Mormon Stories Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Instagram Firestorm Over LDS Women's Devotional | Ep. 1879 Mar 22, 2024

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Join us today for a panel discussion on this week's firestorm over J. Anette Dennis's sermon broadcast to women of the church, which was uploaded to the LDS Church's official Instagram account. Panelists include: Julia Sanders, Celeste Davis, Samantha Shelley, and Alyssa Witbeck.
This riveting interview takes a deep dive into the church's recent Women's Devotional - an event intended to empower female members but one that generated significant controversy. Hear candid analysis unpacking the mixed messaging around their supposed "power and authority", and the perceived dissonance between leader's rhetoric and the reality of women's restricted roles. No topic is off-limits in this thought-provoking look at how the devotional aimed to honor women's divine roles while still upholding traditional male leadership.

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How to Become a Guest on Mormon Stories Podcast Mar 21, 2024

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Hey everyone! We have revamped our process for becoming a guest on Mormon Stories Podcast. We are currently seeking panelists for a number of upcoming panels including a Relief Society Presidents panel, a Bishops Wives panel, a "Recently Returned LDS Missionary" panel, a "lost my faith in the last year" panel, a "Left the church recently BEFORE serving a mission" panel, and a "Never Mormon" panel....amongst many others. We are also always on the lookout for traditional, long form Mormon stories with Mormons who were "in it to win it" - and for other unique Mormon stories. Click the link below for more details, and to apply to be on Mormon Stories Podcast.

https://forms.gle/j87YEmcW8pAynCs68

Healing & Joy Beyond Mormonism - David Bokovoy Pt. 4 | Ep. 1878 Mar 20, 2024

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Ever wonder what happens when a faithful Mormon Bible scholar has a crisis of faith and steps away from the religion he dedicated his life to? David Bokovoy's candid interview takes you on a riveting personal journey from staunch believer to "spiritual atheist." He pulls no punches in describing how the Church's controversial 2015 LGBTQ+ policy shattered his worldview, leading him to lose his testimony and leave Mormonism behind. With raw honesty and hard-won wisdom, he shares profound insights about the transformative power of education from his work in prison rehabilitation. He grapples with weighty questions of free will, authenticity, and human connection.

You'll be captivated by his stories of finding the "Holy Ghost" outside of religion, confronting trauma through therapy, and continually evolving his understanding of truth. Brimming with thought-provoking perspectives on everything from ADHD to patriarchy to psychedelics, Bokovoy's interview is a must-see for anyone on their own journey of self-discovery beyond rigid belief systems.

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Are Mormon Scriptures Historical? David Bokovoy Pt. 3 (Remastered Classic) | Ep. 1877 Mar 18, 2024

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David Bokovoy is back to apply higher criticism to Mormon scripture. Today's focus is the Book of Mormon & Pearl of Great Price which have been remastered from previous interviews 1020-1022.

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Is the Bible Historical? David Bokovoy Pt. 2 (Remastered Classic) | Ep. 1876 Mar 15, 2024

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David Bokovoy is back to apply higher criticism to Mormon scripture. Today's focus is the Old & New Testaments, which have been remastered from previous interviews 1019, 1020, and 1022.

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Bible Scholar Rethinks Mormonism - David Bokovoy (Remastered Classic) | Ep. 1875 Mar 12, 2024

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Note: This interview is a remastered version of episodes 1013-1016 with David Bokovoy done in 2018. In these highly-anticipated episodes of Mormon Stories Podcast, we interview David Bokovoy - one of Mormonism's leading Bible scholars. David has an MA from Brandeis University in Jewish Studies and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. He worked for the LDS Church Education System for 18 years, was chaplain at Harvard University, and taught LDS Institute at Harvard, Wellesley, and MIT. He is the author of 2 books including Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis-Deuteronomy, dozens of articles, and was a co-founder of the Mormon Interpreter with Daniel C. Peterson.

This interview focuses on David's personal faith journey, including his fascinating story of falling in love with the Hebrew language and deeply studying the Bible—to forgoing a possibly more lucrative academic career to move to Utah to teach in the Church Educational System.

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BYU-Idaho Disinvites Jazz Professor for his Loss of LDS Belief - Ryan Nielsen | Ep. 1874 Mar 07, 2024

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World renowned Jazz musician and professor Dr. Ryan Nielsen was recently disinvited from speaking at BYU-Idaho jazz fest as punishment for telling his story on Mormon Stories podcast.

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Additional Resources mentioned in the episodes:

Ryan's AMAZING faith crisis/transition Reading/Podcast list can be found here, and has also been included below, after the video and audio links. This is probably the most impressive and thoughtful resources list I've ever seen for Mormon/religious faith transitions.
Holly's Art: This link goes straight to the art Holly has done related to her faith transition, and her reclamation of motherhood.
Ryan's Music: This link goes straight to the music portion of Ryan's website. Several pieces there are related to my faith transition, including "Prayer for Peace" and "Requiem."

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Healing from Aunt Jodi - Jessi Hildebrandt's Update | Ep. 1873 Mar 04, 2024

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Join us as Jessi Hildebrandt, Jodi Hildebrandt's niece, updates the Mormon Stories audience on the healing and growth they have experienced after telling their story on Mormon Stories Podcast.

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Abraham Lincoln and the Book of Mormon: Tim Ballard’s Lincoln Hypothesis | Ep. 1872 Feb 28, 2024

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Join Julia Sanders and John Dehlin as the explore the plausibility of Tim Ballard’s “Lincoln Hypothesis” - which is that the Book of Mormon inspired Abraham Lincoln to free American slaves.

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