Mormon Stories Podcast ( LDS )

111: Why people leave the LDS Church, and how we can help

mormonstories@gmail.com — Thu, 3 Jan 2008 08:10:09 -0700

This presentation discusses why people leave the LDS Church, and what we can do to help.

It was recorded in 2006.

Bonus: Richard D. Poll -- Mormon Historian and Liahona Mormon

mormonstories@gmail.com — Thu, 3 Jan 2008 08:09:09 -0700

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.

Bonus: William D. Russell -- RLDS Maverick

mormonstories@gmail.com — Thu, 3 Jan 2008 08:08:09 -0700

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".
William D. Russell is a professor of American History and Government, Graceland College. He is a past president of the Mormon History Association; former assistant editor of the Saints Herald; author of Treasure in Earthly Vessels: An Introduction to the New Testament; a founder of the Independence, Missouri, chapter of the Congress on Racial Equality; and former chair of the Decatur County Democratic Party. He has competed in the Boston and Los Angeles marathons and twenty-four others.

Bonus: The Story of D. Michael Quinn, in His Own Words

mormonstories@gmail.com — Thu, 3 Jan 2008 07:10:09 -0700

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.

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

mormonstories@gmail.com — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:22:28 -0700

The Decade of the Sixties: The Early Struggles in the RLDS Shift from Sect to Denomination: This 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) has but a fraction of the membership it once enjoyed. What lessons can the LDS Church learn from the Community of Christ. What did they do right, and wrong?

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

mormonstories@gmail.com — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:59:00 -0700

In this seminar, I discuss techniques for staying in the LDS church after a major trial of faith.

108: The Best Articulation of My Own Mormon Testimony That I've Ever Found -- Elbert Peck and "Remnants of His Faith"

mormonstories@gmail.com — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:59:03 -0700

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.

Bonus (Aud): The "Other" Mormon Heroes

mormonstories@gmail.com — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:58:57 -0700

In this screencast, we learn about the lives of 6 non-traditional Mormon heroes: Emma Smith, B.H. Roberts, Fawn Brodie, Juanita Brooks, Lowell Bennion and Leonard Arrington.

Bonus (Vid): The "Other" Mormon Heroes

mormonstories@gmail.com — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:58:55 -0700

In this screencast, we learn about the lives of 6 non-traditional Mormon heroes: Emma Smith, B.H. Roberts, Fawn Brodie, Juanita Brooks, Lowell Bennion and Leonard Arrington.

107 (Aud): Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 4 - The September Six and the Decline of Sunstone

mormonstories@gmail.com — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:30:03 -0700

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

107 (Vid): Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 4 - The September Six and the Decline of Sunstone

mormonstories@gmail.com — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:26:35 -0700

106 (Aud): Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 3 - Alternative Voices

mormonstories@gmail.com — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:24:55 -0700

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 September Six excommunications of 1993, including the "Alternative Voices" and warnings against Symposia statements by LDS leaders.

106 (Vid): Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 3 - Alternative Voices

mormonstories@gmail.com — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:16:58 -0700

105 (Aud): Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 2 - The People of Sunstone

mormonstories@gmail.com — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:36:46 -0700

In part 2 of this 4 part series, Elbert Peck (Editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001) discusses many of the central people of Sunstone, including Leonard Arrington, Bonner Ritchie, Eugene England, Lavina Fielding Anderson, Ed Kimball, Orson Scott Card, Peggy Fletcher Stack, Scott Kinney, and many others.

105 (Vid): Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 2 - The People of Sunstone

mormonstories@gmail.com — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:34:28 -0700

104 (Aud): Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 1 - The Early Years

mormonstories@gmail.com — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:08:49 -0800

Elbert Eugene Peck was editor of Sunstone Magazine from 1986 to 2001. In part 1 of a 4 part interview, Elbert discusses his early years as a member of the LDS church in Washington D.C., his mission, his time at BYU with the Seventh East Press, and the events leading to him taking over Sunstone Magazine.

104 (Vid): Elbert Peck and Sunstone Magazine Pt. 1 - The Early Years

mormonstories@gmail.com — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:03:26 -0800

103 (Aud): Dr. Ted Lyon Part 3 -- Questions, Answers and a Final Testimony

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:37 -0700

BYU Professor Dr. Ted Lyon has served as an LDS (Mormon) mission president in Chile. He has also served as the president of the Chile Missionary Training Center. He is currently serving as Temple President in the Santiago Chile LDS Temple.
In this interveiw, Dr. Lyon answers questions about the previous 2 episodes ,and concludes with his testimony of the LDS Church.

103 (Vid): Dr. Ted Lyon Part 3 -- Questions, Answers and a Final Testimony

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:34 -0700

102 (Aud): Dr. Ted Lyon Part 2 -- Tough Lessons from LDS Missions in Latin America

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:33 -0700

BYU Professor Dr. Ted Lyon has served as an LDS (Mormon) mission president in Chile. He has also served as the president of the Chile Missionary Training Center. He is currently serving as Temple President in the Santiago Chile LDS Temple. In this interveiw, Dr. Lyon discusses some of the painful lessons learned from LDS missionary work in Latin America in the 20th century.

He also discusses his views on reconciling thought with faith.

102 (Vid): Dr. Ted Lyon Part 2 -- Tough Lessons from LDS Missions in Latin America

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:32 -0700

BYU Professor Dr. Ted Lyon has served as an LDS (Mormon) mission president in Chile. He has also served as the president of the Chile Missionary Training Center. He is currently serving as Temple President in the Santiago Chile LDS Temple. In this interveiw, Dr. Lyon discusses some of the painful lessons learned from LDS missionary work in Latin America in the 20th century.

He also discusses his views on reconciling thought with faith.

101 (Aud): Dr. Ted Lyon Part 1 -- Change in the LDS Church

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:31 -0700

Dr. Ted Lyon has served as a BYU Professor, Mission President, MTC President, and is currently serving as temple president in Chile. His is both a believing Mormon, and an intellectual. In part 1 of this 3 part series, he discusses changes in the LDS church during his lifetime.

101 (Vid): Dr. Ted Lyon Part 1 -- Change in the LDS Church

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:29 -0700

100: Breathe Life Into Your Liife Story w/ Dawn and Morris Thurston

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:28 -0700

Breathe Life into Your Life Story is an essential read for anyone who aspires to write a life story—but not just any story, one your family and others will actually WANT to read.

Written for both novices and experienced writers, this book presents techniques used by novelists to immerse readers in their fictional world—techniques like “showing” rather than just "telling”; creating interesting, believable characters and settings; writing at the gut level; alternating scene and narrative; beginning with a bang; generating tension, and more.

099: Joseph Smith's Legal Battles During the Nauvoo Time Period Part 2

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:26 -0700

In this episode we discuss Joseph Smith's major legal battles during the Nauvoo period.
Morris Thurston is a Harvard-trained lawyer, and one of the legal editors for the Joseph Smith Papers project.

098: Joseph Smith's Legal Battles During the Nauvoo Time Period Part 1

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:23 -0700

In this episode we discuss Joseph Smith's major legal battles during the Nauvoo period.
Morris Thurston is a Harvard-trained lawyer, and one of the legal editors for the Joseph Smith Papers project.

097: The Joseph Smith Papers Project -- Morris Thurston

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:20 -0700

In this episode we discuss the Joseph Smith Papers project, sponsored by both the LDS Church and Larry H. Miller.

Morris Thurston is a Harvard-trained lawyer, and one of the legal editors for the project.

096: The Mormon Worker Part 2 -- William VanWagenen

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:17 -0700

In October 2007 a new LDS-themed periodical was launched entitled "The Mormon Worker." This publication is dedicated to promoting social justice within Mormonism.

In this two-part series, we interview William VanWagenen, one of the founders of the Mormon Worker.

William VanWagenen is not your typical Mormon. Not only has he studied at the Harvard Divinity School, but he is also an LDS peace activist, who was recently kidnapped in Iraq while on a peacekeeping mission.

In this intervew, William discusses his views on poverty, war, socialism and justice within the Mormon framework.

095: The Mormon Worker Part 1 -- William VanWagenen

mormonstories@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:57:15 -0700

094 (Aud): Levi Peterson (Mormon Author) Part 7 -- The Chicken Story, Eugene England and Final Thoughts

mormonstories@gmail.com — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:40:11 -0800