My current plan is to complete my Ph.D. in clinical/counseling psychology, and to spend the next 30 years helping people who struggle with the conflict between religion and mental health. I …
Are you worried that publishing your beliefs/doubts/concerns will lead to your excommunication?
On the contrary. I am sincerely interested in finding out if the LDS Church wants people like me to remain in the church. Consequently, I want all of my/our cards …
Do you believe that this action against you has been orchestrated from above?
Yes and no. I am certain that local church leadership (including my former Elder’s Quorum President and a close friend of his) have complained numerous times about me to my …
Is it true that you had never met or spoken with your stake president prior to receive your letter announcing a pending disciplinary council?
Yes. This was very odd for all of us to receive a letter from my stake president (whom I had never met) that basically said, “I invite you to resign from …
Did you ask to be excommunicated?
Not at all. In the ten years we have lived here in Logan I have been investigated on at least three different occasions for concerns surrounding my online activities, research, and advocacy. In …
Are you trying to lead people out of the church?
My original motivation for creating Mormon Stories was to help people stay within the church after a crisis of faith. In addition, I have personally initiated several projects with the same goal, …
Do you see yourself as a victim?
Not at all. I acknowledge the LDS Church’s parochial right to decide who should and should not remain a member. If the church excommunicates me, I do not plan on …
Why do you value your membership?
Up until experiencing my crisis of faith, I have loved nearly every aspect of my Mormon life. I believe that I have benefited tremendously from my LDS upbringing, and I …
Do you want to be excommunicated?
No. I value my membership in this church, even though I am clearly unorthodox and unorthoprax at this point in time. My genuine desire is that this investigation go away, …
What aspects of LDS Church teachings/doctrine do you still believe in, vs. not?
I do, of course, have my own perspectives on various church doctrines/teachings. I will list a few here. God. I still consider myself to be a believer in “the divine” …
Have you taught false doctrine?
My overall approach for Mormon Stories has been to interview interesting people, allowing them to tell their stories. While I certainly have expressed doubts and/or concerns about various historical or doctrinal …
Do you desire to amass followers?
Mormon Stories does not market, advertise, or proselytize — other than through posts that I make to my personal Facebook pages, and to various podcast-specific Facebook pages. Mormon Stories is an …
Why do you believe that you are being considered for disciplinary action?
I believe that I am being considered for disciplinary action because of: 1) the popularity of Mormon Stories podcast, 2) my support for LGBT rights within Mormonism, and for the …
Why did you start Mormon Stories podcast?
During our time in Washington I was unable to find satisfactory answers to any of these issues from the church, local church leaders/members, or from family/friends. It was a very dark and …
What past experiences led you to start Mormon Stories?
Prior to my LDS mission, I considered myself to be an orthodox, literalistic, believing Mormon. To give some sense, I was regional scripture chase champion as a Freshman in high …
Questions and Answers
Below is a listing of the most common questions that I am being asked about the possible pending disciplinary council. What past experiences led you to start Mormon Stories? Why …
My Initial Reactions to the Church’s History Essays
A reporter asked me to share with him my initial reactions to the church’s recent history essays (e.g., First Vision Accounts, Race and the Priesthood, Plural Marriage and Families in …
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