Mormon Stories Podcast

Comprehensive Directory of All My Work

A comprehensive directory of all my interviews, presentations and writings can now be found here.

If you are struggling w/ the LDS Church….

If any of you are struggling in your relationship with the church, and resonate with some or all of the bullets below…

• Your study of LDS church history is causing you to question your testimony and/or commitment to the church
• Recent current events (like the FLDS thing in Texas, the Mitt Romney thing, or the Gay Marriage ballot initiative in California) have awakened in you discomfort w/ the church
• You find yourself bored and/or frustrated in church — because you do not feel as though you are able to have honest/candid discussions, or that the conversations/lessons are meaningful/relevant to you
• You have begun to doubt your testimony in the LDS Church, but feel as though you have no one to talk to about it
• You are somewhat uncomfortable saying “I know this church is true” — but you still are comfortable saying “I know this church is good”
• AND….you retain a desire to try to maintain your membership and activity in the church….

….if these bullets describe you, please email me with your story at mormonstories@gmail.com.   I may have some resources that could prove helpful to you.

John Dehlin

Podcasting in Plain English

This explains what a podcast (like Mormon Stories) is:

What is Mormon Stories Podcast, and How Do I Listen?

Welcome to Mormon Stories Podcast — the most popular LDS/Mormon-themed podcast on the Internet (between 4,000 and 6,000 listeners per episode)
For those of you looking for some interesting, Mormon-related content to try out your new Christmas iPods — allow me to explain what Mormon Stories podcast is, and how to listen:

• Why do you do this? Hopefully these essays will help explain it.
• About the podcast:
  • What is a podcast? A podcast is like a combination radio/TV show, but better because you can download it to your iPod (or MP3 player) and listen to/watch it whenever and wherever you want — pausing, rewinding, or fast-forwarding (as the need arises). You can enjoy a podcast while driving in your car, doing household chores, or exercising. Mormon Stories has released podcast episodes in both audio and video, as well as via Youtube — to accommodate your situation.
  • How do I listen? The best way to listen to a podcast (by far) is to download iTunes to your machine (if you don’t already have it), and then subscribe to the podcast by clicking here, and then (while in the iTunes store) clicking on the “Subscribe” button for Mormon Stories Podcast.
  • The full list of Mormon Stories Episodes can be found here:
    • Online Video: Mormon Stories Youtube site
    • Audio and Video Podcast: Mormon Stories RSS Podcast Feed
  • Some of the highlights: On Mormon Stories Podcast we have interviewed all sorts of fascinating Mormons about important Mormon issues, including:
    • Richard Bushman, Grant Palmer and Morris Thurston about the life of Joseph Smith
    • Gregory Prince about the life of President David O. McKay
    • Claudia Bushman on women in the LDS church
    • Jim Parkinson on the story of an LDS man’s survival of the Bataan Death March (World War II)
    • The story of a couple who left the church, and then came back again
    • Todd Compton and Anne Wilde about the history of Mormon Polygamy
    • Darius Gray & Margaret Young and Darron Smith about the history of Blacks in the LDS Church
    • Greg Kearney about the connections between Mormonism and Masonry
    • Buckley Jeppson about Homosexuality and Mormonism
    • And many, many more (over 100 episodes in all)

• Essays: We also have created a few other documents and multimedia presentations for your enjoyment, which you can find here.

We hope you enjoy Mormon Stories podcast, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!!!!

Seeking Permabloggers for New Group Blog on Mormon Culture

As an act of obedience to Elder Ballard, I’m looking into the option of turning Mormon Matters into a group blog (like T&S, BCC, the Cultural Hall and FMH).

Our slant would be: More…

Is Polygamy Still Mormon Doctrine?

Stephen M and his comments about the recent PR film put out by the church entitled “Mormon Myths and Reality” inspired this post.

Today’s LDS Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:61 reads:

“And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse ^aanother, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.”

This is not defunct scripture, nor has this verse been removed from our canon. Yes we stopped practicing polygamy because of legal/political/governmental adversity, but I’m not sure that we ever renounced the belief. Doesn’t polygamy remain fundamental Mormon doctrine in 2008? More…

New LDS Church PR Video: Mormon Myths and Reality

So…what do ya’ll think? Honest? Candid? Refreshing? Duplicitous? Reactions, please.

My reactions: More…

Bonus: 2 Mormon Mavericks — William D. Russell and Richard D. Poll

I wanted to share with you the testimonies of 2 heroes of mine….one new, and one old.

William D. Russell: For over 40 years, William D. Russell has been a progressive voice among the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (now the Community of Christ). This is his story — from a 1993 Sunstone Symposium presentation called, “Pillars of my faith”.

Richard D. Poll: In early 1994 the distinguished career of Richard D. Poll, historian, professor, writer, husband and friend, came full circle. His Liahona/Iron-rod dichotomy, borrowed from the Book of Mormon, had entered the lexicon of Mormon thought almost 30 years earlier in his landmark essay “What the Church Means to People Like Me” (Dialogue 2:4, Winter 1967). His “Pillars of My Faith” sermon in Sunstone called for committed LDS worshipers and writers to join a mighty Christian chorus “in which almost all the singers hear the dissonant sounds of the alternate voices as polyphonic enrichment of the message of the gospel music.” For people like him, “neither dogmatic fundamentalism nor dogmatic humanism provides convincing answers to life’s most basic questions.” He defined history as “human strivings to discover divine realities.” Like Paul, Richard Poll lived his life as part of the leaven that “leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9), offering his Liahona questioning in the spirit of “charity, humility, persistence.” In a time when men and women are being called sinners for a word (or many words); when the terms “alternate” and “dissident” are being redefined as sinister; when some seek apostasy, while others have apostasy thrust upon them, Richard Poll’s calm, reasoned, compassionate voice rings with a clarity that will live on in our hearts and minds.

 William D. Russell: Download
 Richard D. Poll: Download

I love Ron Paul’s Message

(Hat tip to Travis)

The Mormon Peace Project — Please Support

I’m becoming a big fan of William Vanwagenen (of Mormon Worker fame) — and he’s at it again.

As mentioned in today’s SLTrib, if your brand of Mormonism compels you to be inclined against (instead of towards) war, please consider signing this petition.

Go William go!!!!

A Quick Analysis of “What Is It About Mormonism?” — The Amazing New York Times Magazine Article

Holy smokes this guy nails it: a must read for thinking/seeking Mormons. The most interesting parts to me — that are most relevant to our current political and cultural situation as Mormons with the Mitt Romney campaign — are:

• “This period of resisting persecution by living outside the law taught Mormons that secrecy can be a necessary tool for survival. As one apostle … later put it in a speech … “I am not dishonest and not a liar . . . [but] we have always been taught that when the brethren were in a tight place that it would not be amiss to lie to help them out.”” (this is coincidentally validated by my recently released podcast w/ Michael Quinn)
• “What is more, what began as a strategy of secrecy to avoid persecution has become over the course of the 20th century a strategy of minimizing discussion of the content of theology in order to avoid being treated as religious pariahs.”
• “The general pattern of Mormon history is one of growth leading to external pressure being brought to bear on the church. Internal resistance eventually gives way to change sanctioned by new revelation, followed in turn by new growth and success. “
• “This is a perfect example of esoteric public speaking: the attempt to convey multiple messages to different audiences through the careful use of words.”

What’s most interesting of all (to me), is that Mitt Romney and some Mormons both seem to be following the same pattern — to their potentially mutual detriment. May it not be so…..

Full article included below…. More…

Bonus: The Story of D. Michael Quinn — In His Own Words

No I was not able to get an interview with D. Michael Quinn — but my buddy Clay turned me on to this 1994 Sunstone “Pillars of My Faith” presentation by Michael Quinn — and it does a wonderful job telling Michael Quinn’s story, in his own words.

Love him, hate him, or indifferent — D. Michael Quinn will go down as one of the most important Mormons of the 20th century.

This is his story, in his own words.

 Standard Podcast [56:02m]: Download

The Three Reasons This Mormon Thinks Romney Didn’t Win Iowa

The Three Reasons I Think Romney Didn’t Win Iowa:

• He’s managed his campaign in a way to make him appear like a flip-flopper, and as lacking meaningful convictions. To many, he appears to be a blatant opportunist. I’m not saying these things are true — only that they appear to many to be true.  To me, Romney does not come across as an authentic Mormon OR Conservative.
• He managed his Iowa campaign in a way to make him appear as if he “went negative”. What’s worse, his negative ads appeared to many to be distortions.
• He doesn’t communicate in an inspirational, Reagan-like way.

For me, his Mormonism doesn’t crack the top 3. If anything, the Mormon thing has helped him get much more media attention than he likely otherwise would have.

My 2 cents.

Mormon Stories # 111: Why People Leave the LDS Church and How We Can Help

This presentation, recorded in 2006, covers some of the reasons why people leave the LDS Church, and what family and friends can do to help.

 

 Standard Podcast [57:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mormon Stories #110: Lessons on the Costs and Benefits of Big Church Changes: From the RLDS Church to the LDS Church, With Love

This is a presentation given at the 2000 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium entitled: “The Decade of the Sixties: The Early Struggles in the RLDS Shift from Sect to Denomination”. It is a discussion of how, during the 1960s the RLDS Church made very decisive steps toward shedding its sectarian past. It began the decade clearly rooted in the sectarian world view. But by the end of the decade, many of the church’s leaders and a reasonable number of its members had adopted liberal views, down-playing traditional unique Latter Day Saint doctrines.

Today, the RLDS Church (or Community of Christ as they are now known) has lost not experienced the same growth as the LDS Church — particularly since the 1970s. What lessons can the LDS Church learn from the Community of Christ? What did they do right, and wrong?

 Standard Podcast [58:53m]: Download

Mormon Stories #109: How to Stay in the LDS Church after Losing Your Faith

In this seminar (recorded live at the 2007 Northwest Sunstone Symposium in Seattle), I discuss techniques for staying in the LDS church after a major trial of faith.

Additional links include:

• The essay from which I based this presentation.
• The PowerPoint deck from this presentation.
• The music used in this presentation (please purchase from the authors if you like)
• The videos from this presentation

 

 Standard Podcast [86:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Helen Whitney on Mormons Owning Their History and Doctrine (Secrecy)

Definitely a must-watch….

Some Bonus Material, and a Break

Dear dear friends,

Family and work duties are demanding that I (as I’ve done in the past) take a break from Mormon Stories for a bit. As a parting gift, I wanted to leave you with a few extra goodies (some of which many of you will have already seen/heard/watched):

• My Workshop Entitled: How to Stay in the LDS Church after Losing Your Faith
  • The essay upon which this workshop is based: How to Stay in the LDS Church after Losing Your Faith
  • Along with the audio, PowerPoint deck, music, videos and a PDF from this workshop
• My “Why People Leave the LDS Church: And What We Can Do About it” Presentation
• My “The ‘Other’ Mormon Heroes Screencast” (still in rough draft form) — also added to the podcast feed.
• My “Blacks in the LDS Priesthood” Screencast (again, only PC/IE).
• A few historical timelines dealing with 3 of the toughest issues in church history (all based on church-friendly sources).
• My letter to Elder Dallin H. Oaks about baptism corruption in my Guatemala mission.

I will dearly miss corresponding with you all for the next little bit. Please understand — and know that I hope to resurface someday soon. Knowing all of you has been the joy of my life (outside of family stuff).

I love you all….Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!!!

“Mary did you know?”: (A Christmas Card to the World Pt. 2)

A dear neighbor of ours here in Logan, UT created these 2 music videos as Christmas cards to her friends and family. I wanted to share these with the rest of you.

If you enjoy, please share with others.

Breath of Heaven: (A Christmas Card to the World Pt. 1)

A dear neighbor of ours here in Logan, UT created these 2 music videos as Christmas cards to her friends and family. I wanted to share these with the rest of you.

If you enjoy, please share with others.

Mormon Stories #108: The Best Articulation of My Own Mormon Testimony That I’ve Ever Found — Elbert Peck and “Remnants of His Faith”

In the 1995 Salt Lake Sunstone symposium, Elbert Peck spoke in the annual “Pillars of my faith” presentation about the “Remnants of his faith.”

This presentation represents (to me) the closest thing I’ve ever found to expressing how I now feel about my Mormon faith.

I hope some of you will find value in it as well.

7 Reasons This Mormon Thinks Mitt Romey Will Win the 2008 Republican Nomination

7 Reasons This Mormon Thinks Mitt Romey Will Win the 2008 Republican Nomination:

• Fred Thompson is not energetic enough
• Giuliani is too corrupt (mafia connections), too sexually immoral (for conservatives), and too politically liberal
• John McCain is too old, has had too many cancer scares, has anger issues, and has questionable enough ethics to disqualify. He’s also last election’s news (actually — 2 elections ago)
• Huckleberry is completely unelectable in the generals — for his name, as well as for his past hateful rhetoric, and his entrenchment in “The Christian Right” which will turn off too many moderates and liberals.
• Ron Paul (my favorite) is too honest.
• All the others candidates are no-shows
• Yes Romney has the Mormon and flip-flop issues — but I predict that the fact that he’s the most “Presidential” of them all (and very well-funded) will carry the day for him (unless he makes a MAJOR gaffe, or has some serious skeletons in his closet).

Your thoughts?

Mitt Romney Is Really Close to Winning the Republican Nomination

I think it is looking more and more likely that Mitt Romney is going to win the Republican nomination (which was my original prediction, and has been my inclination all along).

Romney is now tied for the lead with Giuliani in national polls, and I will eat my trousers if Huckleberry, McCain or Thompson win the Republican primaries.  I think Huckabee will go down in flames like Howard Dean….within the next 6 weeks, I predict.

I really do think that it is now Mitt’s to lose.

Now the general election…that’s another thing entirely.  I’m still putting my money on Billary.

The LDS Church (Sort of) Answers 21 Questions about Mormon Doctrine at FoxNews.com

It looks as though Fox News worked w/ the LDS Church to publish answers to some of the typical questions regarding Mormon doctrine. Most of the answers seem relatively accurate…here are the few that did not seem right to me (either because they come across as “partial” or “technical” truths, but not the “whole truth”):

Q: Does the Mormon Church believe its followers can become “gods and goddesses” after death?

The Church’s Answer: “We believe that the apostle Peter’s biblical reference to partaking of the divine nature and the apostle Paul’s reference to being ‘joint heirs with Christ’ reflect the intent that children of God should strive to emulate their Heavenly Father in every way. Throughout the eternities, Mormons believe, they will reverence and worship God the Father and Jesus Christ. The goal is not to equal them or to achieve parity with them but to imitate and someday acquire their perfect goodness, love and other divine attributes.”

This feels like parsing to me. The answer here (as I’ve been taught my entire life) — is unequivocally YES. What am I missing here?

Here’s a speech by past prophet Spencer W. Kimball to illustrate (from the church’s web site). In part it reads,

“We remember the numerous scriptures which, concentrated in a single line, were said by a former prophet, Lorenzo Snow: “As man is, God once was; and as God is, man may become.” This is a power available to us as we reach perfection and receive the experience and power to create, to organize, to control native elements.”

And here it is in “Chapter 1: The Origin and Destiny of Mankind,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, 1 (again, from the church’s web site):

“It is for the exaltation of man to this state of superior intelligence and Godhead that the mediation and atonement of Jesus Christ is instituted; and that noble being, man, made in the image of God, is rendered capable not only of being a son of man, but also a son of God, … and is rendered capable of becoming a God, possessing the power, the majesty, the exaltation and the position of a God. As it is written, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” [1 John 3:2.]”

More…

Mormon Stories #107: Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 4 - The September Six and the Decline of Sunstone

In part 4 of this 4 part series, Elbert Eugene Peck (editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001) discusses the 1993 September Six excommunications, the decline of Sunstone, and his thoughts on Sunstone’s future.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
 Podcast Video: Download

Seeking Input on a New Screencast: “The ‘Other’ Mormon Heroes”

I’m working on a new screencast similar to the others I’ve released to date (”Why they leave” and “Blacks and the LDS Priesthood“). This one is entitled: “The Other Mormon Heroes: What a Difference a Few Decades Can Make” — and it runs about 45 minutes (takes a few minutes to load).

It is in VERY rough form, but I’d love any feedback any of you are willing to offer. I’m specifically interested in things like:

• Where do I get the history wrong?
• How do I make it more interesting/effective?
• How can I improve the tone?

Also, this one should work w/ Firefox and Mac.

Thanks in advance

 Standard Podcast: Download

 

 Podcast Video: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I did it

I did it!!!

Master of Science, Instructional Technology
Utah State University

Sunstone Magazine Quoted Today on NBC’s Meet the Press

Kinda fun. Sunstone magazine (or San-stone) was quoted today on NBC’s Meet the Press interview with Mitt Romney.

You can access the entire interview here, and the question/quote begins around time code 4:37.

Go Sunstone!!!

Trying to See the Positive in This Whole Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Lawrence O’Donnell Thing

Holy moly. This guy ( Lawrence O’Donnell ) is a maniac! He’s not backing down in the slightest — guns are a’blazin!!!! I knew this was coming…the whole “litany of dark Mormon doctrines played out in the mainstream press” thing. Do we (as Mormons) owe Mitt Romney / Lawrence O’Donnell / Mike Huckabee a sneer, or a thank you? Time will tell.

Unfortunately, as a 5th generation, semi-informed, active Mormon — I have to admit that Mr. O’Donnell gets it pretty much totally right in his enumeration of a few of the “dark” Mormon doctrinal and historical secrets. For example….

• I’ve been taught in the LDS Church for most of my life that dark skin was dealt out by God as a result of sin (to the American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and to the blacks). The church has stopped actively teaching these doctrines relatively recently (past few years) — but these teachings/doctrines have never been denounced/withdrawn, many (most) of the faithful LDS members I know still believe them, and these teachings remain part of our holy scripture to this day
• …..as does polygamy, by the way (a brief history of LDS polygamy based entirely upon church-friendly sources can be found here)
• All the Missouri stuff is accurate.
• The Brigham Young quotes are pretty much spot on — and we do still consider Brigham Young to be our “prophet, seer and revelator” (though in all fairness, recently we have been encouraged to discount teachings from past church prophets/leaders if they seem out of step w/ current church teachings — though I’m not sure how well this memo has penetrated the local church levels).
• We absolutely believe that Jesus and Satan (along w/ all of the rest of us) are siblings
• I could go on, but I won’t.

More…

Mormon Stories #106: Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 3 - “Alternative Voices”

In part 3 of this 4 part series, Elbert Eugene Peck (editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001) discusses the events leading up to the 1993 September Six excommunications, including the “Alternative Voices” speech by Dallin H. Oaks in 1989, and the First Presidency’s “Statement on Symposia” in 1991 — all of which contributed heavily to the decline of Sunstone from 1993 to present.

*** Warning: This episode contains some profanity ***