Episode List

1. 
   2006 July 14

   Red permalink

   John,

   How might we e-mail you with questions? I find no contact info listed.
2. 
   2006 July 14

   John Dehlin permalink

   mormonstories@gmail.com
3. 
   2006 August 20

   Dan permalink

   Listened to Why members leave. Interesting, you don’t mention much about feminism, the picture you paint of having the church on your own terms seems utopian – I certainly know of no ward that responds to difficult and honest questions or conflicting political positions with understanding – what about the excommunications for september 6? I have found the entire Mormon community hostile, closed minded, and unwilling to allow a more progressive, and honest look at Mormonism. With that -why would anyone stay after their ‘enlightenment’ – especially when there are plenty ‘good’ places to serve. I notice that most of the comments posted on blog are positive, common…let’s get real. Tell me where a strong feminist who is unwilling to passively consume the gospel – yet wants real change – one that might create a heaven for women and not just men…maybe this is only possible in the underground. Slavery needed an underground railroad, maybe Mormonism does. Please tell me where this open minded ward exists – and maybe I’ll move.
4. 
   2006 August 23

   Cliffy permalink

   Dan, I know of 3 wards I have lived in (2 were not in Utah) that specifically were quite good at answering ‘interesting’ questions about history and doctrine, etc. So sorry you have not had that experience.

   No underground needed for me…
5. 
   2006 September 23

   Jim Huston permalink

   I just watched why members leave. I resigned on “Smithmas Day”, December 23, 2005. Before I resigned I learned about all of the things you mentioned and much more. I served a mission in Brazil and callings of all types and descriptions over more than 40 years. Good luck to you in stemming the tide of people leaving. You are absolutely correct in your assessment of the reaction of members when they encounter the documentable information about Mormon history. I hope you are not individually “disciplined” because of what you have put out here. As Hinckley said at the last conference, either Joseph Smith was a Prophet or it is all a farce. My vote is for farce.
6. 
   2007 May 11

   Jason permalink

   A few things; I heard about this site through a recent conversation I had wit Grant Palmer a few days ago and im very impressed with the interviews and the subjects, so kudos. Well I have a question and it is this (and I mean no disrespect whatsoever):

   -Knowing that the foundations (and beyond) of the Church are for the most part demonstrably false and seems to have been built upon the teachings of J. Smith, doesn’t in necessarily follow that the religion he customized is false as well (I know Pres. H. Thinks so)?

   -And it seems when you take away all the specific teachings of J. Smith and other leaders that were “new” or “restored” then you just go back to the “old” or ‘historical” Christianity, so the question becomes why would you not then become a “historical Christian,” especially knowing that; Jesus tells us to be willing to forsake house and home for truth, Paul and Moses’ repeated warnings addressing false prophets, Jesus’ teaching that parallels with the Church calling some people “white washed tombs, bright and shinny white on the outside but dead and full of dry bones on the inside,” and the evils of syncratism (sp?)?

   I just cannot understand how one could be aware of all the deceit and fabrications of the Church an yet still remain, save it be for the reason of unity in family or a comfort zone. Because I will say this, if I had no regard for truth I would be LDS in a second, but knowing that my eternal life is on the soul accompanied with the fact that I cant turn a blind eye I will remain separated.

   I thank you for understanding that in no way am heckling or just wanting to share my opinion, but this is genuine question out of curiosity and confusion. Thank you.

   Jason
7. 
   2007 May 21

   Kevin permalink

   John,

   An excellent project here. With the exception of the anti-Mormon interview which was removed I’ve listened to your entire body of podcast work. I’d agree with your premise that there is value in simply inviting folks across the spectrum of Mormonism to tell their stories. The strident thumping of drums for or against Mormonism is much less compelling to me than your guests’ beliefs emerging out of the fabric of their lives. I admire your even, thoughtful questions and your fervor for finding meaning in your faith in the face of the perplexities and curiosities in the New Mormon History.

   I particularly enjoyed the interviews with Richard Bushman. A remarkable intellect focussed through the lens of faith. A true gentleman. The interviews about Free Masonry and Blacks and the Mormon Priesthood substantially enlarged my understanding of those topics. Sharing an interview about yourself gives a useful context for weighing your ideas and opinions.

   Do continue. Your project contributes to civil dialog and an expanding view of the human family.

   Kevin
8. 
   2007 June 19

   Fabian permalink

   The Church’s (First Presidency’s) radical position on polygamy is unfortunate. Guidance to the bishops to comply with US and State Laws on marriage should have been sufficient. To tamper with the D & C on this subject was ill-advised.

   Enjoyed the discussions with Todd Compton.

   Fabian
9. 
   2007 June 25

   Non-Winter Meat Eater permalink

   Hi John, I’ve devoured about 75% of your podcasts. I appreciate your quest for truth, which I believe to be sincere, and for your making it possible for us to participate along with you. I have zillions of compliments for you and comments about new insights your podcasts have helped me develop.

   I have only two suggestions for improvement:

   (1) Let’s please be cautious and accurate when we summarize what the Church teaches as its “corrolated” or “official” or “sanitized” version of Church history. In several podcasts I’ve heard both you and the guests misrepresent (I believe unintentionally) what the Church’s official historical sources do and don’t say about controversial issues. After listening to several podcasts about Church history, I grabbed my Church-published Church History manual from BYU off the shelf and was surprised to find many specific details about many controversial issues that I had been told in the podcasts were “white washed” out of official Church histories. So if we’re going to say Church leaders have been less-than-forthcoming about Church history, let’s first be 100% accurate about what official Church histories actually do and don’t say. Let’s be careful not to set up a straw man and knock it down.

   (2) On a similar note, it seems you and the guests sometimes act a bit prematurely in accusing Church leaders of “hiding” certain “difficult facts” from us. There are a number of factual allegations out there about “New Mormon History” that just haven’t been conclusively proven yet. In other words, with regard to a number of factual allegations, the “jury is still out” due to a lack of reliable consistent, first-hand, contemporaneous sources, or due to a conflict in the existing sources. As a lawyer, I sometimes cringe when I hear your or your guests citing “facts” that simply have not been conclusively proved by reliable, consistent, first-hand, contemporaneous evidence yet. The guests (and sometimes you) then fault the Church leaders from “omitting” that “fact” from official versions of Church history. But of course, you cannot be guilty of omitting a fact unless the fact actually exists; and in many instances, the existence of those alleged facts just hasn’t been conclusively demonstrated yet.

   I guess the bottom line is that if we’re going to criticize others’ accuracy, we better make sure we are walking the walk ourselves.

   Thanks and keep up the great work.

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

1. A Consolidated Summary of My Multimedia Work So Far on Mormon Stories at Mormon Stories Open. Honest. Respectful.
2. Mormon Stories Podcast » How to Access the Mormon Stories Archive
3. A Richard Bushman Archive « Summa Theologica

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