Podcasts about LDS

In this repeat broadcast series, MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson discuss a visit to an LDS speaker in their area of Utah concerning evidences on the Book of Mormon.

Week 39 - Isaiah 13-35: "He is the one that we can truly put our trust in."Please visit us at CFMpodcast.org

Have you ever wondered whether the small, repetitive things you're doing actually matter? Maybe missionary work, school, dating, motherhood, personal growth, or simply showing up for your life has started to feel like a grind. You may not feel motivated, inspired, or especially confident, but you keep putting one foot in front of the other. In this episode, I'm sharing some tender, off-the-cuff thoughts about consistency, missionary discouragement, and the impact of continuing to show up. We'll explore why consistency doesn't have to look the same for everyone, why going through the motions can sometimes be enough, and why the "ugh" part of doing hard things doesn't mean that something has gone wrong. I want to remind you that your small efforts matter, even when you can't immediately see the results. Every lesson, conversation, workout, social event, late-night feeding, podcast episode, or seemingly insignificant act becomes another grain of sand. Over time, those grains build your character, your relationships, and your life's work. My hope is that you feel seen in whatever grind you're currently experiencing and find the strength to keep going. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends.   00:00 – Introduction 00:56 – Speaking from the Heart 02:19 – Restore Connect and a Podcast Request 05:10 – Consistency Can Look Different for Everyone 06:54 – Why Your Small Efforts Matter 09:21 – When Life Feels Like Groundhog Day 11:37 – Building Character and a Body of Work 12:52 – The "Ugh" Part Doesn't Go Away 14:52 – Sometimes You Have to Grind It Out 17:12 – The Grind Matters, Even When It Doesn't Feel Like It   Website | Instagram | Facebook   5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE   Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE   Free PDF Download:  Podcast Roadmap   Free PDF Download:  Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet   Free Training for Preparing Missionaries:  Change Your Mission with this One Tool   RM Transition Free Video Series:  3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home   Free Guide:  5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary   Schedule a Free Strategy Call:   Click Here   Don't forget to grab your tickets to Restore Connect 2026 put on by Faith Matters.  You can use my code:  JENNIE to get 10% off your ticket. https://www.faithmatters.org/p/announcing-the-restoreconnect-agenda  

MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the conference talk given by Seventy Michael John U. Teh titled “Follow the Prophet: He Knows the Way” in April 2026 General Conference. What did Wong say? And does his teaching fall into good advice for those seeking truth?

LDF host Dan Wotherspoon's father James Richard Wotherspoon died earlier this week. This encore episode is in honor of him and it consists of an interview he had with his dad in June 2021 (which was then a Father's Day episode). Jim lived a remarkable life. Born blind (as was his brother, Robert), he achieved quite a lot in his 93-plus years. He became one of the first (if not the first) blind person to earn the rank of Eagle scout. He and his brother were the first blind students to mainstream at Berkeley High School, where he excelled in his courses, as well as in music and chess. He then attended the University of California at Berkeley where he earned his master's and doctorate in history (as well as where he met his wife, Beverly, and started a family). They then all moved to Sacramento, California, where he taught history at American River College for 43 years, as well as courses at Sacramento State University. In addition to his life triumphs, he faced many setbacks as well, including a heartbreaking divorce and reactions from church leaders that led him to stay away from LDS activity for 35 years. He was fully back and involved up until his deat, and most impressive of all is his attitude and the spirit of grace and forgiveness that radiate from him. You'll be glad you listened in!  

MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the conference talk given by Seventy Michael John U. Teh titled “Follow the Prophet: He Knows the Way” in April 2026 General Conference. What did Wong say? And does his teaching fall into good advice for those seeking truth?

In Part Two of our history of tithing, we examine how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has defined tithing over time –and whether the modern expectation to pay 10% of income actually matches the historical revelation given to Joseph Smith. The 1838 revelation on tithing instructed members to give a tenth of their “surplus” property and subsequently a tenth of their “interest” annually. But what did those words mean in the 19th century? Did “interest” mean all income, or did it refer to increase or profit after expenses were paid? We also examine the question of who gets to determine what constitutes “surplus” or “interest,” how tithing affects low-income members differently from wealthy members, and how the modern interpretation developed –particularly through the First Presidency's 1970 letter and subsequent Church teachings.From there, we explore the four specific purposes for which tithing was originally given, including building temples, laying the foundation of Zion, supporting the priesthood, and other charitable or religious purposes. We compare those purposes with how the Church uses tithing today and ask whether the original reasons for the law have actually been fulfilled. The discussion also looks at teachings from Brigham Young Junior, Lorenzo Snow, David A. Bendar, Russell M. Nelson, Elder Holland, Elder Packer, Elder Becerra, and others, including the increasingly strict expectation that members pay tithing even when doing so creates financial hardship or debt. This episodes asks a broader question about the relationship between scripture, revelation, historical context, and modern institutional policy: If the original revelation from the Lord says “surplus” and “interest,” when –and why –did that become a requirement to pay 10% of one's entire income to the Church? LDS Discussions examines the historical and doctrinal claims of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints using primary sources, historical documents, and critical analysis.___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the conference talk given by Seventy Michael John U. Teh titled “Follow the Prophet: He Knows the Way” in April 2026 General Conference. What did Wong say? And does his teaching fall into good advice for those seeking truth?

Made the mistake of reading, and responding, on X right before the program started so...ended up covering enough D'Souzian hubris to do an entire edition of Radio Free Geneva, if we had wanted to play the theme! But, got back to the Confession of Dositheos though we are right at the part where it is addressing the very same issues, so, the topic did remain fairly consistent for the full hour. Briefly responded to an LDS apologist in the middle there somewhere, but, similar topic as well.

Don't sleep on  @UltraPouches  New customers get 15% Off with code LDS at takeultra.com! #UltraPouches #ad Try Mars Men https://mengotomars.com #ad #sponsored Follow The Boys  @Anthonystiriti   @Realiswill  Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/theleoanddannyshow Subscribe to the Crew! Danny's Channel ▶ / @dannymullenofficial Follow the Crew! Leo's IG ▶ / leofdot Danny's IG ▶ / dannymullen Leo's Twitter ▶ @Leodottavio Danny's Twitter ▶ @DannyMullenfts

Made the mistake of reading, and responding, on X right before the program started so...ended up covering enough D'Souzian hubris to do an entire edition of Radio Free Geneva, if we had wanted to play the theme! But, got back to the Confession of Dositheos though we are right at the part where it is addressing the very same issues, so, the topic did remain fairly consistent for the full hour. Briefly responded to an LDS apologist in the middle there somewhere, but, similar topic as well.

MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the conference talk given by Seventy Michael John U. Teh titled "Follow the Prophet: He Knows the Way" in April 2026 General Conference. What did Wong say? And does his teaching fall into good advice for those seeking truth?

In Part Three of Mike and Michele's story, the couple begins confronting serious concerns about Mormonism as their children struggle with missions, faith, and their place in the church. Mike becomes increasingly concerned about the challenges young Mormons are facing, and struggles to work with church leadership to keep them engaged in their faith.As they discover that the church is not working for their family in the same way anymore, they begin stepping further outside the Mormon community. They explore other Christian traditions and begin to consume media not run by the LDS church, such as the LDS Discussions podcast.Their journey raises difficult questions about authority, faith, family, and whether personal spiritual experiences can be trusted. They begin to question the difference between feeling “the Spirit” and experiencing awe or wonder simply as part of the human condition. In search of these answers, they find themselves searching for meaning outside of Mormonism.Today, Mike and Michele are focused less on having all the answers and more on exploration, connection, and helping others navigate the questions that come with changing beliefs. We hope that their story can be helpful to your search for wonder, as well!https://seekwonderway.substack.com___________________Show NotesYouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

We are back with Michele and Mike Seamons in part 2 of this interview with the “Idyllic” Mormon family.In part 2, they detail how their picture of the Mormon dream can come with plenty of challenges. They build and lose businesses, move across the country multiple times, and repeatedly find themselves rebuilding their lives. Through it all, they respond by doubling down on their commitment to Mormonism and church service.Mike eventually finds himself serving as a bishop, where the responsibilities of counseling members and conducting disciplinary councils begin to change how he sees church leadership. At the same time, Michele's relationship with the church begins to shift as music and other Christian influences introduce her to a different way of thinking about God.As their family and church lives continue to evolve, Mike and Michele begin confronting questions that will eventually force them to reconsider what faith looks like to them.https://seekwonderway.substack.com___________________YouTubeShow NotesAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

Today we welcome Michele and Mike Seamons to the podcast. Michele and Mike are a married couple who were both raised in the LDS faith and experienced what they describe as an “idyllic” Mormon upbringing.In Part 1, we begin with each of their backgrounds and what it was like to grow up in faithful LDS homes with supportive families, wards, and communities surrounding them. Michele was raised in Sandy, Utah, while Mike grew up outside of Los Angeles, California. We also discuss Michele's mission experience and how the two eventually met at the MTC.In Part 2, we pick up with Mike's mission story before moving into their early marriage and family life, business pursuits, and increasing involvement in the church. Mike serves in youth leadership and eventually becomes a bishop, while Michele serves in various roles, including Young Women's president. Eventually, Michele becomes more interested in mainstream Christianity through music and podcasts, leading her to begin viewing her Mormon faith differently.Then be sure to come back for Part 3, where we conclude their Mormon story and discuss where they stand with their faith today.This is a three part episode. You can find all three parts on our channel.___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

Send us a Positive Review!Patriarchy impacts people at a soul-wrenching level, and perhaps no other group is more stricken than our LGBTQ+ community. Please join us for a re-drop of a beautiful episode looking at Carol Lynn Pearson's breathtaking book, Goodbye, I Love You, which Valerie references to describe a 5 messages internalized by LDS queer people AND 5 healing counterpoints- deep truths about the divine identities of our queer loved ones and selves. Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Redrop Plan06:20 Why Patriarchy Needs Context10:49 Origins Jesus and Mormonism15:45 Awakening and Upcoming Episodes32:20 Re-drop Begins No More Goodbyes38:25 Book Premise and Audience41:27 Paradigm One Innate Worth51:30 Paradigm Two Unconditional Love01:03:25 A Father's Blessing01:11:15 Microaggressions and Doctrine01:22:33 Attachment Theory Explained01:29:44 Brad's Heartbreaking Story01:40:53 Raising Consciousness Hope01:48:27 Final Review and FarewellSupport the showPre-General Conference Prep Zoom Registration (Free!)Join Our Healing From Patriarchy Support GroupSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie's Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website

Have you ever gotten to the end of the day and thought, why am I so tired? Not physically tired. The kind of tired where your body is on the couch but your mind is still running a marathon, and when you look back at your day, nothing dramatic even happened.This week I break down three hidden reasons behind that exact kind of exhaustion, and none of them are about doing too much. They're about carrying too much.I'm also opening something brand new starting October 5th to help you actually start putting some of it down: the 7-Day Protect Your Peace Practice.One week. One simple practice each day. A gentle reset for women who are tired of carrying everything.Click here to sign up today: https://www.ldsmentalhealthco.com/protect-your-peace-practice_______________________________Have a question or struggle you'd like Niki to help with?Click here to share it anonymously. Your question may be answered on a future episode of The LDS Mental Health Podcast, and it could help another LDS woman who's struggling with the same thing too.

MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the conference talk given by Seventy Michael John U. Teh titled "Follow the Prophet: He Knows the Way" in April 2026 General Conference. What did Wong say? And does his teaching fall into good advice for those seeking truth?

Week 38 - Isaiah 1-12: "No one will go to Hell because of their sin"Please visit us at CFMpodcast.org

Are there echoes of Book of Mormon & Revolutionary War? When we talk about the relationship between early Mormonism and Native American communities, the conversation usually runs in one direction: how indigenous traditions may have influenced Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. But in this segment of our conversation with Dr. Thomas Murphy, author of Unsettling Scripture: Iroquois and the Book of Mormon, we explore something far less discussed — how Haudenosaunee communities weren’t just absorbing outside religious ideas, they were producing scriptural traditions of their own. https://youtu.be/5H7qSRgK5lc At the center of this discussion is the Seneca prophet Handsome Lake, who in the early 1800s developed a body of teachings — now known as the Code of Handsome Lake — blending traditional Haudenosaunee spirituality with elements adapted from the Christian missionaries who were increasingly present in Native communities at the time. Murphy argues that Handsome Lake’s movement deserves to be understood on its own terms: not simply as a reaction to Christianity, but as a genuine act of religious innovation, produced by Native leaders navigating a rapidly changing world. It’s a reminder that the flow of religious ideas during this period wasn’t one-directional, and that Native communities were active shapers of their own spiritual futures, not passive recipients of outside influence. From there, Murphy turns to something that surprises many readers: possible echoes of Onondaga language, geography, or tradition embedded within the Book of Mormon text itself. While these connections remain a matter of scholarly debate, Murphy lays out why he believes they deserve more serious attention than they’ve typically received, especially given the documented presence of Haudenosaunee students and communities in and around the Smith family’s world in upstate New York. Book of Mormon & Revolutionary War The conversation then shifts to a period most listeners will recognize from American history class, but rarely connect to Mormon origins: the Revolutionary War. Murphy highlights the often-overlooked role of the Oneida Nation, one of the few Haudenosaunee nations to formally ally with the American colonists during the war, and explores why this alliance — and its long-term consequences — matters for understanding the world the Smith family grew up in decades later. It’s a piece of history that rarely gets mentioned in conversations about the Book of Mormon’s origins, but Murphy argues it shouldn’t be treated as a footnote. Taken together, this segment challenges listeners to think about the relationship between Native American history and early Mormonism as something more complicated — and more mutual — than a simple story of influence flowing in one direction. Murphy’s research suggests a much richer, messier picture: one where Native nations were simultaneously responding to colonization, encountering Christianity, allying with revolutionary movements, and building their own theological frameworks, all while living in close proximity to the very family that would go on to produce the Book of Mormon. This is part 3 of our 4-part series with Dr. Thomas Murphy. In our previous segments, we covered his background and the controversial DNA research that first made him a controversial figure within LDS scholarship, along with the Dartmouth/Moor’s Charity School connection between the Smith family and Haudenosaunee students. In our next and final segment, Murphy tackles perhaps the biggest question of all: can the Book of Mormon be both fiction and scripture at the same time? Listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts. Don't miss our other conversations with Thomas: https://gospeltangents.com/people/thomas-murphy/ Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Check out a transcript of the interview on Amazon. 1:21 – Indigenous Response to Christianity & Handsome Lake’s Visions 6:36 – Jesus in Haudenosaunee Tradition & Comparison with King Lamoni 9:40 – Three Nephites, Four Thunders & Joseph Smith’s Christianization 12:01 – Zelph, Onondagas & Giants 16:17 – Oneidas, Lafayette & the Book of Mormon as Revolutionary War Allegory 19:07 – Amalickiah & Ammoron as Sir William Johnson & Joseph Brant

In episode 437 of the Words of the Prophets podcast Todd, Alia and Lawson discuss the talk “Come Unto Christ - Together" by Taniela Wakolo from the April 2026 General Conference.  Have a listen!Words of the Prophets is a podcast dedicated to discussing every talk from the general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  This is our 12th general conference and we love hearing the words of the prophets through conference.#wordsoftheprophets #generalconference #conference #ldsconference #LDS #ldspodcast #podcast #sharegoodnesshttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/words-of-the-prophetsFind us on twitter, instagram or email us at wordsoftheprophetspodcast@gmail.comFind us at youtube.com/wordsoftheprophetspodcast

My friends Dave and Kirty Zimmerman (married parents of four, active LDS, live in Utah County) join us to share their story of loving/supporting their gay son Dallin who came out at age 13 and is currently serving a mission. Highlights include: * Age 13: “Mom, What if I'm Gay?” * Dave, Kirty, and Dallin walking that road alone for three years without telling anyone. Very difficult road for all three. Positive and negative ward experiences. * Watching the “light go out” of Dallin—and how coming out helped everyone * Dallin (working closely with his parents but letting Dallin take the lead) coming out to family, friends, and his Ward family * Working closely with the Bishop and Ward Council to counsel together and how to best support Dallin—super helpful * Helpful Bishop and Stake President * No pressure for Dallin to serve a mission—yet Dallin chose this so he “could share God's love with others” * In the celestial room together with Dallin sharing he will never be able to make the next temple covenant—knowing he won't be able to make it work with a woman * Importance of support for LDS parents walking this road—and how the Ward family can make all the difference for their journey with the Church * Kirty: “Some of the best parts of Dallin are the parts that are gay” * Importance of letting LGBTQ people use the labels they prefer—and how telling people not to take on a label creates shame—and how that is inconsistent with other LDS groups This is one of the finest podcasts we've done on how to support a queer child (out in early teenage years) navigating that with friends, family, and church community. So insightful—and helps all of us consider what we can do to support closeted families in our circle of influence. Also, one of the finest podcasts to help us better understand, support, and love a younger queer Latter-day Saint. Thank you, Dave and Kirty, for being on the podcast and sharing your family story. Thanks for your courage to do this. You are helping create Zion. Much love and respect to the Zimmerman family. Thank you Elder Dallin Zimmerman for allowing your parents to share your story. I feel you are concurrently serving two missions—your mission in South American and your mission with your powerful story being shared—both to help everyone know God loves them. ** Note: Dave and Kirty with be part of a parent breakout session at Gather (Nov 12-14 in Provo, Utah). See show notes for more information and how to register ** Links: Instagram @dave_zman: https://www.instagram.com/dave_zman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dizzi45Z Instagram @kirtyz: https://www.instagram.com/kirtyz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirtyz Gather Conference Nov 12-14: https://www.liftandlove.org/gather Faith Matters Episode: https://www.faithmatters.org/p/when-your-child-comes-out-as-gay

Have you ever wondered if becoming a more consecrated missionary means becoming less of yourself? Maybe you've started to feel like the things you love, the interests you had before your mission, or even parts of your personality need to disappear in order for you to truly be "set apart." In this episode, I want to explore the difference between laying aside worldly things and laying aside yourself. We'll talk about why your personality, creativity, interests, desires, and the things that light you up aren't necessarily distractions from missionary work. In fact, they may be part of what God gave you to help you connect, contribute, and bring your whole self to the work. I'll also walk you through some questions to help you notice what fuels you, what you may have unnecessarily labeled as "worldly," and how you can bring the essence of what you love into your mission within the mission framework. My hope is that you leave knowing that being set apart doesn't require you to become a generic version of a missionary. You can be consecrated and still be fully you. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends.   00:00 – Introduction 01:53 – Feeling Like You're Disappearing on Your Mission 03:42 – What Are Missionaries Actually Asked to Set Aside? 05:24 – Consecration Does Not Mean Eliminating Yourself 09:30 – What Lights You Up Is Not a Measure of Spirituality 13:29 – Discovering What Lights Your Match 16:38 – Missionary Work Requires Emotional Fuel 19:15 – Bringing Your Interests into the Mission Framework 24:32 – You Are Responsible for Creating Your Spark 27:21 – Questions to Help You Stay Set Apart and Still You   Website | Instagram | Facebook   5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE   Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE   Free PDF Download:  Podcast Roadmap   Free PDF Download:  Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet   Free Training for Preparing Missionaries:  Change Your Mission with this One Tool   RM Transition Free Video Series:  3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home   Free Guide:  5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary   Schedule a Free Strategy Call:   Click Here  

Today is the 169th anniversary of the original 9-11–the Mountain Meadows Massacre. In this repeat broadcast, Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson discuss the horrific details of this historical tragedy and how we should process this event today.

Olivia Dunson — better known as "Inspire.w.Olivia" — is one of the fastest-rising Gen Z Latter-day Saint voices on Instagram and TikTok.Short, funny, honest, and occasionally savage.In this episode we play her viral reels, talk about the backlash she got from people who insist Mormons aren't Christian, and get into why her page is connecting so fast:- Why “You're a real Christian, though… right?” hits so hard- The cross-necklace controversy- Why authenticity beats black-and-white “if you have questions, leave” culture- The coming **ex-ex-Mormon wave**- Why people who leave and come back can become spiritual powerhouses — and why we still shouldn't forget the people who quietly stayed- What the Church is actually failing Gen Z on: inviting questions, then freezing when the questions get real- Modesty, lived experience, and why Sunday School teachers panicIf you've been watching young members leave *and* come back, this one explains the mood on the ground.Find Olivia: **inspire.w.olivia** on Instagram and TikTok.#LatterDaySaints #GenZ #OliviaDunson #WardRadioChapter Markers0:00 – Intro: Meet Olivia Dunson / Inspire with Olivia 1:10 – Why Gen Z relates to her 3:30 – Millennials vs. Gen Z faith 5:10 – Viral reel: “You're a real Christian, though…” 5:40 – The savage follow-up reel 6:20 – Olivia joins: Trinity backlash and hate comments 7:00 – “Mormons can't wear crosses” 8:10 – The “wrong Jesus” argument 9:40 – Why authenticity works 11:00 – “The crying girl on the Internet” 14:00 – Best and worst parts of LDS content creation 15:30 – The reconvert / XX-Mormon wave 17:00 – CES Letter era vs. now 18:30 – Childlike faith → complex faith → stronger faith 20:00 – Don't only lionize people who left and came back 22:30 – How to help Gen Z's faith 24:00 – Leaving without malice vs. “everything is a lie” 25:50 – Is an ex-ex-Mormon wave coming? 26:00 – What's driving people back 29:40 – What our culture is failing Gen Z on 30:50 – Modesty questions teachers are afraid to answer 36:40 – Wrap-up + where to find OliviaBecome a member of this channel to get early access to videos and members only content:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmsAFGrFuGe0obW6tkEY6w/joinSupport the channel by purchasing equipment to help make content through our Amazon Wish List (please write a limerick in the "gist notes" and we will read it on the show!): https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AQLMTSMBM4DC?ref_=wl_shareTo order Ward Radio Branded "merch", please visit: https://www.wardradio.com/category/all-products For this and more, please visit: WardRadio.comNow go do your ministering! (Home Teaching)⚡For more information on Go And Do Travel, please visit https://www.goanddotravel.com/1126wavemakersWe would also like to thank the following generous sponsors:⚡For more information on scripture notes please visit: https://scripturenotes.com/?via=wardradio⚡For more information on the Angel Studios Guild , please visit Angel.comFollow us at:Instagram:@WardRadioWorldwideFacebook: @WardRadioWorldwideTwitter: WardRadioShowTikTok: WardRadioWorldwideTo subscribe to "The Women of Ward Radio" Youtube Channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbu-wpRztV-8TYXClhUZhhwTo Subscribe to Cardon Ellis' Adventure Channel, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/@CardonEllisAdventures

This is a special episode exploring another of Carol Lynn Pearson's many talents, her playwriting, focusing this time on her advocacy work for LGBT+ persons. This discussion features LDF host Dan Wotherspoon along with three persons involved with a new production of CLP's play, Facing East, which is being staged in Salt Lake City in October, twenty years after it first premiered. Joining Dan are director Jerry Rapier, and actors Jay Perry and Kristy Summerhays who play a grieving father (Alex) and mother (Ruth) whose gay son (Andrew) has recently suicided because of conflicts between who he is and how it clashes with his Mormon beliefs. The play takes place in the cemetery immediately following Andrew's funeral and reveals how two faithful Latter-day Saints deal in different ways with this tragic event. Alex is questioning everything about LDS teachings regarding homosexuality and how they kept him from really knowing their son. Ruth still can't face the reality that her son couldn't change who he is because God would never let church leaders be wrong about something so important, hence she double-downs on that belief even as it contradicts with the son she knew and loved so much. After they talk awhile, Andrew's partner, Marcus, arrives at the burial site to grieve, thinking everyone would have already left. Ruth does, but soon Alex and Marcus have a difficult but searching conversation and then promise to continue to talk over lunch another time. A special treat in the episode is when Jay and Kristy read two excerpts from scenes in the play. You don't want to miss that! And neither do you want to miss the many beautiful experiences they all share about Carol Lynn as well as a great deal about the journey from a much-too-long script to its triumphant 2006 run in Utah, as well as in other stagings off-Broadway and in San Francisco. It's fun to go behind the scenes! Join us!

Tomorrow is the 169th anniversary of the original 9-11--the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Today and tomorrow Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson discuss the horrific details of this historical tragedy and how we should process this event today.

In episode 436 of the Words of the Prophets podcast Todd, Alia, Lawson and Burke discuss the talk “Keys, Covenants and Easter” by Elder Cook from the April 2026 General Conference.  Have a listen!Words of the Prophets is a podcast dedicated to discussing every talk from the general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  This is our 12th general conference and we love hearing the words of the prophets through conference.#wordsoftheprophets #generalconference #conference #ldsconference #LDS #ldspodcast #podcast #sharegoodnesshttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/words-of-the-prophetsFind us on instagram or email us at wordsoftheprophetspodcast@gmail.comFind us at youtube.com/wordsoftheprophetspodcast

If you've been on Ex-Mormon TikTok for a while, chances are you've heard of **Mindy Temple**. She was one of the early creators who helped bring faith deconstruction conversations into the mainstream online. While she doesn't post as frequently today, her original content remains available — and if you haven't already, be sure to check out her channel, support her work, and follow her journey.In today's episode, we're highlighting Mindy's iconic **16-part series about her firsthand experiences inside the Mormon temple**.Mindy shares her personal perspective on growing up in **The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints**, participating in temple ceremonies, and the experiences that ultimately caused her to question her faith and leave the LDS Church.Throughout the series, she discusses topics including:• Mormon temple rituals and ceremonies• Temple garments and expectations• Baptisms for the dead• The emotional impact of temple experiences• Losing traditional wedding traditions like personalized vows• Her journey through faith questioning and deconstructionThis episode is not about telling anyone what to believe — it's about examining personal experiences, asking difficult questions, and understanding why different people arrive at different conclusions about faith.Watch Mindy Temple's original TikTok series here:[https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP9rAn4mt2SeP-o2YIB/](https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP9rAn4mt2SeP-o2YIB/)What do you think about Mindy's experiences? Did you grow up LDS and have similar feelings about the temple, or was your experience completely different? Share your thoughts in the comments.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more Mormon history, faith deconstruction, and religious commentary.#ExMormon #MormonTok #LDS #FaithDeconstruction #MormonTemple #Deconstruction #ReligiousTraumaPlease consider making a donation by joining our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MormonNewsRoundup Email: kolob@mormonnewsroundup.org Website: https://mormonnewsroundup.org/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonnewsroundup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormon_news_roundup/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093511869924 X: https://twitter.com/NewsMormon New episodes LIVE every Sunday and Monday nights at 9:30PM ESTPlease like and subscribe and hit the notifications bell. Remember remember, no unhallowed hand can stop this podcast from progressing!The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affilated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In the second episode of the Brigham Young Podcast, Dr. John Turner –author of Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet –joins us to explore Brigham Young's transformation from a passionate and fiercely loyal follower of Joseph Smith into one of the most important leaders of the early Mormon movement. We follow Brigham through some of the most turbulent years of early Mormon history –from the Kirtland Safety Society and the formation of the Quorum of the Twelve to the Missouri conflict, the Kirtland Temple dedication, and his remarkably successful mission to England.Along the way, we explore Brigham's personality, his spiritual experiences, his practice of speaking (and singing) in tongues, his unwavering loyalty to Joseph Smith, and the growing tensions within the early church. Why did Brigham continue defending Joseph when other prominent leaders were turning against him? And what made Brigham such an effective leader despite not fitting the traditional image of a great preacher? The episode also takes a closer look at one of the most important questions surrounding Brigham Young: What did he know about Joseph Smith's early experiments with plural marriage? We discuss the Fanny Alger controversy, Martha Brotherton's accusations, Brigham's time in England, the question of “proto-polygamy,” and Brigham's later claims about when he learned that plural marriage was divinely commanded. Rather than reducing Brigham Young to either a heroic Mormon prophet or a one-dimensional villain, this series attempts to understand him as a complicated historical figure –deeply  religious, shrewd, ambitious, loyal, sometimes harsh, and increasingly influential.If you wish to donate to support this series, please visit here: https://donorbox.org/brighamyoung___________________Show NotesYouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

This week is part 1 with musicians, identical twins, and former Mormons turned dominatrixes Larena and Elyse Wynn, also known by their band name Mothermary. The girls share what it was like being raised in the LDS church, and how “Montana Mormons” may have had a more fear-based culture than Mormons in other parts of the country. They’ll talk about going to BYU Idaho, and how after having sex with her boyfriend—one of the worst sins you could commit in the church—Larena was told by her bishop that she needed to marry her boyfriend in order to not get kicked out of college. Elyse describes having a similar experience in high school, and how both were told by their bishop to read a book called The Miracle of Forgiveness in order to repent, which basically told them that all the things that make you human are wrong. Elyse explains how she became obsessed with not sinning, why it made her so depressed she couldn’t eat, and how she realized she needed to get out of there. In part two next week, Larena tells the story of how she got out of her marriage, and how they both came to work as dominatrixes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a special episode exploring another of Carol Lynn Pearson's many talents, her playwriting, focusing this time on her advocacy work for LGBT+ persons. This discussion features LDF host Dan Wotherspoon along with three persons involved with a new production of CLP's play, Facing East, which is being staged in Salt Lake City in October, twenty years after it first premiered. Joining Dan are director Jerry Rapier, and actors Jay Perry and Kristy Summerhays who play a grieving father (Alex) and mother (Ruth) whose gay son (Andrew) has recently suicided because of conflicts between who he is and how it clashes with his Mormon beliefs. The play takes place in the cemetery immediately following Andrew's funeral and reveals how two faithful Latter-day Saints deal in different ways with this tragic event. Alex is questioning everything about LDS teachings regarding homosexuality and how they kept him from really knowing their son. Ruth still can't face the reality that her son couldn't change who he is because God would never let church leaders be wrong about something so important, hence she double-downs on that belief even as it contradicts with the son she knew and loved so much. After they talk awhile, Andrew's partner, Marcus, arrives at the burial site to grieve, thinking everyone would have already left. Ruth does, but soon Alex and Marcus have a difficult but searching conversation and then promise to continue to talk over lunch another time. A special treat in the episode is when Jay and Kristy read two excerpts from scenes in the play. You don't want to miss that! And neither do you want to miss the many beautiful experiences they all share about Carol Lynn as well as a great deal about the journey from a much-too-long script to its triumphant 2006 run in Utah, as well as in other stagings off-Broadway and in San Francisco. It's fun to go behind the scenes! Join us!

This week in a repeat broadcast, Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson discuss an August 2015 Ensign article authored by Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf titled “We Believe in Being Humble.”

David Bednar is one of the most recognizable apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and unlike many senior Church leaders, he has participated in numerous extended question-and-answer sessions with local congregations.These stake conference, regional conference, and devotional Q&As are largely unscripted, giving members the opportunity to ask questions directly. Over the years, many of these meetings have been recorded and quietly shared online, creating a fascinating record of Elder Bednar's spontaneous teaching style.In this video, I've gathered every public Bednar Q&A recording I could find into one compilation. Whether you're an active Latter-day Saint, former member, researcher, or simply curious about Mormonism, this collection offers a rare opportunity to hear Elder Bednar respond without the structure of a prepared General Conference address.Because Elder Bednar is widely viewed as a likely future president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, these unscripted interactions may provide valuable insight into his leadership style, priorities, and approach to difficult questions.**In this video you'll see:*** Public stake conference Q&A sessions* Regional conference question-and-answer meetings* Devotional discussions* Candid interactions with Church members* Rare unscripted teaching momentsWhat do you think? Do these informal settings reveal something different from General Conference talks? Share your thoughts in the comments below.If you enjoy in-depth coverage of Mormonism, LDS history, Church leadership, and current events, consider subscribing to **Mormon News Roundup** for new videos every week.#Mormon #LDS #DavidBednar #MormonNews #ExMormon #GeneralConference #LatterdaySaints #Religion #Christianity #mormonismPlease consider making a donation by joining our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MormonNewsRoundup Email: kolob@mormonnewsroundup.org Website: https://mormonnewsroundup.org/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonnewsroundup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormon_news_roundup/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093511869924 X: https://twitter.com/NewsMormon New episodes LIVE every Sunday and Monday nights at 9:30PM ESTPlease like and subscribe and hit the notifications bell. Remember remember, no unhallowed hand can stop this podcast from progressing!The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affilated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LDS and use code LDS and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! Follow The Boys @bradleyjohnson Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/theleoanddannyshow Subscribe to the Crew! Danny's Channel ▶ / @dannymullenofficial Follow the Crew! Leo's IG ▶ / leofdot Danny's IG ▶ / dannymullen Leo's Twitter ▶ @Leodottavio Danny's Twitter ▶ @DannyMullenfts

If you are navigating Mormon faith transition, LDS faith crisis, religious trauma, mixed-faith relationships, faith expansion, spiritual awakening, or healing after high-demand religion, this conversation offers a compassionate framework for growing without needing to erase where you came from.What happens when a Mormon faith crisis becomes an invitation to spiritual growth rather than the end of faith? Licensed therapist and Latter Day Struggles host Valerie Hamaker joins Meghan Farner to explore faith expansion, religious trauma, spiritual authority, the true self, patriarchy, and how to build a deeper relationship with God after inherited beliefs begin to change.Valerie shares her journey from deeply committed Latter-day Saint life—including serving a mission, graduating from BYU, temple marriage, Relief Society leadership, and working as an LDS Church preferred mental health provider—to eventually resigning from the Church after being called to a disciplinary council.Rather than framing faith transition as simple deconstruction, Valerie and Meghan explore a model of transcendence and inclusion: allowing beliefs and identities that no longer serve us to change while honoring the experiences, wisdom, and spiritual foundations that helped us grow.They discuss why a faith crisis can feel like death, the movement from externally sourced authority toward inner spiritual discernment, and the importance of rediscovering the true divine self beneath inherited identities, shame, perfectionism, and fear.The conversation also examines transactional images of God, masculine and feminine expressions of divinity, developmental stages of faith, healthy versus dominator hierarchies, religious shame, mysticism, and the possibility of finding a more direct experience of the divine.Timestamps00:00 - Spiritual Autonomy After Faith Change00:39 - Hidden Wisdom: Faith Renovation and Spiritual Discernment01:20 - Meet Valerie Hamaker, Therapist and Faith Expansion Coach02:24 - From Devout Mormon Life to Counseling and Healing Work05:44 - Starting the Latter-day Struggles Podcast07:36 - Healing, Integration, and Personal Spiritual Authority09:16 - Leaving the LDS Church and Resisting Religious Control13:21 - Staying Connected to Mormon Community After Resignation14:38 - Faith Expansion Through Transcendence and Inclusion18:14 - Discernment, the True Self, and Inner Spiritual Trust22:11 - Divine Wholeness, Masculine and Feminine Spirituality25:07 - Reframing Atonement, Shame, and Healing27:15 - Faith Crisis as Death, Rebirth, and Personal Growth32:21 - Healing Harmful God Images and Transactional Theology37:07 - Patriarchy, Hierarchy, and Compassionate Spiritual Development41:55 - Mysticism, Symbolism, and Direct Experience of the Divine45:18 - Finding Spiritual Possibility Beyond Traditional Mormonism48:01 - There Is More: Hope for Faith Expansion49:02 - Valerie Hamaker's Faith Healing Groups and Resources50:13 - Hidden Wisdom Closing InvitationValerie Hamaker is a licensed therapist and certified coach specializing in faith expansion, mixed-faith relationships, and recovery from high-demand religion. She is the creator and host of the Latter Day Struggles podcast, where she combines clinical expertise with lived experience to help people navigate the psychological, relational, and spiritual challenges that accompany changing belief systems. Valerie also offers coaching, online courses, live events, faith-expansion groups, and other resources for individuals and couples seeking support beyond traditional religious frameworks. Continue Your JourneyIf this episode resonated with you, there are several ways to go deeper:

This week in a repeat broadcast, Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson discuss an August 2015 Ensign article authored by Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf titled “We Believe in Being Humble.”

I recently jumped into a live conversation on X with two Protestants named Lizzie, both of whom have become well known for their steady stream of posts criticizing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.They had invited Latter-day Saints to join the Space and defend what we actually believe while several Protestants challenged us on everything from LDS doctrine to Church history.I was content to listen—until the conversation turned to the Great Apostasy.That's when I decided to jump in.What followed was a wide-ranging and surprisingly intense discussion about the early Christian Church, apostolic authority, and whether the historical evidence actually supports the Protestant narrative about what happened to Christianity after the apostles.And then, toward the end, the conversation took a turn I definitely wasn't expecting.Here's what happened.Our LinksWebsite: http://thoughtfulfaith.orgInstagram:   / thoughtful.faith  TikTok:   / thoughtful.faith  Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1478749DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this video are entirely the opinion of the creator and do not necessarily reflect any officially endorsed positions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or channel sponsors.

What would cause a megachurch pastor to lose his faith?In this episode of Mormon Stories Podcast, we sit down with former megachurch pastor Dr. Todd Phillips to explore his journey from a new Christian searching for a fresh start, to becoming a pastor and ministry leader, preaching to crowds of 10,000 people or more.Todd grew up without a strong religious background, but after finding Christianity in his twenties, he quickly immersed himself in evangelicalism. He went on to become a preacher and pastor at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C., and Lakepointe Church in Dallas. He eventually went on to direct a multi-million dollar nonprofit called The Last Well, which worked to bring clean water and Christianity to the people of Liberia. Todd walks us through the beliefs that once shaped his worldview, believing in Christianity as the one and only path to God. He also shares what it was like to build his life around those beliefs, rise through evangelical ministry, and eventually encounter questions that challenged the foundations of his faith.Along the way, Todd and John compare evangelical and LDS theology, discuss megachurch culture, and explore interesting theological questions/beliefs. This is Part One of Todd's story, with more to come as he explores what happens when a pastor begins to question the beliefs he once devoted his life to.Todd now shares his experiences and insights online as “The Deconstructed Pastor.”Todd's donations links and social accounts can be found ⁠here⁠.Also, as a special gift for Mormon Stories listeners, Todd has offered 2 FREE gifts - his "Deconstruction Guide" and "You Don't Need to Fear Hell" course. Together, these resources are usually $34, so we are grateful to Todd for sharing these with our audience! https://stan.store/drtoddphillips/p/deconstruct-without-fear-2-free-guides___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

What happens when a pastor can no longer believe the message he has spent his life preaching?In Part Two of our conversation with Dr. Todd Phillips, former megachurch pastor and creator of “The Deconstructed Pastor,” Todd continues his journey out of evangelical Christianity. After years of building his life around the Bible, he began confronting difficult questions surrounding his faith in the Bible, Jesus, and even God. Eventually, he reached a point where he could no longer reconcile what he was discovering with the beliefs he had once preached.Todd shares what happened as his faith unraveled following the conclusion of his nonprofit work. He describes the devastating experience of losing his relationship with God, and realizing he could no longer preach.His journey eventually led him to TikTok and social media, where he began sharing his story as “The Deconstructed Pastor.” Today, Todd hopes to help other “ex-vangelicals” navigate religious deconstruction and “shorten the pain curve” for those going through it themselves.Todd and John also discusses his changing views on hell, divine hiddenness, faith vs truth, religious psychology, morality without religion, and whether humanity needs religion. He reflects on valuing truth over community comfort, and his relationship with believers he once influenced.Dr. Todd Phillips is a former evangelical pastor who served at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C., and Lakepointe Church in Dallas. He also ran a nonprofit called The Last Well, which worked to bring clean water and Christianity to the people of Liberia. Today, he works in AI consulting while building his platform as “The Deconstructed Pastor.”Todd's donations links and social accounts can be found here.Also, as a special gift for Mormon Stories listeners, Todd has offered 2 FREE gifts - his "Deconstruction Guide" and "You Don't Need to Fear Hell" course. Together, these resources are usually $34, so we are grateful to Todd for sharing these with our audience! https://stan.store/drtoddphillips/p/deconstruct-without-fear-2-free-guides___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

My friend Lucas Montoya (gay/queer, mid-20s, lives/works in Texas, RM, University of Chicago graduate) joins us to share his powerful story: * Founding of “RELIC” by LDS connected students at the University of Chicago (community, support, and Journal) * Overview of the articles in the RELIC Journal (see show notes) * Writing is a tool for building community * Lucas' own journey to go from deep shame/internalized homophobia—to deep acceptance of his queerness * Powerful personal revelation—his personal “Pearl of Gay Price”—to accept/love his queerness. This is title of his RELIC Journal article * How personal prayer helped him in the coming out process (mission president and parents) * How dating men helped him learn his is lovable—helped him feel hope for this future—“lock box key” Thank you, Lucas, for sharing your powerful story of self-love and acceptance. Your story helps other queer people find hope in their lives. You are a good man with a wonderful future. Thanks for all you have done to bless so many along the way. Honored to have you on the podcast. Thanks for your efforts to build Zion. I encourage everyone to listen to and share Lucas' podcast and check out RELIC. Links: RELIC website: https://uchicagorelic.org RELIC Journal: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UFhYa5kAehdp_mSwfdxvdIfZuTYwjLIH/view Salt Lake Tribune Article: Salt Lake Tribute Article: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/08/22/lds-students-dallin-oaks-alma/

Do you ever replay a conversation so many times you basically have it memorized? Or run through every possible way something could go before it's even happened? You're not broken, and you're not doing anything wrong. Your mind is just trying to do a job, and most of us were never taught which job that actually is.This week I answer a question from someone in my membership: if I stop thinking about my problem and just focus on what's in front of me, am I just avoiding it? I break down the three things your mind is really trying to do when it won't let something go, and how to tell which one is actually running the show. I also made a worksheet to go with this one, because it's the kind of skill you'll want to come back to more than once. Grab it using the link below.https://www.ldsmentalhealthco.com/cant-stop-thinking_______________________________Have a question or struggle you'd like Niki to help with?Click here to share it anonymously. Your question may be answered on a future episode of The LDS Mental Health Podcast, and it could help another LDS woman who's struggling with the same thing too.

This week in a repeat broadcast, Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson discuss an August 2015 Ensign article authored by Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf titled “We Believe in Being Humble.”

Week 37: Proverbs- Ecclesiastes:  "Yet you haven't moved the rock. But, son, I did not ask you to move the rock. I simply asked you to push. It is my job to move the rock."Please visit us at CFMpodcast.org

In episode 435 of the Words of the Prophets podcast Todd, Alia, Lawson and Burke discuss the talk “Eternal Marriage is an Eternal Journey" by Elder Andersen from the April 2026 General Conference.  Have a listen!Words of the Prophets is a podcast dedicated to discussing every talk from the general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  This is our 12th general conference and we love hearing the words of the prophets through conference.#wordsoftheprophets #generalconference #conference #ldsconference #LDS #ldspodcast #podcast #sharegoodnesshttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/words-of-the-prophetsFind us on twitter, instagram or email us at wordsoftheprophetspodcast@gmail.comFind us at youtube.com/wordsoftheprophetspodcast

On today's episode of Mormon News, Meggan and John break down another busy week of headlines involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Charlie Bird says he is pulling back from sharing his journey to fatherhood after receiving horrific messages about his future family, including messages invoking LDS teachings. We look at the broader Mormon conversation surrounding Charlie and Ryan's plans to become parents and where criticism of their family has gone.CHARLIE BIRD RESPONDS TO HORRIFIC BACKLASHhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DcqxX85mPeb/A former LDS bishop in Utah is facing serious criminal charges after an undercover investigation led police to search his phone. According to court documents, Eric Hans Monson has been charged with three counts of exploitation. We look at what investigators say they found and why police specifically raised concerns about his former Church leadership position.FORMER LDS BISHOP FACES FELONY CHARGEShttps://www.abc4.com/news/crimes-against-children/former-lds-bishop-csam-charges/The LDS Church's massive investment portfolio is nearing another record high. New reporting from the Salt Lake Tribune looks at Ensign Peak's latest numbers and what the Church's stock holdings tell us about the continued growth of its financial reserves.ENSIGN PEAK NEARS ANOTHER RECORD HIGHhttps://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/08/28/lds-stock-fund-nears-record-high/The fight over the Heber Valley Utah Temple is heading to the Utah Supreme Court, and a Red Ledges resident is speaking publicly about the dispute and what it has meant for people living near the proposed temple site.HEBER VALLEY TEMPLE FIGHT HEADS TO UTAH SUPREME COURThttps://www.parkrecord.com/2026/08/31/red-ledges-resident-breaks-silence-ahead-of-utah-supreme-court-heber-valley-temple-arguments/Meanwhile, interest in the renovated Salt Lake Temple is enormous (or is it?). The Church says more than one million reservations have already been made for the public open house.ONE MILLION SALT LAKE TEMPLE TOUR RESERVATIONShttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/one-million-spaces-reserved-salt-lake-temple-tourAnd finally, Salt Lake City International Airport is adding a new Gateside by TSA PreCheck experience. We look at what's changing and why the airport story is getting attention in Utah.SLC AIRPORT ADDS GATESIDE BY TSA PRECHECKhttps://www.sltrib.com/news/2026/09/02/slc-airport-adds-gateside-by-tsa/___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

In Episode 272: Contention vs. Conversation, I explore a question that has come up repeatedly in my coaching sessions with missionaries: Does avoiding difficult conversations really create peace? Many missionaries have been taught that contention is not of Christ, but sometimes that belief leads them to stay silent, hide their thoughts, or avoid necessary conversations altogether. In this episode, we look more closely at what the scriptures actually teach about contention and why disagreement isn't the same thing as being contentious. Together, we'll explore the difference between cowering, controlling, and collaborating—three very different ways of approaching conflict and communication. I explain why shrinking yourself isn't the same as meekness, why trying to force someone to agree with you isn't Christlike leadership, and how healthy conversations can preserve both honesty and agency. We'll also look at Doctrine and Covenants 121, discuss the emotions that fuel our conversations, and walk through practical questions you can ask yourself before deciding whether a difficult conversation is necessary. If you've ever worried that speaking up might create contention, or if you've struggled to know when to have a conversation and when to simply let something go, I hope Episode 272: Contention vs. Conversation gives you greater clarity and confidence. My hope is that you'll discover that true peace isn't created by avoiding hard conversations—it's created by approaching them with humility, love, and a willingness to collaborate rather than control. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends.   00:00 – Introduction 00:55 – Why Missionaries Avoid Hard Conversations 04:28 – Is Disagreement the Same as Contention? 07:35 – Hiding Yourself Isn't the Same as Keeping the Peace 10:30 – Conversation Is Not Contention 12:11 – The Continuum: Cower, Collaborate, or Control 14:56 – Why Control Creates Contention 17:59 – What Healthy Collaboration Looks Like 21:27 – Questions to Ask Before Having a Hard Conversation 24:53 – Peace Isn't the Absence of Disagreement   Website | Instagram | Facebook   5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE   Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE   Free PDF Download:  Podcast Roadmap   Free PDF Download:  Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet   Free Training for Preparing Missionaries:  Change Your Mission with this One Tool   RM Transition Free Video Series:  3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home   Free Guide:  5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary   Schedule a Free Strategy Call:   Click Here  

We start with Three Things: the Lindsay Clancy murder trial jury is now on its sixth day of deliberations after telling the judge twice they're deadlocked — the defense is even seeking the removal of one juror, and mistrial chances are growing — plus France just recorded its hottest summer since measurements began. We break down your Labor Day travel, including UDOT tips on when to hit the road and when to stay put, and the TSA expects over 17 million passengers through checkpoints this weekend. Salt Lake City International Airport just launched "Gateside by TSA PreCheck," a new program that lets approved non-travelers go past security to meet people at the gate — and it could completely change how LDS missionary homecomings work. Plans are being discussed in Salt Lake City to build a concert venue in the Fairpark neighborhood right next door to the proposed MLB stadium, and the Miller family reportedly wants the ballpark to be a "national park". In News for the 1%, we dig into where there's a "mansion shortage." We talk travel tips, including the number-one mistake American tourists make abroad according to a former FBI agent, what actually happens if you don't put your phone in airplane mode, and U.S. destinations that feel international without needing a passport. And we wrap up with the AI Question of the Day.

In this new series on Mormon Stories Podcast, we're joined once again by historian Dr. John Turner to take an in-depth look at one of the most important –and complicated –figures in Mormon history: Brigham Young. Dr. Turner is the author of Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet, his acclaimed 2012 biography of the second president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John was recently our guest for an extensive series on his newer biography, _Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet_. In this episode, we begin at the beginning: Who was Brigham Young before he became the leader of the Mormon movement?John takes us through Brigham's early life, his difficult relationship with his father, his exploration of different religious traditions, his attraction to spiritual gifts and “ecstatic worship,” and his eventual conversion to Mormonism. We explore the religious environment that shaped Brigham Young and the broader culture of early Mormonism, including speaking in tongues, visions, healings, prophecy, and other spiritual manifestations. We also examine Brigham's relationship with his first wife, Miriam, his friendship with Heber C. Kimball, his early missionary experiences, and his first encounters with Joseph Smith. Along the way, we consider what made Brigham such a committed follower of Joseph Smith –and why Joseph recognized Brigham's loyalty even though their relationship was very different from Joseph's relationships with some of his other close associates. This episode offers a fascinating look at the making of Brigham Young before his transformation into the Mormon leader who would eventually guide thousands of Latter-day Saints across the American West.Some of the topics that we discuss in this first episode is Brigham's childhood, the harsh treatment on the part of his father, Brigham's Methodism and "ecstatic worship” along with his desire to find a church that had the gift of tongues, visions, healings, etc. We discuss the death of Brigham's first wife Miriam and how he handled his children afterward. We discuss his friendship with Heber C. Kimball and his missionary efforts as an elder in the church. We also discuss Brigham's friendship with Joseph Smith, his defense of Joseph, how he handled failed prophecies, and much more. If you wish to donate to support this series, please visit here: https://donorbox.org/brighamyoung___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

For this weeks Mormon News Podcast,  John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes dig into what Bloomberg uncovered about the Church's growing real estate empire, plus warnings about "baseball baptisms" and the push for convert growth, concerns about the Church's new Sunday meeting schedule, the sentencing of a polygamous sect leader, and a new LDS strategy for bringing nonmembers into local meetinghouses.Bloomberg's investigation examines just how much land The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owns across the United States and how its property holdings have grown. We look at the numbers, where that land is concentrated, and what the investigation reveals about the scale of the Church's real estate portfolio.Links:Bloomberg Digs Into the Church's Land Holdings: https://youtu.be/G0pU8s0hlJUHistorian Matthew Bowman warns against chasing membership growth at the expense of meaningful conversion, pointing to the infamous era of "baseball baptisms." What can that history teach us about today's emphasis on missionary numbers and Church growth?Links:Beware the "Baseball Baptisms": https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/08/26/be-wary-baseball-baptisms-quest/Changes are also coming to Sunday meetings. A new schedule means shorter classes and less transition time between meetings. Supporters see a more streamlined Sunday experience, while others worry about losing valuable time for discussion, connection, and community.Links:Is Sunday Church Getting Too Short?: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/08/26/mormon-land-podcast-we-dissect-new/We also cover the sentencing of polygamous sect leader Samuel Bateman, who was already serving a lengthy federal prison sentence and has now received additional prison time in Arizona.Links:Polygamous Sect Leader Sentenced: https://www.mormonnews.com/story/polygamous-sect-leader-faces-sentencing-after-girls-found-in-trailer-jskgFinally, we look at the LDS Church's "Activity Sharing" program. Public-facing ward activities can appear in online searches and allow nonmembers to find local events and RSVP. The Church is encouraging wards to make activities more accessible to outsiders, while its own success stories show these community events can also lead to Sunday attendance and contact with missionaries. We look at how this fits with new research being conducted among nonmembers who attend LDS activities.Links:The Church's New Activity-Sharing Push: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/activity-sharing-a-simple-way-for-latter-day-saints-to-invite-friends-to-church-ward-events___________________Show NotesYouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions