Q:  Dear John – What are your motives in hosting Mormon Stories podcast, and in all of the “faith crisis” coaching, workshops, and retreats that you are involved in?

AA few weeks ago a dear family member said to me something to the effect of, “I love you John. I only wish you weren’t dedicating your life to destroying the church that I love.”

I have to admit that I was quite stunned. I’ve known this family member for all of my adult life. I know that they love and even respect me. I see them yearly. And yet – 15 years after the creation of my podcast – they still fundamentally misunderstand why I host Mormon Stories Podcast.

This made me want to express my motives for Mormon Stories Podcast very, very clearly, so that everyone who is open to actually understanding my motives will have an explicit opportunity to do so.

I run Mormon Stories Podcast for the following reasons:

  1. I believe that far too many Mormons and Mormon investigators (even in 2020) do not understand the basic, accurate historical facts surrounding Mormonism. They believe that Joseph Smith told a single, consistent account of the first vision. They believe that Joseph Smith used the “urim and thummim” to translate the Book of Mormon from golden plates. They do not know that the Mormon temple ceremony was mostly derived from the masonic lodge temple ceremony, and that it has undergone dramatic revisions over time. They do not know that Joseph Smith married over 30 women, that many of these women were under the age of 17, and that many others were already married to other men when he married them. They do not know that the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham are NOT translations of ancient records, as we were taught. They do not know the historicity problems with the Bible and the Book of Mormon. They do not know about the Second Anointing ritual. Etc. Etc. Etc.

    I fundamentally believe that anyone who is in Mormonism, or who is investigating Mormonism, deserves to know all of these details before dedicating their entire lives, 10% of their income, their children, etc. to the church. To me, this is purely a matter of “full disclosure” and “full consent.” If someone knows all of these facts, and chooses to remain a Mormon, I am 100% supportive of that decision. Assuming that they also understand #2-3 below.
  2. I believe that Mormonism does both good things, and harmful things. I think we can all agree that the Mormon church does a great job at highlighting its own strengths – but not so much its weaknesses – and specifically the harm that it causes certain subgroups of people.

    I believe that Mormonism can cause harm in certain instances, such as by:

    1. Shaming youth and adults for natural acts around sexuality (e.g., masturbation, pornography viewing, normal sexual exploration).
    2. Sometimes encouraging racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, and anti-intellectual beliefs and behaviors.
    3. Causing Mormons to believe that they are better than other people, or that the Mormon church is superior to other churches, or to secular people and groups.
    4. Protecting abusers at the expense of abuse victims, and instilling very harmful leadership policies and practices that continue to put children, youth, and vulnerable adults at continued risk.
    5. Causing LGBTQ youth and adults to hate their natural selves, leading sometimes to depression and suicidality.
    6. Dividing/harming families by striking fear into the hearts of Mormons that if any family member leaves Mormonism, the family will no longer be together in heaven. This teaching leads to unnecessary strife and even divorce when certain family members stop believing in the church.
    7. Teaching members to blindly follow/obey and sometimes even venerate highly imperfect, and sometimes deeply flawed leaders – based on the false and deeply destructive teaching that these leaders speak directly to and for God.
    8. Punishing and excommunicating honest, sincere conscientious objectors who speak out against the harm that the church sometimes causes people.
    9. Withholding or hiding problematic information such as its troubling church history or problematic civil rights record.
    10. I believe that the Mormon church makes it WAY too hard for people to leave the church with their dignity intact. Ex-Mormons are far too often shamed, belittled, marginalized and even cut off by family members and friends for simply losing their Mormon beliefs, and ceasing their church participation.

      To me, these things are unacceptable. Consequently…..I continue to host Mormon Stories Podcast because I want to see the Mormon church harm fewer people, and ultimately make changes that will improve on these significant problems.
  3. After personally interacting with tens of thousands of questioning, doubting, transitioning, and post-Mormons over the past 18 years, it has become incredibly clear to me that leaving Mormon orthodoxy and/or Mormonism is far too painful and difficult for those who cannot remain. I’ve seen the loss of Mormon faith cause untold levels of anxiety, depression, family conflict, divorce, and even suicidality in its doubting and former members. I believe that this level of pain and difficulty – simply for losing one’s faith/devotion to a religion – is deeply damaging and totally unacceptable in the modern world. I also believe that Mormonism does NOT prepare its members to thrive outside of the Mormon context. Many of those who leave Mormonism become completely lost, at least for a time, as their identities, sense of spirituality, friendships, community, sense of morality, family relationships, marriages, and existential beliefs evaporate before their very eyes.

    In the end, post-Mormons deserve health and happiness as much as Mormons do.

To conclude – if you peruse the back catalog of Mormon Stories, you will see several themes emerge over and over again.

  1. I interview historians and scientists to allow them to relate the accurate, factual history/science that heretofore has been hidden by church leaders, and denounced as “anti-Mormon.”
  2. I interview marginalized groups within Mormonism, such as women/feminists, LGBTQ individuals, racial minorities, and “intellectuals” to help explore the harm that is being caused to these sub-populations.
  3. I interview victims of abuse within the church.
  4. I interview church dissidents who are often excommunicated simply for shining a light on problems within the church.
  5. I interview individuals and families who have left Mormonism, or who have become more “liberal” or “progressive” within Mormonism, to help model healthy ways to transition away from Mormonism, or from Mormon orthodoxy.
  6. I also interview mental health professionals and wise friends who help to provide wisdom and guidance for those who either want or need to leave Mormonism behind.

For the record – I DO NOT AND NEVER HAVE wished to destroy or even harm the Mormon church. I do not consider myself an enemy of Mormonism, any more than knowledge of “the truth” and principles of health and well-being are enemies to Mormonism.

Instead, I have ALWAYS wanted to:

  1. Help Mormon church members and Mormon investigators learn the truth about Mormonism.
  2. Help the Mormon church harm fewer people, and
  3. Help post-Mormons find healing, growth, and community (i.e. joy) beyond Mormonism.

I hope this explanation proves helpful.

And I am now SUPER excited to share this essay with the particular family member who still thinks that I am out to destroy Mormonism.

Feel free to share with anyone you wish.

And please let me know if I’ve forgotten anything important in my lists above.

Upward, and onward.

John P. Dehlin, Ph.D.

24 Comments

  1. Sam Pinson June 29, 2020 at 6:27 pm - Reply

    Thanks for your good work, John! Keep it up!

  2. Penni D Eads June 29, 2020 at 6:31 pm - Reply

    Thank you, John!

  3. Leah + Cody June 29, 2020 at 6:39 pm - Reply

    We simply couldn’t have more respect for you John, and for what you have painstakingly endured, and your family too, (completely inaccurate character assaults, etc., etc., etc.) for decades now, in order to comfort weary and wounded transitioning and post-mormons who often feel so abandoned and betrayed. I know I speak for countless people throughout the world in saying that your resiliency and perseverance has made all of the difference for them. Thank you for all you have done, and continue to do, in your ongoing efforts to offer hope and healing to those of us who discovered what broke our hearts, and by doing so became the “outcasts.”

    • John Dehlin June 29, 2020 at 6:43 pm - Reply

      Awwww! Thank you Leah (and Cody)!!!! I love you and your family absolutely to pieces!!!! <3

  4. Bob Lyons June 29, 2020 at 6:40 pm - Reply

    My experience of your podcast is to shed light on the Mormon church… the good.. the bad and the ugly and let the chips fall where they may. People should know what theyre getting into.

  5. Struggling June 29, 2020 at 7:24 pm - Reply

    Thanks and great John. I would suggest in Number 6 that you change “Tricks” to Suggetions or Guidance or Help.

    6. I also interview mental health professionals and wise friends who help to provide wisdom, tips, and tricks for those who either want or need to leave Mormonism behind.

  6. Maggie Rayner June 29, 2020 at 8:23 pm - Reply

    John – I have always been beyond amazed at how neutral and objective you are as an interviewer, and in the research you tirelessly provide.

  7. Harold June 29, 2020 at 8:26 pm - Reply

    This is a great essay John and I echo your sentiment. I would like to suggest that you include a list of those things you find good about Mormonism. Best wishes!

  8. Terry Ward June 29, 2020 at 8:36 pm - Reply

    I love this! Thank you!!!

  9. Tami Morgan June 29, 2020 at 9:02 pm - Reply

    John, please keep up the good work. We resigned in 2004 which was a difficult time for us. At that time you were still in I believe. I have seen many of your pod casts and one was with my step daughter and son-in-law and granddaughter. Please keep doing what you are doing! The church is toxic. I works for some but destroying so many.

  10. Michaee June 30, 2020 at 4:03 am - Reply

    Magnificent John

  11. michael June 30, 2020 at 6:36 am - Reply

    What you’re doing John is empowering ex-mormons and people to be who they our instead of feeling crushed by the judgements of the Church if they leave the Church.

  12. Kriss June 30, 2020 at 9:56 am - Reply

    My faith is simple either Joseph Smith saw God and his Son Jesus Christ or he didn’t! All the stuff you listed doesn’t really matter if it’s not true and the things you listed are true. Otherwise if he did see God then it’s all true we all get to believe what we feel in our heart. I knew your parents you grew up by me and went to church in Washington Terrace. My parents were really good friends with your parents. It seems like such a waste of time to publish all the anti literature but what’s great is we all get to do what we want to do! I’ll continue to do what I believe, Jesus is the Christ the Son of God Heavenly Father, he loves all of us including Joseph Smith, you and me.
    Kriss

  13. Lgaj June 30, 2020 at 11:21 am - Reply

    Amen, John!!!

  14. Kathryn Chapman June 30, 2020 at 1:51 pm - Reply

    I appreciate taking your time to present your ideas so concisely and succinctly. Well done. I identify with your goals!

  15. Shannon Fisher June 30, 2020 at 3:38 pm - Reply

    Please never lose heart or be discouraged… the world needs you and what you do SOOOOO much John!!!
    Thank you
    Shannon Fisher ( post community of Christ member)

  16. Georgia Snyder June 30, 2020 at 10:58 pm - Reply

    This response is perfect. Now in this age of technology, historic truths are coming out & the church can’t hide or lie about facts anymore. You & your family have given so much to help thousands work through this. Why do members believe if you talk about history & truths, from the churches own records, you’re trying to attack the church? You’re helping people navigate through it & we thank you & your family for doing so.

  17. KHC July 1, 2020 at 10:03 am - Reply

    Great essay, thank you! As a BYU student, your podcast has helped me contextualize and explore my faith transition. There aren’t many people I can talk to about this, but Mormon Stories has alleviated some of the stress of that silence. Thanks for what you’re doing!!
    Also, as a grammar thing, I’d change where you said “Help the Mormon church harm less people” to “Help the Mormon church harm fewer people.”

  18. Joan Galloway September 1, 2020 at 1:58 am - Reply

    Thank you for the podcasts. I have found them immensely interesting – a bit too long sometimes, but I can live with that :-)
    I was a member for over 50 years. The problems which the church left me with is mainly that I don’t know how to make friends. By the time I was in MIA (now YW), I was failing to make the grade of “proper Mormon woman” – I preferred short hair, questioned patriarchy, notions of supremacy, social justice, etc; and so did my non-member friends, so while I wanted to teach them the gospel, I knew that they wouldn’t fit in either so either didn’t do missionary work or gave the caveat of don’t join unless you’re absolutely sure. I also stayed in an abusive marriage way too long because I took my temple covenants seriously. The whole notion of perfection is difficult for me because I tried really hard to be perfect and it was always more and more unattainable. Plus being told by one of my bishops that when I was baptised, my agency was gone and I had to obey the priesthood, even down to who I vote for, whether I have more than one pair of piercings, or that I just didn’t look right, was really hard to deal with.
    I am lonely, beyond lonely some days but I’ve stopped trying to kill myself and don’t need medication to control the depression anymore. As Shannon put it in the BH Roberts podcast, there’s no soft place to fall when you leave. Plus the grief at losing your faith. No-one prepares you for that.

    • Shannon Fisher September 1, 2020 at 3:05 pm - Reply

      My heart goes out to you! As a former community of Christ (former R.L.D.S.) member I have just a small understanding of how you must feel. Please know that YOU… just the way you are… are ENOUGH!
      Please take care of you

    • Yvonne Allen December 23, 2020 at 10:16 am - Reply

      What I finally understand on a deep level is that you don’t have to lose your Faith just because you lose your Church!

  19. Patti McNally November 24, 2020 at 9:19 am - Reply

    I was just introduced to Mormon Stories and have listened to the podcast about Ezra Taft Benson. I was raised in the Mormon faith and did not know most of the information from this podcast. I went through a divorce and quit going to church in 2008. So many of the things, you state in your motives statement, I have felt and/or experience(d). I am excited to listen to more stories and feel I have found a place to untangle so many of my feelings about my church of origin. Thank you for your work and I appreciate being able to hear information from an educated, fact-based source.

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