Mormon Stories Podcast

Latest Episodes:

638: Dr. Thomas Murphy on the Book of Mormon, DNA, His Cancelled Disciplinary Council, and Native American Anthropology Pt. 1 Jun 21, 2016

Show notes

In 2002 anthropologist Thomas Murphy, Ph.D. published the first peer reviewed academic journal article on DNA and the Book of Mormon, demonstrating that DNA evidence (at the time) did not support the Book of Mormon's historical claims. Dr. Murphy was subsequently summoned to an LDS disciplinary council for apostasy, but the disciplinary council was "called off" at the last minute, and he has not been pursued since.

In this podcast series, Dr. Murphy discusses:

His early years in the LDS church.
His loss of LDS belief as a young adult as a result of military service, demonstrated lack of inspiration on the part of his church leaders, and information he learned as an anthropologist working primarily amongst native Americans.
His research and publication regarding DNA and the Book of Mormon.
His work as an anthropologist in Latin America, including work in Mexico and Guatemala.

BONUS: Reply All Podcast Episode #55 - "The Line" Jun 21, 2016

Show notes

#55 The Line

February 18, 2016

“I was so thirsty and hungry after the truth, my whole body aching for answers.” Hans Mattsson, LDS Church leader 2000-05

This week we have a story about a big group of people with the same questions. Difficult, complicated, heartbreaking ones. These people all have one thing in common — they’re Mormons. Reporter Karen Duffin tells their story.

The Facts

Our theme song is by The Mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder.

Our ad music is by Build Buildings.

637: The Mama Dragons and the Mama Dragons Story Project May 27, 2016

Show notes

The Mama Dragons group consists of almost 1,000 Mormon, post-Mormon, and now never-Mormon women who are dedicated to:

1) Loving their LGBT children.
2) Preventing LGBT youth suicide.
3) Supporting parents of LGBT children to better love and support their children.
4) Rescuing rejected LGBT children from homelessness and abuse.
5) Attending funerals of deceased LGBT youth in support of the surviving families.

The Mama Dragons Story Project attempts to collect portraits and autobiographical essays from mothers with LGBT children for their children.

636: Rape in Mormon Culture May 12, 2016

Show notes

In this episode Dr. John Dehlin and Lindsay Hansen Park (Feminist Mormon Housewives, Sunstone, Year of Polygamy, Color of Heaven) host a panel discussion about rape within Mormon culture. The panel features Aubri Parameter, an assault survivor, Kathryn Jones-Porter, a victim's advocate in Salt Lake County, and Donna Kelly, who has worked as a prosecutor for the last twenty-four years, devoting much of her time to working with victims of sex crimes.

635: Mormons Respond to Tyler Glenn's Controversial "Trash" Music Video May 07, 2016

Show notes

In this episode 5 Mormons (Dr. Jana Riess, Dr. Kristy Money, Samy Galvez, Derrick Clements, and Samantha Louise Shelley) discuss, explore, and interpret Tyler Glenn's new and controversial music video entitled "Trash."

Trash Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNqnLdX4TM8

Trash Lyrics:
http://genius.com/Tyler-glenn-trash-lyrics

634: Clay Christensen Threatened with Excommunication for his Podcast Interview May 04, 2016

Show notes

In December, 2015 Mormon Stories interviewed Clay Christensen and his brother-in-law Matt Elggren about Matt's loss of LDS faith in 2003, and Clay's subsequent loss of LDS faith in October of 2015 after 50 years active LDS membership, and after 7 years as a high-level LDS Church employee.

In April, 2016 Clay was contacted by his stake president and invited to a disciplinary council to be excommunicated for apostasy. This is Clay's update since his December, 2015 interview.

633: Tyler Glenn Pt. 3 - Tyler's Faith Crisis Apr 15, 2016

Show notes

Tyler Glenn is best known as the lead singer of the multi-platinum alternative pop band Neon Trees.

Tyler was raised LDS/Mormon in Temecula, California. After discovering a love for music in high school and serving an LDS mission, Tyler moved to Provo, UT with his buddy Chris to form Neon Trees (named after the trees on the In and Out signs). Neon Trees signed with Mercury Records in 2009 and went on to release three successful alternative pop albums: Habits (2010), Picture Show (2012), and Pop Psychology (2014).

Tyler knew he was gay as a child, but struggled as a teen and adult to reconcile his sexuality with his LDS faith. These struggles took Tyler to some sad/dark places, which were only exacerbated by his fame as a pop star. At age 27 (around the release of Picture Show), Tyler seriously contemplated ending his life.

In spite of these struggles, Tyler remained a full and literal believer in the LDS Church. In 2014 Tyler decided that being a closeted gay man was contributing to his suicidality. Consequently he came out as gay to his family, band, friends -- and to the world in Rolling Stone magazine -- prior to the release of Pop Psychology. From this point forward it was Tyler's full intent to find and marry a gay man, and to raise children in the LDS church as a gay married Mormon.

Then, in November of 2015, the LDS church released its new policy branding same-sex married Mormons as immediate apostates, and prohibiting children of same-sex married couples from being baptized. This policy change sent Tyler into a tailspin, ultimately shattering his plans as a believing, gay Mormon.

In this three part interview, we explore:

Part 1: Tyler's early years as a young Mormon struggling with his sexuality.
Part 2: Tyler's ascent (along with Neon Trees) into stardom...and the sadness/despair that followed.
Part 3: Tyler's faith crisis instigated by the LDS policy change, along with his current beliefs/views regarding the LDS Church.

632: Tyler Glenn Pt. 2 - Struggling with Fame and Authenticity Apr 15, 2016

Show notes

Tyler Glenn is best known as the lead singer of the multi-platinum alternative pop band Neon Trees.

In this three part interview, we explore:

Part 1: Tyler's early years as a young Mormon struggling with his sexuality.
Part 2: Tyler's ascent (along with Neon Trees) into stardom...and the sadness/despair that followed.
Part 3: Tyler's faith crisis instigated by the LDS policy change, along with his current beliefs/views regarding the LDS Church.

631: Tyler Glenn Pt. 1 - Early Years as a Gay Mormon Teen Apr 14, 2016

Show notes

Tyler Glenn is best known as the lead singer of the multi-platinum alternative pop band Neon Trees.

In this three part interview, we explore:

Part 1: Tyler's early years as a young Mormon struggling with his sexuality.
Part 2: Tyler's ascent (along with Neon Trees) into stardom...and the sadness/despair that followed.
Part 3: Tyler's faith crisis instigated by the LDS policy change, along with his current beliefs/views regarding the LDS Church.

630: Black Mormon Lives Matter Apr 12, 2016

Show notes

John Dehlin and Lindsay Hansen Park interview Mica McGriggs, Samy Galvez, and Tinesha Zandamela about race relations in the Mormon church, and their experiences growing up as people of color in a predominately white church.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

#55 The Line

Further Reading

The Facts

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected