Mormon Stories Podcast

This video features Sandra Tanner, a descendant of Brigham Young, sharing insights into her family history and involvement in Mormon history. From Brigham Young's legal wife, Mary Ann Angell, to descendants of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Sandra delves into the complexities of her heritage and polygamy's impact on her upbringing.The discussion explores Sandra's journey into Mormon historical research with her late husband, Jerald, encounters with figures like Ogden Kraut and Ervil LeBaron, and her work with notable journalists and podcasters, including Wallace Turner, Peggy Fletcher Stack, and John Dehlin. This episode offers a fascinating look at the intersections of faith, history, and media.Show NotesYouTube00:01:00 Oh the People You’ll Know: Exploring the connections and relationships in Sandra’s journey.00:02:20 Sandra’s Relations to Brigham Young00:06:40 A look at Brigham Young’s life and the locations associated with him00:18:20 Sandra’s upbringing surrounded by stories of Brigham Young00:20:50 Exploring the descendants of the Mountain Meadows Massacre00:31:00 The Church's acknowledgment of the role Mormons played in the massacre00:33:15 Introduction to James Wardell and his connection to Sandra's work00:42:20 The LaBaron family and their impact on Sandra’s life and work00:52:10 Exploring the figure of the Parowan Prophet and their role in history00:57:36 A look at Ogden Kraut and his contributions to Sandra's understanding01:04:08 Insights into Lamar Peterson and his influence on Sandra’s journey01:16:40 Exploring the connection between the Law of Moses and the Book of Mormon01:23:55 The role of Francis Kirkham in Sandra’s journey01:28:40 The Tanner's decision to leave behind belief in the Book of Mormon01:33:46 Insights into Wallace Turner and his impact on Sandra’s life01:38:35 The role of Peggy Fletcher Stack in Sandra’s journey01:45:00 The influence of John Dehlin on Sandra's path01:48:15 John Dehlin Relaunched Her Career01:51:48 How Quickly We Forget About the People Who Have Helped02:08:00 Final thoughts and conclusion of the video.Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal VenmoOur Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

1 Jan 2h 10min

This powerful and emotional story takes you through Marty’s life journey—from his upbringing in Mormonism, his experiences in high school and seminary, to his time in the military and beyond. Marty reflects on growing up in a trailer park, his mission to Jamaica, his struggles with faith, and his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. He candidly shares deeply personal moments: battling depression, losing loved ones, questioning his beliefs, and finding peace through family, a farm, and humanism.Explore topics of resilience, transformation, and healing as Marty recounts leaving Mormonism, confronting the trauma of war, and redefining his spiritual beliefs. A heartfelt account of faith, doubt, and the search for meaning.Show NotesYouTube00:02:30 Intentions for Marty00:10:20 Growing up in Mormonism00:24:00 The dynamic of his mother working and his dad being abusive00:30:50 Interests in High School00:50:30 Meeting his wife00:51:20 Getting called to serve his mission in Jamaica01:23:40 He joined the army without talking to his wife02:04:45 Going to Afghanistan02:22:00 Having their first daughter02:34:35 Feeling the Spirit of Darkness while fighting in Iraq and questioning God02:54:20 Catching Saddam Hussein and understanding why he did what he did03:06:00 Reading the book Rough Stone Rolling changed his life03:09:10 He delivered his daughter in their van by himself03:14:40 Doing the Lord’s work at finding better ways to kill bad guys03:24:10 Feeling unworthy to baptize his daughter due to his involvement in war violence03:36:40 Finding Mormon Stories03:41:46 Reading The CES Letter and discovering that it was not true03:58:12 Leaving Mormonism helped him to not be so judgmental04:18:20 Living a farm life has helped him find peace and connect better to himself and others04:32:00 How he felt about the Mormon church and being in the military04:49:56 Story of his father's death while in hospice and his belief in a higher power05:43:20 Living his life by this new codeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:Our Platforms:Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media:

30 Des 20245h 56min

Join us for a discussion with Sandra Tanner and Dan Vogel as we explore a remarkable video featuring BYU Professor and leading Mormon historian Steven C. Harper. In this video, Harper addresses key issues with the First Vision narrative and acknowledges several challenges raised by the CES Letter.Show NotesYouTube00:07:40 Wesley Walters00:13:45 Clip - Fawn Brodie00:26:09 Clip - Steven Harper on Joseph changing his story00:27:37 Summary of the 1838 Account of the First Vision00:39:42 Hermeneutics of doubt and trust00:42:55 Clip - Bushman taking a charitable approach00:50:02 Clip - publishing through Oxford00:56:12 Clip - Memory studies nature of memory01:00:38 John calling BS on Joseph Smith’s vision01:19:15 Joseph Smith believed that God and Jesus were one being in 183201:30:50 The problem with Mormon apologetics with the First Vision01:37:50 Clip - Critics not trusting Joseph Smith01:45:32 Clip - How can you know without the Spirit?01:55:45 Faith is a matter of choice?02:01:19 Clip - BYU responding to Wes Walters02:18:12 Clip - How many accounts of the First Vision?02:36:20 Who visited him changes from 1832 to 183802:38:55 Clip - There will always be doubt02:54:00 Clip - I might not have seen what Joseph saw02:56:55 Distinguishing features of modern Mormonism03:03:46 Mental gymnastics03:13:50 Clip - Who does Joseph tell?03:19:00 Joseph Smith’s name on the Methodist Sunday School03:24:55 Clip - Ask Joseph Smith03:34:25 Final thoughts Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal VenmoOur Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

20 Des 20243h 57min

This video exposes a shocking case of abuse within the Mormon Church in Denmark, featuring former Bishop Lasse Meilsoe and journalist Michael Teschl. They discuss the Church’s mishandling of a rape case where a husband drugged and assaulted his wife, Kiran, over several years, confessing repeatedly to Church leaders. The Church’s actions to protect its image over victims, discouragement of reporting abuse to authorities, and their systemic prioritization of abusers are critically examined.Topics include Danish cultural responses, legal investigations into the Church’s practices, and the broader implications for Church transparency and accountability. A powerful and deeply unsettling look at abuse, complicity, and the fight for justice.Show NotesYouTube00:02:17 Church using the same cover-up techniques as in the States00:07:15 Lasse Meilsoe and Michael Teschl introduced00:13:50 Lack of attention to Mormon Church in Denmark00:17:40 How the abuse story came to light00:22:15 Church court for the abuser00:30:40 The abuser is sent home to continue marriage00:35:11 Abuser watches wife take sleeping pills00:41:10 Abuser’s role on the High Council00:46:00 Church threatens leaders who report abuse00:56:20 Detailed timeline of the abuse (6 years)01:01:00 Church’s four-page email response01:14:35 Church leaders deny knowledge of abuse01:20:55 Kiran divorces Peter01:28:50 Church knowingly keeps abuser in leadership01:34:11 Church's sole focus on self-preservation01:41:56 “The Church is more important than the members”01:49:40 Impact of the scandal on church activity rates in Denmark01:54:05 Is Bishop Meilsoe worried about excommunication?01:55:25 Closing remarksMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal VenmoOur Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

16 Des 20242h 4min

Recently the Mormon Church released a new set of storybooks for children. For the storybook entitled "Doctrine and Covenants Stories" it has released a polygamy section that many feel is extremely harmful to children.Please join us as a Mormon Mom (Alyssa Witbeck) and a Mormon Therapist (Natasha Helfer) discuss their feelings about the likely harm that this section will cause to children.Show NotesYouTube00:05:30 The background and where to find this00:13:30 Coming clean of their own volition vs the internet forcing them00:14:54 Obedience is more important than intuition00:19:09 God condones prophets to be predators00:21:46 “The Lord commanded plural marriage”00:26:45 Nowhere does God command polygamy in the Bible00:32:21 Joseph is devastated for having to live polygamy00:37:50 How did this happen if these men were called of God?00:39:25 To claim that Joseph didn’t want to do this00:43:15 Emma sometimes helped Joseph decide who to marry00:46:44 Teaching the Twelve Apostles about polygamy00:50:15 Brigham Young with his first wife00:52:02 The laws against polygamy00:52:52 John Dehlin’s polygamous grandparents00:59:00 The Manifesto and end of polygamy01:03:20 How sealings work in the Mormon church01:10:02 This polygamy lesson teach and normalizes to children01:26:30 Do they want to believe in a God that was okay with all of this?01:30:50 Quick quiz01:40:00 Why does all this matter?01:47:10 Does this qualify as grooming?01:52:20 Upcoming lessons on plural marriage for 2025Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal VenmoOur Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

16 Des 20242h 2min

This video explores the rich history and ongoing journey of Mormon feminism through the lens of Exponent II. Katie Ludlow Rich and Heather Sundahl share their personal stories, including feminist awakenings, experiences with the Church, and their work preserving women’s voices in Mormon history. Topics include women’s roles in the Church, the suppression of women’s spiritual practices, mixed-faith marriages, and the impact of feminist movements like Ordain Women.Dive into the influence of Exponent II, the challenges faced by Mormon feminists, and the resilience of women seeking to redefine their roles in faith and community.Show NotesYouTube00:00:40 Katie Ludlwo Rich and Heather Sundahl00:03:15 Intentions for coming onto Mormon Stories00:05:05 What is feminism? 00:06:26 Heather’s awakening to Mormon feminism00:15:15 Katie’s feminist Mormon story00:28:45 What the book covers00:31:40 Suffragists polygamists blow my mind00:59:44 The founding of Exponent II01:06:40 What was problematic about women's liberation?01:16:40 The Church disempowering women01:25:40 L Tom Perry telling the women to stop the Women’s Exponent01:36:20 Mormons for ERA01:53:00 Women and women’s power02:27:55 Had Exponent II advocated for priesthood?02:49:00 Has Exponent II addressed truth claims?03:03:00 Exponent II is not as widely known, it needs to be biggerMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal VenmoOur Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

15 Des 20243h 10min

Is religion dying in America? In this episode, we sit down with Ryan T. Cragun and Jesse M. Smith, authors of Goodbye Religion: The Causes and Consequences of Secularization. This groundbreaking book examines the surge in people leaving organized religion and its profound impact on American culture and society. Drawing on extensive data and over a hundred in-depth interviews, Cragun and Smith delve into the social, psychological, and environmental factors behind religious exit. They also address the misconceptions surrounding secularization, revealing that leaving religion is not the crisis it’s often portrayed to be. Instead, they show how nonreligious individuals remain socially engaged and committed to making a positive impact in their communities.Show NotesYouTube00:02:20 Background for Ryan and Jesse00:14:00 This could be really bad on society00:27:15 Who is leaving?00:31:25 How is the Mormon church doing with losing members?00:44:00 Resurgence of interest among the young Mormons?00:54:30 Polling the audience00:58:35 The push-pull analysis for what’s pushing people out01:16:40 How to replace your community01:20:00 Where are people going?01:30:40 Where are people finding community?01:36:45 No meaningful relationship between religiosity and mental health02:00:00 Use the religion don’t let the religion use youMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal VenmoOur Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

12 Des 20242h 12min

Join us as we welcome scholar Brent Metcalfe for the 30th anniversary of his excommunication from the Mormon Church. We cover not only his excommunication but also his famous discovery of the “Mosiah First Priority” in the Book of Mormon translation.Show NotesYouTube00:08:00 New Approaches to the Book of Mormon00:10:25 Brent’s background00:16:50 Getting hired by Mark Hoffman00:25:00 Realizing the Book of Mormon was not historical00:31:30 How the Book of Mormon was created?00:34:10 A miracle book from God?00:46:55 Which essay are contained in the book and what they’re about01:01:40 Response to the book01:09:05 Negative review mocking Brent Metcalfe01:16:05 Questions for Brent Metcalfe01:24:30 Members who view the Book of MOrmon as historical? 01:32:50 How people maintain belief01:34:55 The Mosiah Priority01:38:20 The 600 year prophecy of Jesus’s coming01:46:00 The lost 116 pages01:52:29 Wall around Jerusalem02:01:30 Not depending on literary works02:08:55 Four main voices independent of Joseph Smith’s voice02:16:05 The title page to the Book of Mormon, no mention of the replacement text 02:17:55 Who knows the name of Jesus Christ?02:24:30 The writings of Malachi02:36:19 Picturing the golden plates02:44:12 Phone callsMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal VenmoOur Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

11 Des 20243h 7min