach as "the gold standard" amongst all churches.

Immediately the Mormon Internet exploded with the stories of past and present victims of LDS-related sexual abuse, expressing sadness, frustration, feelings of invalidation, sickness, and (at times) horror over the church's statement/claims.  For examples, see herehere, and here.

In this episode of Mormon Stories we interview Matt Long -- a criminal defense and victim's rights attorney who has considerable experience prosecuting (and defending) perpetrators of child abuse in Arizona -- many of which were within the LDS church system.

  • In part 1 of this episode we discuss the mindset and techniques of child/sex abusers.
  • In part 2 we discuss the recent LDS Church new release, and Matt's perspective on what the LDS Church could do to improve its approach to child/sex abuse.

More on Matt: Matt uses the skills he developed as a sex crimes prosecutor to protect victims' rights and represent victims in lawsuits against offenders and institutions, such as fraternities, schools, businesses, or churches, that allowed abuse to occur. When he's not arguing in court, Matt argues with the other infants on the infants on thrones podcast at infantsonthrones.com.  You can reach Matt at 480-833-1113 or e-mail his paralegal at kristin@azlegal.com with any questions about victim representation.

Direct download: MormonStories-619-MattLongPt2.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 8:37am MDT

12596121_10201190869410032_595292777_nOn February 1, 2016 the LDS Church re-released a media statement originally released in 2013 entitled “Effectiveness of Church Approach to Preventing Child Abuse.”  In this press release (authored by Kirton & McConkie partner and LDS 1st Quorum of the 70 member Elder Von G. Keetch) the LDS Church claimed that "no religious organization has done more" to prevent child abuse, and touted their child abuse approach as "the gold standard" amongst all churches.

Immediately the Mormon Internet exploded with the stories of past and present victims of LDS-related sexual abuse, expressing sadness, frustration, feelings of invalidation, sickness, and (at times) horror over the church's statement/claims.  For examples, see herehere, and here.

In this episode of Mormon Stories we interview Matt Long -- a criminal defense and victim's rights attorney who has considerable experience prosecuting (and defending) perpetrators of child abuse in Arizona -- many of which were within the LDS church system.

  • In part 1 of this episode we discuss the mindset and techniques of child/sex abusers.
  • In part 2 we discuss the recent LDS Church new release, and Matt's perspective on what the LDS Church could do to improve its approach to child/sex abuse.

More on Matt: Matt uses the skills he developed as a sex crimes prosecutor to protect victims' rights and represent victims in lawsuits against offenders and institutions, such as fraternities, schools, businesses, or churches, that allowed abuse to occur. When he's not arguing in court, Matt argues with the other infants on the infants on thrones podcast at infantsonthrones.com.  You can reach Matt at 480-833-1113 or e-mail his paralegal at kristin@azlegal.com with any questions about victim representation.

Direct download: MormonStories-618-MattLongPt1.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 8:33am MDT

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