This 4-part workshop series was recorded during the August 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium. During the workshop, we explored techniques for navigating a marriage when one in the couple loses their LDS testimony. Supporting the workshop were: Natasha Parker LCMFT — also known as The Mormon Therapist, and Laurie and Dan Gallagher —...
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This 4-part workshop series was recorded during the August 2010 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium. During the workshop, we explored techniques for navigating an LDS Faith Crisis — both in and out of the church.
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Mormon Stories Listeners, Tomorrow we’re going to try something new and fun. We’re going to broadcast our first interview (with John Larsen of Mormon Expression podcast) live over the Internet, and allow folks to call in. John and I will begin by interviewing each other about our experiences as Mormon podcasters….and then we will...
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Carol Lynn Pearson is one of the most beloved and successul Mormon authors, poets, and playwrights of all time. A comprehensive listing of her creative works can be found here. Her book “Goodbye, I Love You,” about the death of her gay husband from AIDS, took the world by storm in 1986, landing her...
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In this 3-part series we interview Philanthropist, WordPerfect co-founder, and prominent LGBT rights supporter Bruce W. Bastian. Bastian is a generous supporter of the performing arts, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Human Rights Campaign in Washington D.C. Part 1: Growing up Mormon, and the WordPerfect years Part 2: Coming out...
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In this 2-part series, we interview Natasha Parker — an LDS Marriage and Family Therapist who lives in Kansas. Natasha blogs at both Mormon Matters and on her own blog regarding her experiences and thoughts as a therapist specializing in the treatment of Mormons. During this interview, we discuss Natasha’s background, along with brief...
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(Note: Segment 3 of this interview has been removed from the podcast feed — out of respect for the family members involved, and due to legal and other concerns). In this 4-part series, we interview Richard Packham — co-founder of the Ex-Mormon foundation. Throughout the interview and via Richard’s own personal story, we explore...
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In this special episode, BYU History Professor Dr. Michael MacKay share a 1 hour presentation exploring science, evolution, religion, and the LDS Church with Dr. Michael Ruse, one of the world’s leading experts in the philosophy of science, and author of the book: ”Can a Darwinian be a Christian? The Relationship between Science and...
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Some say that science and religion are at odds. Dr. David Bailey would disagree. Dr. Bailey is a graduate of Stanford University with a Ph.D. in mathematics. He currently works as the Chief Technologist for the Computational Research Department at the prestigious Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has published three books on computational and experimental...
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Some of you may know that I’m planning a two-part, all day workshop on 8/4 during the Sunstone Symposium. - The Morning Workshop: Navigating an LDS crisis of faith (in or out of the church) - The Afternoon Workshop: Navigating a marriage when a spouse loses their testimony I plan on sharing the content...
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In this 3-part series, Dan and Laurie Gallagher discuss Laurie’s loss of faith in the LDS Church (while Dan remains a believer), and how that led to an actual strengthening of their marriage and family relationships.
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In this three-part episode, long-time listener Glenn brings on his divorced parents and fellow siblings to discuss their family’s divorce from an LDS perspective.
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Janet Bennion is an associate professor of anthropology at Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont, specializing in alternative sexuality in nontraditional religious movements in the Intermountain West, specifically among Mormon fundamentalist polygynists. She has a Ph.D. in Anthropology from University of Utah and a Masters in Social Organization from Portland State University. Her doctoral...
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In this incredibly fascinating 4-part series, long-time Mormon Stories supporter Andrew Ainsworth interviews Daymon Smith Ph.D., a Mormon Anthropologist and the author of a new book called: The Book of Mammon: A Book About A Book About The Corporation That Owns The Mormons (Paperback). In this interview they discuss: Episode 1: Federal Prosecution, Post-Manifesto Polygamy...
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Mormon Stories listeners, I have five very important announcements that I’d like to make to you…my listeners….so I’ll try to make it brief. Potential Workshops and Reception at Sunstone Symposium: On August 4th, as part of the Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City, I am considering hosting an all-day, 2 part workshop: Part 1...
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(From the Mormon May Day web site): In light of the recent Gallop Poll which calculates that 60% of active Mormons self-identify as Conservative or Republican and that over 60% of inactive Mormons who still consider themselves Mormons are self-identified “Liberals or Moderates” suggesting that the more liberal you are the more likely you are to go inactive; in...
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In this 4-part series I interview 3 super thoughtful, progressive LDS parents who discuss their perspectives on raising children in a non-traditional LDS home. When we say non-traditional in this context, we mean non-literalistic, non-dogmatic, unorthodox, unorthoprax, semi-believing and maybe even non-believing in some cases. Over this 3.5 hour discussion we cover topics like: How...
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This is a 2 part interview with Brian Johnston, co-founder of StayLDS.com. In this series Brian discusses staying in the LDS Church after a crisis of faith.
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This is 2 part interview with Heather, a friend who converted to the LDS church as a college student in Texas, moved to BYU, married the son of a Stake President in the temple, and then afterwards her husband left the church, and she soon followed. Heather talks about why she joined, why she...
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In this 2-part interview (audio and video), I speak with Edward L. Kimball: son of the late LDS Prophet Spencer W. Kimball. Edward Kimball is a retired law professor from Brigham Young University, and author of two biographies on Spencer W. Kimball: Spencer W. Kimball and Lengthen Your Stride, the Presidency of Spencer W....
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Hey…I’m looking to record an episode very soon about how to raise your children as a non-traditional LDS church member (semi-believing, non-believing, or unorthodoxed). Please post questions that you might have for us here. Also, we are seeking participants for the discussion. Thanks!
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In this series I interview Mormon comedian Bengt Washburn. Bengt has been featured on television (Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and The Late Late Show with Craig Fergusen) as well as on radio (including The Bob and Tom Show, The Bob Rivers Show, The KQRS Morning Show, NPR, PRI, the CBC and XM Radio)....
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I would like to kick of the inaugural “Mormon Stories Book Club” with our first book: Karen Armstrong’s “The Case for God”. In Part 1, I re-publish Terry Gross’ 2009 Fresh Air interview with Karen Armstrong. Please listen to this episode, buy and read the book this week, and next week we will: In...
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Mormon Stories Fans, Based on your requests, I wanted to let you know that: Mormon Stories is now an official 501c3 non-profit organization, which means that any future donations you make to the podcast will be tax deductible. I have set up the means whereby you can make automatic monthly donations to Mormon Stories....
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In this 3-part interview I speak with Lisa Butterworth, founder of (perhaps) the most popular blog within the LDS Bloggernacle: FeministMormonHousewives.org. In Part 1, Lisa discusses her early life, how she became a feminist, and what led to her creation of FeministMormonHousewives.com In Part 2, Lisa discusses the importance of open, thoughtful and candid...
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In this episode I interview Shawn McCraney, author of “I was a Born-again Mormon” and host of “Heart of the Matter“, a controversial weekly Christian TV show geared towards LDS Church members. In part 1, Shawn discusses his born again experience, and makes his best case for why LDS Church members should also seek...
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In this series I interview Jacque — a faithful, believing LDS church member whose husband lost his LDS testimony last year. Episode 1: Jacque discusses her husband’s loss of testimony, how they first discussed it, and the lessons she learned from dealing with the immediate aftermath. Episode 2: Jacque discusses the compromises that both...
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In this episode Peter and Mary Danzig discuss life after resigning from the LDS Church, including how they are raising their children as former members, reworking their relationships with extended family, and their new life/spiritual perspectives. They also discuss their recent work the Foundation for Reconciliation, which seeks reconciliation between the Church of Jesus Christ...
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In this episode Peter and Mary Danzig discuss Peter’s removal from the Orchestra at Temple Square because of his letter to the editor opposing professor Jeffrey Nielson’s termination from BYU (over Dr. Nielson’s public support of gay marriage). They also discuss his local church leadership’s request for silence, the threats of church discipline,...
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In this episode Peter Danzig discusses how his experience as a social worker to (primarily) LDS Church members led to an increase in sympathy for LDS homosexuals, a loss of his traditional LDS testimony, and his decision to write a letter to the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune to protest the action taken...
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