Episodes

  • Family Abandons Mormon Church After 40 Years of Faith - Kevin and Jennifer Lundquist | Ep. 2001

    Family Abandons Mormon Church After 40 Years of Faith - Kevin and Jennifer Lundquist | Ep. 2001
    Mar 13 2025

    In this heartfelt episode, Kevin and Jennifer share their inspiring journey through their Mormon upbringing, missions, and eventual faith transition. They discuss navigating doubts, supporting their gay and transgender children, and redefining what love and family mean. From facing church pressures to embracing authenticity, their story highlights resilience, acceptance, and the power of unconditional love. Don't miss this moving conversation about finding peace and purpose beyond organized religion.


    Show Notes

    YouTube


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    3 hrs and 4 mins
  • Lori Vallow Dateline Interview - MORMONS RESPOND! | Ep. 2000

    Lori Vallow Dateline Interview - MORMONS RESPOND! | Ep. 2000
    Mar 9 2025

    Lori Vallow Daybell was interviewed on NBC/Dateline Exclusive. Keith Morrison sat down with convicted murderer and Mormon mom, Lori Vallow, to talk about her case. Her two children, Tylee and J.J. were last seen in September of 2019 and she and her new husband Chad Daybell were arrested and charged for their murder. During the Dateline interview, Lori said that she and Chad Daybell were going to be exonerated because of Jesus. “I have seen things in the future that Jesus showed me when I was in heaven.” She went on to say that “Jesus is a funny guy and a wonderful person that loves everybody and especially loves her.” Lori has long been desirous to appear on Dateline and finally got her wish. She is also charged with conspiracy in the attempted murder of her niece’s ex-husband in another case.


    Show Notes

    YouTube


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    3 hrs and 46 mins
  • Mormonism Failed Me as A Woman - Dana Raine | Ep. 1999

    Mormonism Failed Me as A Woman - Dana Raine | Ep. 1999
    Mar 6 2025

    Dana shares her personal journey of growing up in the Mormon church, navigating mental health challenges, and eventually deconstructing her faith. From her Mormon upbringing and mission experience to questioning societal and religious expectations, Dana's story explores themes of self-discovery, the impact of religion on her life, and the search for meaning beyond traditional beliefs. After leaving the church, Dana delves into topics like mental health, fertility, relationships, and motherhood, offering a candid perspective on her path toward healing and personal growth. This channel is a space for open discussion on faith, identity, and life after Mormonism.


    Show Notes

    YouTube


    00:05:00 Dana’s Mormon Story begins

    00:23:00 What examples did she see of women in the church?

    00:26:29 It was out of the ordinary to see women with careers

    00:45:08 She was reported to the Bishop and her parents that she had experimented with cutting

    00:55:50 Attended Southern Utah University after HS

    01:15:30 Dana’s mission experience service in Atlanta, Georgia

    01:25:40 Didn’t love the temple experience - was “underwhelming”

    01:33:36 David Archuleta was at the MTC during the same time

    01:42:58 Dana knew very soon that she wanted to leave the mission early and she had to fight to go home

    01:48:27 Decided to go to BYU

    01:57:00 Felt pressure to be married by the time she finished BYU

    02:10:17 Dana to tell her parents that they could not be married in the temple and her mother told her “He’s taken everything from you”

    02:25:55 Mormon therapist asked her to consider if she would be open to dating a non-Mormon

    02:39:20 Dana lists the ways the church failed her - the church makes promises it can’t keep

    03:16:03 Began to research severe PMS and PMDD, and learned that she suffered from it

    03:22:29 Dana decided to have a baby by herself - very radical in Mormonism

    03:44:57 Dana feels that she was a better foster parent as an ex-Mormon

    03:49:00 Deconstructing the idea of “motherhood” in Mormonism

    04:04:03 Dana focusing on her PhD


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    3 hrs and 34 mins
  • Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke - Mormons React | Ep. 1998

    Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke - Mormons React | Ep. 1998
    Mar 3 2025
    When vlogger Ruby Franke was arrested for child abuse in August 2023, it shocked millions who had followed her family’s seemingly perfect life on YouTube. But behind the wholesome image was a much darker reality. With counselor Jodi Hildebrandt’s influence, the Franke family spiraled into a nightmare. Now, in Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, the Frankes’ eldest children, Shari and Chad, and Ruby’s husband, Kevin, speak out for the first time. In this episode of Mormon Stories, we react to this gripping series, unpacking the shocking revelations and what they say about family, control, and the dangers of social media.Show NotesYouTube00:02:45 Curious Case of Judi Hildebrant 00:22:45 “Mormon Mommy Bloggers”00:30:40 Kevin is also a victim of an abuser00:48:50 Ruby thinks a happy family is an obedient family 01:10:57 Ruby’s channel was “Advancing the image of the church”01:26:00 Pressure in Mormonism to find a partner that is acceptable by church standards01:56:49 The Franke kids begin to shut down to the camera02:02:26 Ruby tells Chad: “Fake being happy right now”02:14:17 Who is the “Devil in the Family” representing?02:30:20 “The beanbag incident” with Chad’s bed being taken away02:40:42 Shari saying Chad got “beaten” and had to help him clean up blood off the walls 03:01:21 Kevin’s initial reaction to ConneXions - “This is a cult”03:23:20 Lauren’s reaction to Jodi’s house: “They had Costco inside this house”03:28:00 The LDS church could be shutting this dogma down but they don't04:04:00 When Jodi is possessed its a feature, when the kids are possessed its a bug04:31:10 Jodi Gave Ruby permission to be this way04:49:40 Shari calls the police for the first time to do a wellness check on the kids04:58:54 The younger daughter found in the closet - wasn't even able to talk05:17:50 “Takes an exceptional lack of empathy” for a mother to do this05:25:11 Assessment of how Kevin let this happen05:41:30 Sometimes families like these can be more susceptible to manipulation 06:07:00 Become cult informed! Become born again to your own intrinsic knowledge Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:One-time or recurring donation through DonorboxSupport us on PatreonPayPalVenmoOur Platforms:YouTubePatreonSpotifyApple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media:Insta: @mormstoriesTikTok: @mormonstoriespodcastJoin the Discord
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    6 hrs and 10 mins
  • Sued Mormon Church to Get My Tithing Back - James Huntsman Story | Ep. 1997

    Sued Mormon Church to Get My Tithing Back - James Huntsman Story | Ep. 1997
    Feb 26 2025

    In this long awaited interview, James Huntsman, a successful businessman and member of the Huntsman family, joins John Dehlin and fraud attorney Mark Pugsley to discuss his high-profile fraud lawsuit against the LDS Church—how he lost his LDS faith, why he pursued a fraud lawsuit to get a tithing refund, what he learned, and why he has no regrets.


    Show Notes

    YouTube


    00:00:49 Brief overview of James Huntsman's lawsuit

    00:07:27 Family background info

    00:18:50 Served a mission at 18

    00:22:21 Discussion of a kidnapping in their family

    00:36:27 Emergence of Ensign Peak & church investments

    00:49:58 Cracks start developing in James’ faith

    01:03:03 What led to him deciding to file the suit

    01:09:35 The downsides of him suing

    01:17:00 Comparing the organized structure of his family’s business to the disorganization of the church

    01:28:55 What sparked his desire to sue the church

    01:37:00 “It was a very personal battle for me”

    01:48:40 Statute of limitations for fraud

    01:54:00 Everyone now knows how much the church has - floodgates of awareness have been opened to the churches bad financial dealings

    02:07:00 James has no intention of damaging the church

    02:14:15 The church today does not need members tithing

    02:26:00 How did they feel after they filed?

    02:44:20 Are churches protected from committing fraud

    02:58:00 James feels relieved that it is all over, and they can talk about it now

    03:11:29 Final thoughts & Conclusion


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    3 hrs and 14 mins
  • Joseph Smith Monogamy Affirmer - Michelle Stone | Ep. 1996

    Joseph Smith Monogamy Affirmer - Michelle Stone | Ep. 1996
    Feb 25 2025
    For nearly two centuries, Joseph Smith’s involvement in polygamy has been a point of controversy. Historians and more recently, LDS leaders, have affirmed that the Mormon prophet took dozens of wives. But a growing movement within the Church is challenging that narrative, arguing that Smith was a monogamist—and that polygamy was a later invention used to justify the actions of Brigham Young and other church leaders.One of the most vocal advocates of this perspective is Michelle Stone, creator of 132 Problems: Revisiting Mormon Polygamy, a YouTube channel with nearly 120,000 subscribers. A lifelong member of the LDS Church, Michelle once had a strong testimony of polygamy, believing it was divinely inspired. But everything changed ten years ago when her husband questioned whether polygamy was ever truly of God. Determined to prove him wrong, Michelle embarked on a deep dive into historical records—only to find herself questioning whether Joseph Smith practiced polygamy at all.Now, she joins Mormon Stories to share her research, her faith journey, and why she believes the Church has it wrong on one of the most controversial chapters in its history.Show NotesYouTube00:05:22 Why we want to have Michelle on00:15:48 Michelle’s great-grandfather was told by the president of the church to go to Mexico to get a second wife 00:35:07 Her grandfather was called to be a mission president in Tonga, leaving behind other wives00:48:56 She was never taught that Joseph didn’t practice polygamy 01:05:00 Things made more sense once she realized there was problems in church history01:14:00 Trauma of losing a child at the hospital in 2020 during the pandemic 01:24:00 Had an experience where she felt that she saw her daughter grown up01:56:48 Michelle was devastated by the Nov 2015 LGBTQ Policy02:04:50 Discussion of polygamy in the BOM02:14:50 Michelle had a second faith crisis in 202002:32:33 When did she start her YouTube channel “132 Problems”?02:43:34 God saying in the BoM that polygamy is an abomination02:56:01 Has she ever decided differently than what god “commanded”?03:18:15 Discussion on RLDS church and why they split from the LDS church03:19:41 Michelle is asking individuals to “hold a little space” for this new theory03:31:54 Her episode on Emma changed her mind03:49:20 “I have become more confident in my stance since I started speaking out”04:16:57 Michelle’s thoughts on Fanny Alger04:39:45 Why were there rumors of polygamy going on in the church in 1835?05:00:40 Questions on the Nauvoo Expositor05:33:00 How can the church be true if the original men made so many mistakes?05:40:50 What are her thoughts on the church maybe excommunicating her?Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:One-time or recurring donation through DonorboxSupport us on PatreonPayPalVenmoOur Platforms:YouTubePatreonSpotifyApple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media:Insta: @mormstoriesTikTok: @mormonstoriespodcastJoin the Discord
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    5 hrs and 49 mins
  • Mormon Church Changes Children Polygamy Lesson After Online Criticisms | Ep. 1995

    Mormon Church Changes Children Polygamy Lesson After Online Criticisms | Ep. 1995
    Feb 20 2025

    In December 2024, the Mormon Church released a new chapter in the children’s Doctrine and Covenants Stories on the topic of polygamy. In that chapter they discuss how God sometimes commands his people to live polygamy and how hard it was for Joseph Smith to obey. The chapter also discusses how Joseph’s wife Emma did not want her husband to marry other women. Children were even taught that some of the brethren were arrested and put in prison for living polygamy.


    After the release of that chapter many people spoke up, criticizing the church for this new content. Many believed these stories were too heavy for children and that by releasing this chapter the Mormon Church was actively teaching a story of sexual assault and grooming.


    Today we learned that the church changed this chapter. Certain phrasing was removed as well as entire sections of the chapter. Is this due to online criticism of the church teaching children polygamy? Does the Mormon Church cave under pressure? Join us today as John, Julia (from Analyzing Mormonism), and Alyssa Witbeck discuss these changes.


    YouTube

    Show Notes


    00:07:55 Clip - Criticism forces the church to change

    00:25:36 Clip - Nathan Hinckley talking about them using the word “hard”

    00:26:15 Comparing the original and the new version

    00:35:20 Clip - Is God okay with forced polygamy?

    00:36:55 Comparing the changes on the second image

    00:42:20 Clip - “The Mormon church is participating in sexual assault”

    00:53:46 Clip - Michelle Stone on Emma Smith00:56:10 In the new version this section has been completely taken out

    01:01:58 Clip - “How did this get through the review process?”

    01:15:22 Clip - Mormon leaders went to prison01:19:24 The last panel did not change on Woodruff’s manifesto

    01:26:08 Polygamy is still hard on women today in an eternal aspect

    01:36:25 What was the 2015 Exclusion Policy and how the church rolled it back

    01:32:40 Answers from the Church History Survey

    01:48:17 The story of Zina Huntington

    01:50:30 Clip - Can consent be given in a Mormon context?

    01:54:55 This is a positive change overall

    02:03:10 What is it that causes people to question their faith?

    02:06:11 Clip - “A faith that blinds you is problematic”

    02:08:25 Final thoughts

    ___________________


    At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.


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    2 hrs and 18 mins
  • The LDS Church History Transparency Quiz - Please Complete and Share | Ep. 1994

    The LDS Church History Transparency Quiz - Please Complete and Share | Ep. 1994
    Feb 19 2025
    A 15 question quiz has been designed to facilitate healthy discussions about factual LDS Church history, and LDS Church historical transparency. It should take less than 5 minutes to complete.Audience: This quiz is for anyone who has ever been an LDS Church member, including active and inactive LDS Church members, and former LDS. Please take this quiz yourself, and then please invite family, friends, and (most importantly) LDS church leaders and missionaries to take the quiz as well.We are hopeful that the survey can serve as a way for you and others to healthily discuss factual LDS Church history, as well as the LDS Church's overall record of historical transparency. NOTE: All of the historical facts below have been recognized by the LDS church as valid, to the best of our understanding. References have been included for discussion.We will be awarding a modest number of cash awards to those who complete the survey in its entirety, and who are willing to share compelling insights or experiences - which might include coming on the podcast to discuss their experiences. We are also considering the option of administering this survey as a scientific, random survey. If you are interested in supporting such a project, feel free to donate at the link below.Enjoy! And please email us with any feedback or experiences you'd like to share.Survey link: https://forms.gle/3o7Tr6ZHKzoEBpMs8To donate to this project: https://donorbox.org/ldschurchresearchYouTubeShow Notes00:08:30 Going over the survey together, email, etc.00:12:00 Question one - Were you taught about Joseph Smith’s 1826 Treasure digging trial?00:14:10 Question two: What were you taught regarding the Book of Mormon translation?00:15:50 Question three: What were you taught about the priesthood restoration?00:17:18 Question four: Were you taught that Joseph Smith had over thirty wives?00:18:20 Question five: Were you taught that Joseph Smith hid his first marriages from his wife Emma?00:22:20 Question six: Were you taught about the different accounts of the First Vision 00:24:55 Question seven: Were you taught that Joseph Smith allowed black men to have the priesthood? 00:27:44 Question eight: Were you taught that Joseph Smith was a Freemason?00:29:40 Question nine: Where you taught that the Book of Abraham is a false translation?00:32:10 Question ten: Were you taught about Joseph Smith destroying the Nauvoo Expositor?00:35:00 Question eleven: Do you feel like the Church has been fully honest?00:35:35 Question twelve: Do you feel like the truth claims are important? 00:36:55 Question thirteen: Would you have made different decisions had you known?00:38:29 Question fourteen: Did the church intentionally withhold this information?00:58:40 Why did the church even release the Gospel Topics Essays?01:30:00 Share this survey with friends and familyMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:⁠One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠Venmo⁠Our Platforms:⁠YouTube⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media:⁠Insta: @mormstories⁠⁠TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast⁠⁠Join the Discord
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    1 hr and 42 mins