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Send us a text!Six years, six seasons, and one slightly delayed anniversary later—we're back, baby.After a summer filled with concerts, funerals, psychedelics, work transitions, travel plans, and an unreasonable number of DoorDash bananas, we catch up on everything that's happened during the break.Mike reflects on losing his job after sixteen years, finishing his dissertation proposal, and the strange polarity between newfound freedom and panic about what comes next. We also revisit the tribute concert for Kevin, remember Carolyn Elliott and the lasting impact of Existential Kink, and unpack a psychedelic journey that briefly descended into madness—and may have opened something in Mike's voice before nearly destroying it.Doug opens up about the unexpected death of his soulmate dog, Ozzie Bear, and the grief that followed. His dad offers one of the most beautiful lessons of the episode: “We share our grief with our loved ones so that they can help us carry it.”Finally, we return to our roots with a conversation about Mormonism: friends leaving the Church fourteen years after we did, institutional changes that feel more operational than prophetic, leadership roulette, the contradictions of personal revelation, and the absence of a clear moral voice in a moment that desperately needs one.Season seven begins exactly where it should: somewhere between grief and laughter, Mormonism and mushrooms, madness and meaning.Topics include:Remembering Carolyn ElliottKevin's tribute concert and the healing power of musicPsychedelic madness, ritual containers, and integrationLayoffs, freedom, fear, and life outside the cageWorld Cup withdrawals and Wrexham time-zone confusionGrieving Ozzie Bear and refusing to gatekeep griefWhy more longtime Mormons may be leavingOperational revelation, prophetic silence, and the Church as a businessContent note: This episode includes discussion of death, pet loss, psychedelics, and strong language.Want more? Our full archive of 200+ Mormons on Mushrooms episodes — past conversations, stories, and musical adventures — now lives in on Supercast.
In Part 2 with artist and ex-Mormon creator Shelise Ann Sola, we pick up with what happens after you walk away from the LDS Church: family fallout, reclaiming your body and sexuality from modesty/purity culture, and learning how to trust your own inner authority instead of a prophet, bishop, or priesthood holder. Shelise talks about healing religious trauma, unpacking scrupulosity and intrusive fears about hell and worthiness, and the messy, funny, and sometimes dark reality of building a new life, new boundaries, and new beliefs in the “post-Mormon” wilderness.We also get into her online work: TikTok, podcasts, art, and ex-Mormon memes as a form of grief processing and community-building, why Mormonism and other high-demand religions can feel a little bit culty, and what's actually helped her feel safe, connected, and spiritually grounded on the other side.Be sure to follow Shelise's podcast, Cults to Consciousness, on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, and Shelise at sheliseannsola.com and on Instagram @sheliseann.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In the first part of our conversation, artist, podcaster, and former Mormon Shelise Ann Sola joins us to talk about growing up in a devout Latter-day Saint (LDS) family. She internalized “perfect girl” expectations and slowly deconstructed the high-demand beliefs that shaped her identity and relationships. Shelise shares how modesty culture, purity messaging, temple worthiness interviews, and the LDS obsession with eternal marriage impacted her mental health, sexuality, and sense of self, and how leaving the church meant losing community, certainty, and family approval all at once. We also got into her creative life after Mormonism, why she started talking publicly about high-control religion and religious trauma, and how she now uses humor, art, and storytelling to help other ex-Mormons and faith-questioners feel less alone while they untangle what was spiritual from what was spiritual abuse.Follow Shelise's podcast, Cults to Consciousness, on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, and Shelise at sheliseannsola.com and on Instagram @sheliseann.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Don't wait. Go to Quince.com/culty for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.Join the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/culty.Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at RocketMoney.com/culty.Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Send us a textIn this episode of Saints in the South, we welcome a special guest — a devoted Southern Baptist — to join us for an open and genuine discussion about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Mormon faith, doctrine, and beliefs. This conversation opens the door for mutual understanding, honest dialogue, and unity among followers of Jesus Christ.Together, we explore thought-provoking questions such as:Are Mormons Christian?Do Mormons still practice polygamy?What is heaven, and what are the three degrees of glory?What is baptism for the dead?Once saved, are you always saved?...and more!Our goal isn't to debate, but to build bridges of faith — to discuss both our common beliefs and meaningful differences with love, respect, and open hearts. We believe that through understanding and conversation, all Christians can come together under the banner of Jesus Christ for a greater good.
December 23-29 Hello and welcome to Meridian Magazine's “Come Follow Me” Christmas podcast. We are Scot and Maurine Proctor and we love to celebrate the real reason for the season. Our gifts to each other are just symbols of the real gift.
December 16-22 I think it's fascinating that Moroni starts out chapter 10 by saying that he'd like to send these words to his brethren, the Lamanites. That is a fascinating view of Moroni's heart. He has seen the Lamanites completely destroy his nation. Because of the Lamanites, he remains alone. Because of the Lamanites, his father has been killed and all of his kinfolk and family are dead. Now, despite all this, he writes this most important message to his brethren, the Lamanites. How can any human be so full of the love of Christ?
December 9-15 Moroni Chapter 7 is a powerful sermon on faith, hope, and charity given by Mormon, but when? You can't help but wonder. He was born in AD 310, was made a general at the age of 16 and knew war most of his life until he had seen his whole nation destroyed. Was this sermon given at the time when he gave up leading the army? Isn't it fascinating that there were still enough faithful followers of Christ that he could preach in a synagogue? Who were these people and did they become wicked too, even with this powerful preaching? It is so hard to know, but what we do know is Moroni was wise to give us this significant teaching from his father.
December 2-8 Moroni did not know when he would die, attacked by Lamanites or some other deadly surprise, in his 36-year wandering. He tells his latter-day readers goodbye more than once on the plates. Yet even living with that insecurity, not knowing his own mortal future, Moroni trudges on with absolute faith.
November 25-December 1 Moroni may complain about his weakness with words, but he has given us one of the most insightful chapters on faith in all of scripture. We'll study it in this episode.
November 18-24 We go to a scene of spirits in the premortal world, anticipating. with perhaps some concern, their descent to a darkened world. We knew we would be taking a journey and must have wondered how we could make it across the wilderness where so much would be insecure.
November 11-17 Moroni told us in Mormon 8, “Behold, I would write…if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none”, so there is an untold story between these verses and the book of Ether. Somehow Moroni was able to get more ore and create plates because he gave us the marvelous book of Ether that introduces us to a whole new world.
November 4-10 As we start our studies today on Mormon 7-9, Moroni has taken over the record from his father and is in a tragic position. He has seen his culture destroyed and he is the last survivor of what was once a thriving world. Could anything be sadder than this?
October 28-November 3 Every time I read the Book of Mormon and get to these chapters, I always hope that the Nephites will repent and that their civilization and people will be spared—and then it happens every time! They are destroyed. And then another entire civilization, the Jaredites, are destroyed for the same reasons. We can't change their outcomes, but how about ours? Is there a message in here for us, right now, in our day?
October 21-27 When President Russell M. Nelson taught us that we needed to use the true name of the Church going forward, he was teaching us something deeper than we might have understood at the time. Something, in fact that can open up whole new realms of gospel understanding. Let's explore in this episode.
October 14-20 If you knew that the Lord Jesus Christ would spend the day with you and all who would come to the occasion from your home stake, what do you think He would teach you? What do you think He would do? What would be the most important truths He could communicate with you? What would YOU want to know from Him? Let's explore these thoughts and explore the record of actual witnesses to such a day.
October 7-13 Can you imagine the joy that would fill your souls if you were witnesses to the visitation of the Lord Jesus Christ? How could you possibly describe your feelings? How could you even handle the happiness that would overwhelm your whole being? The faithful who had gathered at the ancient temple in Bountiful had spent a number of hours with the Lord Jesus Christ and now it was time for Him to go. Carefully searching the record, we have some sense of how the people felt, but even more importantly we have an amazing view of the Savior's joy, His compassion and His love for His people.
September 30-October 6 If you were to do a survey to determine the most influential talk or sermon in history, surely the results would point to the Lord's Sermon on the Mount. Here are contained the eternal “beatitudes;” here is contained the Lord's Prayer spoken each week by untold millions of Christ's followers throughout the world; here we have “the golden rule.” The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most densely packed three chapters in all of holy writ. As an added bonus, when the Lord visited His other sheep in the ancient Americas, one of the first things He did was gave the same Sermon on the Mount text with some additional insights. When the Lord purposely repeats something, I think He really wants our attention!
September 23-29 How can you not be just thrilled with this week's readings? The entire Book of Mormon has been centered on one Person—Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer—and His coming to the earth and the promised visit to this righteous branch of the tribe of Joseph in the Americas. Lehi testified He would come. Nephi saw in vision that He would come. Jacob gave bold witness of His mission and His coming. King Benjamin, Alma the Elder, Alma the Younger, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Himni, Helaman—and many more—they all testified that HE, the Lord Jesus Christ, would come—and in this week's exciting readings—HE CAME!
September 16-22 I was pondering very early this morning as I looked out the window: “What if at 4:00 in the morning on a fall day I looked out the window and it was as bright as day? Would my heart take a leap and would I think: What is going on?!” It was pitch dark when I peered out my window and yet, we have record of an event in this week's reading, where untold thousands of people could not help but see this incredible, unforgettable sign of a day, a night and a day wherein there was no darkness. The righteous rejoiced and the wicked were struck with fear. We're going to look at a lot of contrasts together in this week's lesson.
September 9-15 In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites always think of themselves as the good guys. In a movie, they'd ride in wearing the white hat or the gold star, signifying their goodness. Yet, the Book of Mormon demonstrates that often the Nephites are relentlessly blind to their own wickedness and it is the Lamanites who are the most faithful and true. Enter the scene into the wicked Nephite city of Zarahemla: Samuel the Lamanite. The point is clear.
September 2-8 As Helaman chapter 7 opens, we see a prophet pleading with God for his people in great agony and heaviness of Spirit. The Gadianton robbers had usurped legitimate authority and taken over much of the government, the people have become corrupted and Nephi is deeply grieved for the wickedness which abounds. In a video for General Conference a little girl asked President Russell M. Nelson, “Is it hard to be a prophet? Are you, like, really busy?” He said, “Of course it's hard.” It wasn't because he was so busy that Nephi was finding it hard to be a prophetjust then. We'll talk about why in this episode.
August 26-September 1 In Helaman chapters 1-6, the Lamanites become the righteous and the Nephites the wicked. How does this switch come about? And the new enemy are the Gadianton robbers, who capture the allegiance of many of the Nephites. Things happen fast in the Book of Mormon, a roller coaster of righteousness and wickedness. I used to think it was hard to imagine such reversals and drama in such a short period of time, until we all entered these tumultuous times in our own nation.
August 19-25 The ten chapters that we look at today are about both the low and high points of the Nephite nation. This is a time of continual war, brought on in large part by the “contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity of the people of Nephi” (Alma 62:40) At the same time, just as the light shines more clearly in a darkened world, we see the power of goodness in Helaman's 2060 stripling warriors. The image of these young men carrying the banner of freedom and faith with such unflinching goodness is one that shines right into our hearts today.
August 12-18 You may get to the so-called war chapters in the Book of Mormon and wonder why Mormon bothered to include so many of them. Yet, he was a prophet who'd seen our day and if ever there were chapters as fresh and relevant as today's news headlines, here they are. They are filled with the best heroes, like Moroni, who hoist the title of liberty, the darkest villains, like Amalickiah who prosper by deceit and betrayal, and underscoring it all is an existential question: what is the price of freedom?
August 5-11 With only 239 chapters in the Book of Mormon and only 531 pages, would you take four of those chapters and 8 pages just to talk about one wayward missionary's story who committed a grievous sexual sin? Why would the Prophet Mormon think it was so important to include this story for our day? Let's explore this together.
July 29-August 4 We see many conversations in the Book of Mormon where fathers teach their sons and their impact changes not only their son's life, but the generations that follow. The lessons are profound. The impact overwhelming. If there was ever scripture that calls out for fathers to step into their parenting role with power, the Book of Mormon is it.
July 22-28 Alma has a hidden message in this week's readings. You all are familiar with the concept he teaches of having a particle of faith and planting a seed and nurturing it that it may grow. But what is that seed to grow into? What is the metaphor he wants us to understand? As we read and study this week's material you might think Alma the Younger is one of Lehi's students—he takes a chapter right out of the vision of the tree of life—and if you miss that part of the lesson, you miss one of the greatest teachings in the scriptures. Let's explore further.
July 15-21 It is surprising that an idea can at once be so popular, attracting people to give it passionate devotion, and at the same time be completely false. Why are people so often crazy enough to jump on a trend that is destructive or just plain foolish against their own best interests? Again and again, the Book of Mormon presents us smooth talking, powerful, intellectuals whose words corrupt the nation.
July 8-14 It's intriguing to me to ponder about why the great abridger of the ancient records, the Prophet Mormon, included some stories and not others in the text. No one in ancient times had the Book of Mormon. This book was written for us—for our day—for our time. So, why did Mormon include the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis? What possible application does this have for our time? What are we to learn from this almost unbelievable group of people who turned their whole souls to the Lord Jesus Christ and never waived thereafter? Let's explore this further.
July 1-7 Can you imagine if today you opened a mission call and it was for a 14-year mission to a violent people whose aim was to destroy you? You might think twice about that kind of call. Yet, the sons of Mosiah, Nephite princes who could have had a very different life, chose to go to preach to the Lamanites, a people described as “wild and a hardened and a ferocious people; a people who delighted in murdering the Nephites” (Alma 17:14). No wonder Mosiah was concerned about the safety of his sons, and sought counsel from the Lord, who gave him a promise.
June 24-30 Have you ever thought about Alma and Amulek watching the believers in Ammonihah burn? It is not just the pain that these are their tender converts. Could it be that Amulek's own family was among that group because he is in particular anguish after the event?
June 17-23 Here's an irony. In our day, when someone wants to change everything that is wrong with the world, they run for president. In the Book of Mormon, Alma, hoping to pull down the pride and craftiness and contentions among his people, saw no way to reclaim them except to give up his office.
June 10-16 I've always loved Alma chapter 5. It could be taken as the most introspective chapter in all of holy writ. Alma asks more than 40 questions of his listeners and really wants them to probe their spirituality in a deep way. But Alma wasn't just talking to the people in Zarahemla—he is talking to us. So, to put it in our language and context today: If you have received a witness of this great work, if you have felt those wonderful feelings of the Spirit in your life, if you came to know something was true at some point in your life; can you feel so now? Let's explore Alma's teachings together.
June 3-9 Hugh Nibley calls Mosiah 29 one of the most important treatises on political power ever written. In fact, the Book of Mormon has plenty to say about good and bad political leaders. Why does a spiritual book have so much to say about politics? We'll find out today.
May 27-June 2 When I was growing up and first learning about the story of Alma the Younger's conversion in the Book of Mormon, I always pictured him as a rebellious teenager who hung out with the four sons of Mosiah and together, the five of them wreaked havoc on the Church. If you look closely at the record and put the facts together, you come to know something altogether different.
May 20-26 I have often wondered what was on Abinadi's mind as the fire that would engulf and kill him burned hotter and hotter. Did he wonder if he'd been a good missionary, because after all, there wasn't a rush of converts from King Noah's court.
May 13-19 There are many times in our lives when we just have to stand up for the truth and, sometimes we stand alone. Has that ever happened in your life? Has it happened in the lives of your ancestors or the lives of your children? President Nelson said recently: “Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested.” (Nelson, Russell M., The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior's Second Coming, Ensign, April 2020.)
May 6-12 Elder Richard G. Scott said, “Help from the Lord always follows eternal law. The better you understand that law, the easier it is to receive His help.” The chapters that we are studying in this episode demonstrate just that.
April 29-May 5 Over our years of studies of the first 6 chapters of Mosiah we have all come to love King Benjamin and his marvelous teachings. We have the whole thing in our minds, don't we? The aged King Benjamin; the anointing of his son Mosiah to be the new king; the innumerable hosts of tents surrounding the temple and families in breathless attention to their servant King. We have the setting down pat, but what about the setting in our hearts—if King Benjamin were to send a text message to all of us, desiring to know if WE believed the words which he has spoken to US, what would be our answer? And what would be our proof?
April 22-28 Elder Neal A. Maxwell called the chapters we are studying today the “Manual of Discipleship”. Since Mormon could include only the hundredth part of the records he had available to him, this may be the reason he zeroed right in on King Benjamin's address and gave us so much of it. He knew we in the latter days would want to learn discipleship too.
April 15-21 I remember, following Enos's example, of going to the woods to pray in my life, in fact, more than once. Then, I recently was talking about Enos with a friend, and he said he, too, had gone to the woods to pray. I know Scot took Enos's example, but went to a mountain. I don't think the location matters because it can be right in our own bedroom, but there is something magnificent to learn about prayer from Enos in his book.
April 8-14 One of my favorite olive trees in the entire world is inside the walls of the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies in Jerusalem. I remember Truman Madsen telling us all about how it was long-lined from a helicopter all the way from the Galilee to the center. They were concerned about the shock of its journey, but they promptly planted it. And then it died…at least they thought it did. We'll tell you all about it.
April 1-7 When Jacob speaks at the temple in the book named after him, it is with both anxiety and boldness, setting an example for all us who have to teach the people we love in this difficult world. It is not a time to shy away from the truth.
March 25-31 I love the season of spring. I love the newness of life. I love the crocus, the daffodils and tulips just popping through the winter-hardened earth. I love the buds that magically appear on all the trees. I especially love the redbuds and the dogwoods that were the first to show in my home-state of Missouri on our forested farm. Most of all, though, I love the fact that “all things are created and made to bear record of [Jesus Christ]…things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of [Him].” (See Moses 6:63) What an exciting thing to talk about this week: the newness of life that comes and the celebration of Easter—the atoning sacrifice, death and resurrection of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
March 18-24 Any returned missionary will recognize the chapters we are studying this week. We used. many of these verses when it came time to challenge a serious investigator to make the commitment to be baptized. In all our readings and studies of 2 Nephi chapters 31-33, have we possibly missed some critical teachings for our own spiritual progress? Let's study together and see what we can find out.
March 11-17 Nephi, of course is heartbroken because he has seen in revelation the destruction of his people. He says, “O the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of my people” (2 Nephi 26:7). He says it consumes him. But he is given a promise of comfort. What is it? We'll talk about it in this episode.
March 4-10 I love that language of Nephi as he adds so much of Isaiah into his small plates. He says that he delights in the covenants of the Lord. (pause) That's certainly a theme throughout the Book of Mormon. He delights in the Lord's grace, justice, power and mercy. This is all code language for rejoicing in the atonement of Jesus Christ. And Nephi delights in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death. These expressions of joy are in relation to the words and writings of Isaiah. That should get us excited about the materials we are studying this week!
February 26-March 3 There was a story told of a man in war and in the heat of the battle he was shot in the chest. By a miracle he was spared being killed. As he was taken back to the safety of the nearby camp, he was examined and he had a small copy of the Book of Mormon he had been carrying in his uniform. They opened the book and the bullet had penetrated only into about the middle of 2 Nephi—right in the heart of the Isaiah chapters. It was said that even a speeding bullet couldn't get through Isaiah—well, let's try to prove that wrong today. Let's have some fun studying these seemingly difficult chapters together!
February 19-25 Do you know how many times the word “plan” shows up in the Book of Mormon? 66 times! How about in the Old Testament—only three times, and none of these is talking about the plan of salvation. The New Testament has no mention of “plan” at all.
February 12-18 One of the most exciting discoveries in reading the Book of Mormon is when we come upon quotations and extracts from the plates of brass! This is that ancient, sacred record that the sons of Lehi returned to Jerusalem and risked their lives to obtain. This is a record much larger than our Old Testament and it contains the prophecies, promises and covenants of the Lord from ancient times. And this week, we get to study one of the most significant prophecies given by Joseph of Egypt that we have record of.