Mormon Stories - LDS

Join us for part 2 of our review of the Widow’s Mite Report, which investigates and reports on LDS Church finances. Today we will discuss Ensign Peak Advisors, the Mormon church’s real estate holdings, and their extensive construction of temples.

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Direct download: MormonStories-1751-WidowsMItePt2.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 12:00pm MDT

Join us as we explore the story of what would lead a super-faithful and believing Mormon mother of three to try psychedelic mushrooms (psilocybin) for the first time...and what happened next.

Direct download: MormonStories-1750-StephanieBrinkerhoff.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 12:00pm MDT

Today we discuss several problematic "revelations" by LDS prophets that succeeded Joseph Smith.  These include:

  • John Taylor's 1886 revelation on the continuation of polygamy.
  • The multiple "manifestos" allegedly ending the practice of polygamy (but not really).
  • The lifting of the 1978 priesthood and temple ban against Mormons of African descent.
  • Changes to the LDS temple ceremony over the years.
  • Russell M. Nelson's condemnation of the use of the "Mormon" identity after Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson's strong support of the "Mormon" identity.
  • The 2015 LGBTQ Exclusion policy, and the subsequent 2019 reversal of the policy/doctrine.
  • The Mark Hofmann forgeries.

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LDS Discussions Essay 


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Direct download: MormonStories-1749-LDSDProblematicRevelations.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 12:00pm MDT

Today we are inviting a panel of Southern Utah University students to discuss their objections to the invitation to have Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland speak at an upcoming graduation ceremony, especially as a man who has used his status, privilege, wealth and power to platform anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, including violent metaphors, which have directly harmed so many in that community.

Follow @SUU_commencement_protest on instagram for updates and ways to help.

If you'd like to build up the platform for these brave students from SUU representing themselves and other marginalized peers, there are a number of ways you can help:

1. Please like & share this episode to give it more visibility and traction

2. Sign the Change.org petition

3. Email SUU's Chair, Vice Chair, and the Board of Trustees:

  • trustees@suu.edu
  • jodihart@suu.edu
  • ericschmutz@suu.edu
  • president@suu.edu

4. Fill out SUU's Feedback form on the 2023 Commencement Speaker

5. Follow @SUU_commencement_protest on instagram

6. If you know any queer students at SUU, please reach out and let them know you support them.

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Mormon Stories Content

Direct download: MormonStories-1748-SUUHollandProtest.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 4:00pm MDT

Lance and Brandee Heppler began to question and ultimately leave the Mormon Church after their son Lake experienced mismanagement and mistreatment during his missionary training and service. This experience, along with their daughter Darby coming out as gay and being rejected by the Church, led them to start questioning Church teachings and practices. They also began to educate themselves about Church history and controversies through sources like the "Mormons & Masons" documentary, "Mormon Stories," and the CES Letter.

Further cracks in their faith emerged when Brandee became aware of a child abuse incident at their local stake center that had been covered up by Church leaders. Despite these concerns, the Hepplers continued to attend Church and pretend to believe for a time. However, they eventually reached a breaking point and decided to leave the Church altogether. They found that prioritizing their family and their own happiness outside of the Church was more important than following Church rules and teachings that were not serving them.

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Direct download: MormonStories-1747-HepplerPt2-leveled.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 1:00pm MDT

Join Lance and Brandee Heppler as they share their personal journeys in Mormonism and delve into mental health challenges they faced as they tried to be good Mormon parents. In this episode, Lance talks about his orthodox upbringing in Oregon, serving his mission in South Carolina, and his panic of finding someone to marry before graduating from BYU. Meanwhile, Brandee shares her struggle of not fitting in at church due in part to her parents being converts and her undiagnosed ADHD, making her wonder why it seemed God made her too "rowdy" as a woman instead of more subdued and "proper".

Together they navigate the traditional gender roles expected of them as a married couple in the church while raising young children and serving in various callings. As they grapple with issues such as feminism and LGBTQ issues in the church, they also confront their own mental health struggles and the lack of support from the Mormon community. They share powerful insights about the often transactional nature of Mormon relationships and the harmful effects that come from some teachings that associate mental health struggles with sin. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those raised in Mormonism and the impact it can have on mental health.

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Direct download: MormonStories-1746-HepplerPt1.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 12:00pm MDT

When Mormons talk about happiness what do they mean? We will deconstruct how the Church uses the concept of happiness to control and gaslight members.

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Direct download: MormonStories1745JLMormonHappiness.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 7:00pm MDT

Join world cult expert Steven Hassan as he shares almost 50 years of experience regarding how to heal and grow after a high demand religion or cult.

 


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Direct download: MormonStories-1744-HassenRecoveryFromACult.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 12:00pm MDT

Please join us today as Dr. Steven Hassan tells us the story of how he was recruited into a cult (The "Moonies"), and how he became one of the world's experts in cults. A few links are included below:

3/18/22 - THRIVE Unite Registration (Lehi and Ogden)
3/19/22 - Full-day workshop with Steven and John (tickets) on Understanding Cults: A Foundational Course for Clinicians

YouTube Link

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Direct download: MormonStories-1743-StevenHassenMoonies.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 12:00pm MDT

Martine and Stuart Smith are back in part three to discuss experiencing the “heavy hand” of Priesthood Authority from their Stake President; from false teachings affecting lives, being told not to watch a specific show he didn’t like, making youth “covenant” to go on missions and never date non-Mormons, only to see him be released and excommunicated for embezzlement. Martine had previously sympathized with the Stake President, who was sometimes unemployed and had five children. She later found out that he had put her membership status as “on probation” though she had never been notified as per policy, and that she had been “blacklisted” from certain callings. The couple began attending Sunstone, where they explored the gray areas of life and Mormon feminism.

During this time, they began to question the Church's teachings, including the Plan of Salvation, which involved separating families more than bringing them together. They also researched the lives of polygamous women and the Equal Rights Amendment. Stuart, an intellectual, was called into the bishopric as an unorthodox member. They stayed in the Church for its utility, but also for their son's sake. Martine became the RS Pres during the Sept Six Era, a time of more progressive leaders and scholars at BYU and at Women's Conferences and in leadership.

Eventually the walls crack on their belief and Martine and Stuart find they can no longer stay in a church that goes against their values.

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Direct download: MormonStories1742MartineAndStewartPt3.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 11:27am MDT

Martine & Stuart have their first child, Nathaniel, who was diagnosed with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare, painful, and ultimately fatal genetic skin condition. Caring for a child with EB is an immense emotional toll on them due to the constant pain the baby suffers with basic daily tasks like feeding & changing diapers. This episode delves further into the contradictions and complexities of Mormon doctrine around reproduction which made it difficult for Martine and Stuart to come to terms with Nathaniel's condition. They felt guilt and self-blame upon his diagnosis, questioning whether it was punishment for wanting to wait to have children, or due to a "Saturday's Warrior" type pact agreed to in the pre-existence. The doctrine of pre-mortal decisions and the effects on disabilities was also discussed, along with the contradictory messages about disabled or sick children and those who die before accountability.

As Nathaniel's condition worsened, the couple sought healing through priesthood blessings, but were met with disappointment when they didn't work. John discusses expectations vs. the reality of priesthood blessings and the theological justifications used when they don't work. The couple eventually came to accept the idea of letting Nathaniel go, and he passed away. Martine & Stuart describe the emotional aftermath of Nathaniel's death, including the funeral and how Mormons deal with death.

Despite some trepidation, the couple decides to have another child, which was met with mixed reactions from their community. Martine became pregnant again and gave birth to a healthy son. They later moved to Louisiana, where they became involved in their LDS branch and had a third child, Sarah, who was also born with EB. The episode discusses the routine of care for Sarah and the support they received from their branch. The second death of an infant affected their faith, with Stuart becoming angry at God and turning down a leadership position in the church. Despite this, Martine still wanted more children, and the episode ends with the couple meeting with a General Authority to discuss the deaths of their children and birth control.

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Direct download: MormonStories1741MartineAndStewartPt2.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 10:43am MDT

Martine, a Belgian convert to Mormonism, shares what growing up in Belgium was like and how she and her sister end up converting to Mormonism. She eventually made it to the United States to attend General Conference and get her Patriarchal Blessing when her sister decided to serve a mission. Due to connections with several families of missionaries, she finds a job as a nanny and eventually makes it to BYU where she is reintroduced to Stuart, whom she'd briefly met as a missionary in Belgium.

Though he hadn't known her well, Stuart instantly recognized Martine at a Young Single Adult (YSA) activity and things took off from there until he asked her to be with him for eternity. Martine happily accepts this proposal from an established, generational Mormon returned missionary. However, the engagement is soon jeopardized by challenges between Martine's desire to follow the brethren's admonitions not to put off having children (and wanting a dozen of them!) as the quintessential Mormon housewife with Stuart's practicality regarding his ability to financially support children while still having several years of school left.

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Direct download: MormonStories-1740-MartineStewartPt1.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 12:00pm MDT

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In this engaging interview, Mike from LDS Discussions, Nemo the Mormon, and John Dehlin review the failed prophecies of Mormonism's founder, Joseph. They start by discussing what the Bible says about failed prophecies and those who tell them. They then delve into specific failed prophecies, including the Second Coming of the Lord in 1891, the fall and overthrow of the US government, and the "everlasting" covenant of the United Order. Other failed prophecies discussed include the failed treasure seeking mission to Salem and the failed attempt to sell the Book of Mormon copyright.

Was Joseph wrong or is it was God's fault? What good is having General Conference, either way? The hosts also discuss how FAIR Mormon tries to spin failures into fulfillments and concludes with some final thoughts on the implications of these failed prophecies of Joseph for Mormons today.

LDS Discussion Essay on Joseph Smith's Revelations.

Donate to Nemo

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Direct download: MormonStories-1739-LDSDJSFailedRevelations.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 12:00pm MDT

YouTube Link

The interview discusses the tensions between Mormon historians and church leadership in the 1970s, focusing on the publication of a pamphlet responding to a critical book by the Tanners. Initially rejected by Mormon leadership for publishing due to their discomfort with the real history revealed in it, the pamphlet is instead published privately under the pseudonym, A Latter-day Saint Historian, or, as the Tanners dubbed him, "Mr. Clandestine."

Signature Books Event on March 9th at 7:00pm
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Direct download: MormonStories-1739-DrClandestine.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 12:00pm MDT

We are excited to announce Thrive Unite 2023 - which is scheduled for March 18th. Events will be held in the following cities:

Ticket costs Range between $0-40. Each of these events provides opportunities to meet with people that have experienced a change in faith. There are some amazing opportunities to hear from experts and prominent voices in recovering from religious transitions.

Examples include:

  • Lehi & Ogden - Dr. Steven Hassen (Cult Expert)
  • Seattle - John Larsen
  • Idaho Falls - Anthony Miller

Tickets and Information about Events

Tickets for the all-day workshop with Steven and John Dehlin

Direct download: THRIVE_Unite_-_March_18_2023.output.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 6:10pm MDT

YouTube Link

Jill and Julie Durrant share their Mormon upbringing and the challenges they faced within the faith. They discuss the expectations placed on Mormon children and the milestones they must achieve to be considered successful in the community. Julie's scrupulosity and the patriarchal blessing she received add to her struggles. Jill talks about the superiority you can feel as a Mormon and the cognitive dissonance she experienced when her sister, Alli, came out as a lesbian. Jill went on a mission to find answers about her siblings, and Julie's faith crisis begins in earnest after talking with her son, Tom. They discuss the complications of navigating family dynamics and the difficulty of leaving the church. Ultimately, the Durrant family's story is one of resilience, growth, and learning to navigate the complexities of life within and outside of Mormonism.

Episode Show Notes


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Direct download: MormonStories-1736-JulieAndJillDurrant.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 12:00pm MDT

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In this revealing interview, you'll learn about the founding of the Widow's Mite Report and its project goals and methods. The conversation takes a deep dive into the Mormon Church's wealth and how it mishandles funds taken from the poor to fund its massive investment accounts. You'll hear about whistleblowing within the church, sources used, and why all the secrecy about church investments.

With only six church leaders having full access to Ensign Peak, discover why the church downplays its wealth and only claims to be financially self-reliant. This interview offers eye-opening insights into the LDS Church's finances and its treatment of the poor.

SEC Order Against Ensign Peak Advisors & The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

If people want to help they can call the Senate finance committee and urge them to take action and have a hearing on this issue.

Senate Finance Committee phone: 202-224-4515

Senate Finance Committee fax: 202-228-0554

Episode Show Notes


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Direct download: MormonStories-1736-WidowsMitePt1.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 8:00am MDT

Youtube link

Author Leah Sotille will be joining John and Rebecca to discuss her book examining the culture of end times paranoia and the trail of mysterious deaths surrounding former beauty queen Lori Vallow and her husband, grave digger turned doomsday novelist, Chad Daybell. When The Moon Turns to Blood tells a gripping story of extreme beliefs, snake oil prophets, and explores the question: if it feels like the world is ending, how are people supposed to act?

Join the Mormon Stories Book Club Facebook Group Here!

Next book: Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational by Michael Shermer

Episode Show Notes


Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!

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Direct download: MormonStories-1735-LeahSottileBookClub.mp3
Category:Religion -- posted at: 10:00am MDT

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