Mormon Stories - LDS

In this 4-part series, we interview Richard Packham -- co-founder of the Ex-Mormon foundation. Throughout the interview and via Richard's own personal story, we explore 3 ways in which the LDS Church creates unnecessary enemies: 1) By not being honest about its own history (e.g. teaching accurate history), 2) By breaking up families (when one no longer believes), and 3) By harming the loved ones of those who have left the church. To conclude (part 4), Richard discusses the benefits of religious belief in general and the LDS church specifically, along with the mission of the ExMormon foundation, and bears a final testimony regarding the joy/happiness he has experienced since leaving the church. NOTE: The purpose of this interview is NOT to encourage people to stay or leave the LDS church. It is simply to: 1) Seek to understand and to validate the path of those who have felt compelled to leave the church, and 2) Explore ways in which the church can seek to no longer create unnecessary enemies.

In this special episode, BYU History Professor Dr. Michael MacKay share a 1 hour presentation exploring science, evolution, religion, and the LDS Church with Dr. Michael Ruse, one of the world’s leading experts in the philosophy of science, and author of the book: ”Can a Darwinian be a Christian? The Relationship between Science and Religion“, published by the University of Cambridge Press in 2001.

In this three-part episode, Dr. David Bailey (an award winning scientist and Stanford-educated Mathematician) discusses a brief history of the LDS Church and science, the state of science within the church today, and how he reconciles faith and science in way that actually strengthens his faith.

In this three-part episode, Dr. David Bailey (an award winning scientist and Stanford-educated Mathematician) discusses a brief history of the LDS Church and science, the state of science within the church today, and how he reconciles faith and science in way that actually strengthens his faith.

In this three-part episode, Dr. David Bailey (an award winning scientist and Stanford-educated Mathematician) discusses a brief history of the LDS Church and science, the state of science within the church today, and how he reconciles faith and science in way that actually strengthens his faith.

In this three-part episode, Dan and Laurie Gallagher discuss Laurie's loss of testimony as Dan remained a believer -- and how they both worked through their issues to actually improve their marriage and family relationships.

In this three-part episode, Dan and Laurie Gallagher discuss Laurie's loss of testimony as Dan remained a believer -- and how they both worked through their issues to actually improve their marriage and family relationships.

In this three-part episode, Dan and Laurie Gallagher discuss Laurie's loss of testimony as Dan remained a believer -- and how they both worked through their issues to actually improve their marriage and family relationships.

In this three-part episode, long-time listener Glenn brings on his divorced parents and fellow siblings to discuss the family divorce from an LDS perspective.

In this three-part episode, long-time listener Glenn brings on his divorced parents and fellow siblings to discuss the family divorce from an LDS perspective.

In this three-part episode, long-time listener Glenn brings on his divorced parents and fellow siblings to discuss the family divorce from an LDS perspective.

Janet Bennion is an associate professor of anthropology, specializing in alternative sexuality in nontraditional religious movements in the Intermountain West, specifically among Mormon fundamentalist polygynists. She has a Ph.D. in Anthropology from University of Utah and a Masters in Social Organization from Portland State University. Her doctoral expertise lies in cross-cultural perspectives of sexuality, gender and society, and women of the fundamentalist world. Her scientific publications include two major ethnographic works and two comparative analyses of Mormon polygynous women, as well as many peer-review journal articles. Women of Principle: Female Networking in Contemporary Mormon Polygyny (Oxford University Press 1998) offers an in-depth study of gender roles and sexual norms in the Apostolic United Brethren sect in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana, cataloging women's conversion stories. This ethnography shows that while abuses do exist, some women achieve ironic ascendance and satisfaction in fundamentalism. Desert Patriarchy (University of Arizona Press 2004) presents her theory explaining the role of the desert environment (Chihuahua, Mexico) in the development and maintenance of a patriarchal gender ideology. Her model identifies several factors -- male supremacy, female network, non-secular education, imbalanced sex ratios, alternative sexuality, and circumscription -- which work to facilitate the longevity of desert patriarchal communities.

In part 4 of a 4 part series with LDS Anthropologist Daymon Smith, we discuss the new City Creek Mall project, and some final reflections on the corporate LDS church for the 21st century and beyond.

In part 3 of a 4 part series with LDS Anthropologist Daymon Smith, we discuss the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- and the implications for the church of running a massive, multi-billion dollar corporation.

In part 2 of a 4 part series with LDS Anthropologist Daymon Smith, we discuss the formation of the correlation department within the LDS church, and its effects on the church today.