Resumen del Editor

Mormon Stories Podcast is an attempt to build understanding between and about Mormons through the telling of stories in both audio and video formats.
Dr. John Dehlin
Episodios
  • Evil Changed Me: Lauren Matthias on True Crime Journalism and Her Mormon Faith—Pt. 2 | Episode 2041

    Evil Changed Me: Lauren Matthias on True Crime Journalism and Her Mormon Faith—Pt. 2 | Episode 2041
    Jul 16 2025

    In this intimate follow-up episode, journalist Lauren continues her powerful story—this time focusing on her path from reporter to advocate, wife, and co-founder of Hidden True Crime. Lauren shares the deeply personal journey that brought her to John Matthias, their relationship, marriage, and parenting as a mixed-faith couple—all while navigating the high-stakes world of reporting on religious extremism and the Lori Vallow Daybell case.

    She reflects on pivotal moments in Mormonism, including the excommunication of progressive voices, the Church’s stance on same-sex marriage, and the Ordain Women movement. As her career unfolds, Lauren breaks major stories from inside Mormon and FLDS communities, reporting from Hildale, Utah, and uncovering secrets in St. George.

    Her life is upended again by the Daybell case, which becomes the catalyst for launching Hidden True Crime. Balancing her professional calling with profound personal loss—her brother’s accident and coma—Lauren makes the gut-wrenching decision to attend Lori Vallow Daybell’s trial anyway.

    This episode is a moving reflection on belief, justice, trauma, love, and the power of storytelling to make sense of chaos.

    From breaking the Daybell story to building a platform

    A deeply personal account of faith, loss, and love

    Includes exclusive insight into Chad Daybell’s patriarchal blessing and courtroom revelations

    ___________________


    Show Notes

    YouTube


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    Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:

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    Contact us:
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    PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117


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    Más Menos
    2 h y 9 m
  • Hidden True Crime's Lauren Matthias Pt. 1 - Early Years and Journalism Career | Ep. 2040

    Hidden True Crime's Lauren Matthias Pt. 1 - Early Years and Journalism Career | Ep. 2040
    Jul 14 2025

    In this powerful and emotional episode, journalist Lauren tells her Mormon story publicly for the first time. Known for covering others’ experiences—including the high-profile Lori Vallow Daybell trial—Lauren now opens up about her own journey through faith, trauma, resilience, and healing.

    She shares her upbringing in the LDS Church, the influence of her legally blind father, and her early fears around death that led to a fascination with true crime. Lauren details her mission to Ohio, her shock upon learning about polygamy, and her love for investigative storytelling.

    The story takes deeply personal turns as she opens up about being diagnosed with MS, her father’s arrest and trial, her own struggles with mental health, sexual assault, marriage trauma, and the challenges of being a Mormon woman in journalism.

    From painful experiences to moments of empowerment in her career and community, Lauren’s account is raw, inspiring, and unflinchingly honest.

    Hear about her memoir

    Stay for the vulnerable reflections

    Support Lauren’s journey by watching to the end

    ___________________


    Show Notes

    YouTube


    Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!

    Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:

    • ⁠⁠One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠Venmo⁠⁠


    Our Platforms:

    • ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠


    Social Media:

    • ⁠⁠Insta: @mormstories⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast⁠⁠
    • ⁠⁠Join the Discord⁠⁠


    Contact us:

    MormonStories@gmail.com

    PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117
    Más Menos
    3 h y 50 m
  • Joseph Smith's Early Opposition & Forgotten Critics - John Turner Pt. 7 | Ep. 2039

    Joseph Smith's Early Opposition & Forgotten Critics - John Turner Pt. 7 | Ep. 2039
    Jul 10 2025

    In this episode, we dive into Chapter seven of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet by John G. Turner. We explore early public criticism of Joseph Smith by figures like Abner Cole, the satirical Book of Pukei, and Luman Walters' possible influence. We also examine Joseph’s efforts to sell the copyright of the Book of Mormon in Canada, what that reveals about his intentions, and the revelation that supposedly authorized it.


    We discuss how Joseph’s financial motives, revelations, and treatment of Martin Harris raise important questions, and consider the book's early lack of demand—even as Joseph continued to pivot and adapt. From legal troubles and claims of treasure seeking, to his revisions of the Bible and the rise of anti-Masonry, this episode looks at how Joseph’s evolving theology and personal ambitions shaped early Mormonism.


    We also tackle difficult questions around gender and divine authority: Why were no women, including Emma Smith, called as witnesses to the golden plates? What does Emma's role—and her sacrifices—say about the story Joseph told?


    This is a wide-ranging and thought-provoking installment that challenges the traditional narrative while offering rich historical context.


    **Topics Include:**

    - Abner Cole’s criticisms & Book of Pukei

    - Attempt to sell the Book of Mormon copyright in Canada

    - Revelations and motives: divine or self-serving?

    - Joseph’s treatment of Emma & women’s roles

    - Legal issues & treasure seeking

    - Bible revisions, anti-Masonry, and theology

    - Emma’s loyalty and legacy


    ___________________


    YouTube


    Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!

    Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:

    • One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox
    • Support us on Patreon
    • PayPal
    • Venmo


    Our Platforms:

    • YouTube
    • Patreon
    • Spotify
    • Apple Podcasts


    Contact us:
    MormonStories@gmail.com
    PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117


    Social Media:

    • Insta: @mormstories
    • TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast
    • Join the Discord
    Más Menos
    2 h y 7 m
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John Dehlin and Margy talk about faith deconstruction. I was never LDS, but raised Seventh-Day Adventist and similarly deconstructed from “the one true religion”

Riveted by stories of LDS church stories

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Everyone is at a different place in their journey relative to this religious community. The guests on this podcast are all so brave to share their stories. I recommend listening at 1.7 or 2.0 speed because many participants think and share slowly but intentionally, episodes are long, and there's a lot of content. I love the emphasis on informed consent and respecting people of all different backgrounds and experiences.

Real Conversations

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I love the way this podcast leads..not afraid of telling the past history of mormonism the good and bad .

Finally a fair and balanced view of Mormonism .

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This podcast covers all aspects of church history, culture, impact and doctrine. The early episodes focus more on how to maintain the faith in view of all the history and facts we were never told by the church, later episodes have a great focus on the impact the church and its truth claims, culture and politics have on members and ex-members.
To any believing members reading this, despite what you may hear, the facts presented in this podcast are accurate and verifiable, people can and do disagree about the interpretations, but faith is the hope of things that are *true*, faith in inaccurate history will not save anyone.

Great for believers and post Mormons alike.

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I love the LDS discussion episodes especially. They are put together very well and offer a fair insight into the history and truth claims of the church. I appreciate the unbiased way they offer information from church works and help connect dots. I wholeheartedly believe if the mission that John Dehlin states often - not to persuade members to leave the church, but to ensure they have informed consent.

Great Stories & Fact-finding

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I bought her book Live Map after listening. she is a great example of love

a positive message of love

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John Dehlin lost his faith and wants you to too. He is one of the devil’s most effective helpers. He and his associates pounce on everyone they can find who is wavering in their faith and seeks to destroy them and take down others with their deceit, while offering them absolutely nothing.
Jesus asked, “Will ye also go away?”
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

The Epitome of Anti-Mormon Literature

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Why wastes their time devoting so much to tearing down a faith. Boring performance, boring topic, waste of your time. If you want to know if a religion is true… ask God.

Bleeding babbling about stuff the guy doesn’t believe in.

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