Join John and Jenn as they discuss with Emma what it was like coming out as queer while attending BYU, losing her faith in the Mormon Church, and facing rejection from some of her orthodox family members.
Since the founding of Mormonism, there has been a core belief in the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ (thus the “Latter-day” portion of the Church’s official name). But over the past few decades, there has been an increasing trend towards “end times preparedness.” Ultra-orthodox Mormons sell their assets, move to rural areas, attend “Prepper” conferences (like “Preparing a People”), build fortresses, deny healthcare and education to their children, and stockpile food/weapons/ammunition, etc.
This movement is benign for a few but, for many, it leads to extreme behavior, divided families, financial ruin, a host of charlatan “prophets” who prey on this mentality (e.g., Julie Rowe), and, in some cases, murder (e.g., Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow story).
See Part 1 and Part 2 of this series with Emma, who was raised in the Mormon “Prepper” movement.
Show Notes:
- “LGBTQ students at BYU light up the ‘Y’ in rainbow colors,” by Courtney Tanner, Salt Lake Tribune, March 5, 2021
- “A Bishop’s Family Questions Mormonism,” Kelly and Kayla Mikesell on Mormon Stories
- Cultish podcast
- “Coming Out as a Non-Believer to Family Members,” Gift of the Mormon Faith Crisis
- Encircle: Utah Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth
- “Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Urges BYU to Embraces Its Uniqueness, Stay True to the Savior,” the August 2021 speech at BYU, in which Holland urges “musket fire” in defense of the school’s current standards under pressure for equal rights for LGBTQ+ students and staff
- The Out Foundation
- “Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus,” Quentin L. Cook, General Conference October 2016, in which he warns against the “stumbling block” of “expensive preparation for end-of-days scenarios”
- Upcoming Events with the Open Stories Foundation
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Thanks Emma for the vulnerable interview. So sad to see family member believe are they are treating you the way that Jesus would want them to. Dogma can be brutal, especially outdated dogma.