After converting to Mormonism as a teen and attending BYU, Haleigh Evert’s relationship with the Mormon church grew unfulfilling and complicated. After leaving the church for a time, Haleigh came back to the Mormon church, married in the temple, and started making videos and writing about her Mormon journey.

Haleigh eventually published the book “Why I Left the Mormon Church and Came Back,” which is still sold at Deseret Book today. Then, after years of promoting and defending the Mormon church, Haleigh read the CES Letter for the first time (just a month and a half ago).

In this episode we discuss Haleigh's conversion, her reach on social media as a Mormon influencer, and her life now after reading the CES letter.

Show Notes:

• Haleigh’s YouTube Channel 
• Haleigh's Instagram
• The CES Letter by Jeremy Runnells
• Unveiling Grace by Lynn Wilder

Despite a happy facade, Lexi struggled with anxiety and perfectionism as many young LDS people do. Subjected to the lessons specifically directed towards LDS teen girls hyper-focusing on modesty and sexual purity along with the belief that LDS men who serve missions were always trustworthy, Lexi blames herself when she is assaulted as a teen by a returned missionary. This turns into hyper-vigilance as a newlywed and mother, even going as far as to use a marker to “censor” cleavage on cartoon characters on a family board game!

Things started to unravel for Lexi when a trusted Bishop is arrested for sexually assaulting minors in her ward and when a close friend starts questioning the Church. Hoping to help her friend and shore up her own shaken testimony, Lexi starts researching LDS Church history and truth claims with devastating results. An early conversation with her father during this time wakes Lexi up to the harm silence causes and gives her the courage to start speaking out and speaking up.

Find Lexi on Social Media:

• YouTube
• TikTok
• Instagram
• Twitter

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Today I am honored to share the story of Drew Manning - author, TV star, and founder of the viral brand, "Fit2Fat2Fit." Join us as we continue with Part 2 of Drew's Mormon story, which will cover:

• Healing after a divorce
• Discovering meditation
• Finding new wisdom outside of the church
• Spirituality through psychedelics
• Fit2Fat2Fit and the identity crisis that followed
• Drew’s beliefs around God and an afterlife as a post Mormon

Show Notes:

• Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal 
• How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
• The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz

Today I am honored to share the story of Drew Manning - author, TV star, and founder of the viral brand, "Fit2Fat2Fit." In part 1 of Drew's story, we will discuss, among other things:

• His upbringing in Mormonism
• LDS mission in Brazil
• Marriage & pornography use in a Mormon marriage, followed by the LDS church addiction recovery program
• Their eventual divorce
• Learning about problematic church history & the 2015 LGBT+ exclusion policy
• The Fit2Fat2Fit story & Drew’s mission to bring empathy to fitness

Show notes:

• Fit2Fat2Fit: The Unexpected Lessons from Gaining and Losing 75lbs on Purpose by Drew Manning
• Complete Keto: A Guide to Transforming Your Body and Your Mind for Life by Drew Manning
• Loving What Is by Byron Katie
• Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
• Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
• The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity by Esther Perel

Join me today for this truly inspiring interview with Lance Allred, the grandson of Rulon C. Allred - the prophet of a fundamentalist polygamous sect called the “Apostolic United Brethren." In addition to this, Lance is the first legally-deaf player in NBA history, an inspirational speaker (including a highly successful TedX presentation, "What is Your Polygamy?"), and celebrated author of six books, including his most recent publication, “The New Alpha Male: How to Win the Game When the Rules are Changing.”

Join along as we discuss the concepts of misogyny, toxic masculinity, how they function within religions, and how we can begin to combat and "unlearn" these unhealthy habits.

More books by Lance Allred:

• Lanceallred41 Daily Perseverance Tracker

• Basketball Gods

• How to Give the Million View TEDx Talk: What is Your Polygamy?

• The Pesaro Poems

• Longshot: The Adventures of a Deaf Fundamentalist Mormon Kid and His Journey to the NBA

• The New Alpha Male: How to Win the Game When the Rules Are Changing

JT & Lady Cee were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses from the age of five years old. Lady Cee was a regular pioneer and went to serve where the need is great with her pioneer partners. JT served at Brooklyn Bethel and was an elder in the local congregation.

After spending a combined 60 years of Watchtower indoctrination, they discovered that something was seriously wrong with the 1914 teaching. This led them to doing more research and after reading Crisis of Conscience by former Governing Body Member Raymond Franz, they faded from the organization. JT & Lady Cee realize the importance of giving back to help those they left behind. Therefore, in 2013, they began hosting the Critical Thought podcast on the EXJW Critical Thinker YouTube channel. Their decision to join their voice with the community of other Ex-JW activists is resulting in many happy endings as individuals begin waking up and learning the real truth about “The Truth.”

Learn more about them on their website and other social media outlets.

In this four-part episode, Trevor Haugen shares with us a recording of his conversation with LDS General Authority Don R. Clarke and LDS church historian Dr. Matthew J. Grow as they attempt to address his mounting concerns with deeply troubling Mormon history and doctrine.

Part 1: Trevor discusses his life as an orthodox Mormon believer, including his mission service and temple marriages.

Part 2: An audio recording of the meeting between Mormon General Authority Elder Don R. Clarke, LDS Church Historian Dr. Matthew J. Grow, and Trevor Haugen.

Parts 3 & 4: A panel including Lindsay Hansen Park, John Hamer, and Glenn Ostlund, moderated by Dr. John Dehlin, discusses the audio recording, and particularly analyzes the apologetics offered by Elder Clarke and Dr. Matthew Grow.

In this four-part episode, Trevor Haugen shares with us a recording of his conversation with LDS General Authority Don R. Clarke and LDS church historian Dr. Matthew J. Grow as they attempt to address his mounting concerns with deeply troubling Mormon history and doctrine.

Part 1: Trevor discusses his life as an orthodox Mormon believer, including his mission service and temple marriages.

Part 2: An audio recording of the meeting between Mormon General Authority Elder Don R. Clarke, LDS Church Historian Dr. Matthew J. Grow, and Trevor Haugen.

Parts 3 & 4: A panel including Lindsay Hansen Park, John Hamer, and Glenn Ostlund, moderated by Dr. John Dehlin, discusses the audio recording, and particularly analyzes the apologetics offered by Elder Clarke and Dr. Matthew Grow.

In this four-part episode, Trevor Haugen shares with us a recording of his conversation with LDS General Authority Don R. Clarke and LDS church historian Dr. Matthew J. Grow as they attempt to address his mounting concerns with deeply troubling Mormon history and doctrine.

Part 1: Trevor discusses his life as an orthodox Mormon believer, including his mission service and temple marriages.

Part 2: An audio recording of the meeting between Mormon General Authority Elder Don R. Clarke, LDS Church Historian Dr. Matthew J. Grow, and Trevor Haugen.

Parts 3 & 4: A panel including Lindsay Hansen Park, John Hamer, and Glenn Ostlund, moderated by Dr. John Dehlin, discusses the audio recording, and particularly analyzes the apologetics offered by Elder Clarke and Dr. Matthew Grow.

JT & Lady Cee were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses from the age of five years old. Lady Cee was a regular pioneer and went to serve where the need is great with her pioneer partners. JT served at Brooklyn Bethel and was an elder in the local congregation.

After spending a combined 60 years of Watchtower indoctrination, they discovered that something was seriously wrong with the 1914 teaching. This led them to doing more research and after reading Crisis of Conscience by former Governing Body Member Raymond Franz, they faded from the organization. JT & Lady Cee realize the importance of giving back to help those they left behind. Therefore, in 2013, they began hosting the Critical Thought podcast on the EXJW Critical Thinker YouTube channel. Their decision to join their voice with the community of other Ex-JW activists is resulting in many happy endings as individuals begin waking up and learning the real truth about “The Truth.” Learn more about them on their website and other social media outlets.

Join me today as I sit down with a living legend, Rod Decker, who has gained great prominence in Utah over the past 50 years as a journalist, columnist, and reporter for KUTV Channel 2 news. An observer of Utah politics from an early age, Decker has a truly unique perspective on Utah culture, faith, and politics, and I could not be more honored to have him as a guest on Mormon Stories Podcast.

Rod Decker's most recent publication, "Utah Politics: The Elephant in the Room" can be purchased here.

Marriage, Family, & Sex therapist, Natasha Helfer, hosts this special edition of Mormon Stories Podcast with John & Margi Dehlin, as they discuss the aftermath of Natasha's trial for apostasy and excommunication from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.