Decaffeinated Version:
As part of our longstanding and undying commitment to organizational transparency, please join John Dehlin for a spontaneous Q&A about Mormon Stories Podcast, the Open Stories Foundation, the THRIVE Foundation, and any other topic you want us to discuss! Please post your questions in the comments below.
This video was made primarily as a response to what we believe was an unprofessional and unbalanced inquiry into the THRIVE Foundation by Peggy Fletcher Stack and Tony Semerad of the Salt Lake Tribune.
My first response (below) was a little angrier than I wanted it to be. I’m calling that the “caffeinated version”, and so I am rerecording to invoke my wiser self (“decaffeinated version,” above). The substance is the same, although the slides are slightly improved.
- Mormon Stories TikTok
- Understanding Mormonism YouTube Channel
- Mormon Expression hosted by John Larsen
- Thrive Beyond Religion
- Mormon Stories interview with non-literal believer Jon Westover
- Mormon Faith Crisis
- Sunstone
- “Mormon facing excommunication makes his living off his podcasts,” by Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, February 8, 2015
- “On Attempts to Smear (i.e., Being ‘Fair Gamed'”) by John Dehlin
- Faith Transition episodes on Mormon Stories
Caffeinated Version:
John, Well Done!
You have helped us so many times with your podcasts since we left the lds corporation now over 3 1/2 years ago.
Thank you from Dave and Cindy Allred. Aka new_name_adam
I’m confused. It seems like nothing actually happened here . . .he was asked questions by people he doesn’t fully trust??? Am I missing something big here? I get that he didn’t appreciate the tone, but it feels like taking offense at a perceived slight . . . .
I was the nature of the questions themselves.
Let me help you. The Trib approached John under the guise of learning more about and reporting on the Thrive conference that was about to take place and then submitted questions seeking to cast shade on the Open Stories foundation finances, John and everything associated with his valuable and necessary work. I’m confused as to why you were confused?
Don’t pander to them!
You don’t need to justify anything. I don’t care if you are making millions on your various endeavors to inform the listener public. I appreciate all your efforts, as I’m sure the majority of loyal listeners feel the same.
I, for one , am appalled at the tens of thousands of dollars we have contributed to tithing to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints used to cover up sexual abuse, subsidized persecution of LGBTQ, and investing in shady malls, car dealerships etc. . . That are general authorities or friends of church’s pet projects.
You gotta be kidding!! You mean to tell me you’re being compensated for spending all your working hours putting together in depth interviews, conferences, retreats and investigative reports in order to help clean up the carnage LD$ Inc. leaves in its’ wake but refuses to acknowledge? And here all this time I thought you supported yourself and your family with a janitorial night gig. I have a good mind to double my monthly donation!
Kidding aside, the Tribune has become a shell of what it once was. Its’ claim to be “Utah’s Independent Voice” may have been purchased by Mr. Huntsman but, just like the “Repeal and Replace” noise we heard so much about awhile back, it is little more than a nice sounding slogan completely devoid of any real currency or commitment. I predict, however, that it will be around for a long time to come simply because The Church of Joseph Smith of Latter Day Pharisees loves having a second newspaper in town, owned and operated by a recommend holding Mormon, that also largely ignores the underbelly of the church. Those of us who have been tricked, lied to, deceived, ignored, disenfranchised, discredited, slandered and/or directly victimized by that great and abominable institution of suffering have little voice whatsoever outside of podcasts such as the ones supported by Open Stories Foundation. Now that I think about it I’m definitely doubling my monthly donation!