Mormon Stories Podcast

Content Warning: Discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation.

In this episode of Mormon Stories, Gustavo Hernandez from Mexico City shares his experience growing up Mormon in Mexico, discovering difficult church history as a teenager, and ultimately choosing to remain an active, believing member of the Church while navigating doubt, anxiety, and faith crises. 

Gustavo opens up about the shame culture surrounding worthiness, pornography confessions, and perfectionism in Mormonism –including how teachings from leaders like Spencer W. Kimball deeply affected his mental health as a young teen. He discusses experiencing panic attacks, existential dread, and suicidal thoughts while trying to reconcile faith, church history, and his desire to feel accepted by God. 

Along the way, Gustavo encountered the CES Letter, Mormon Stories, exMormon Reddit, temple controversies, Joseph Smith’s polygamy, the priesthood ban, Freemasonry, and multiple First Vision accounts. Despite everything, he chose to stay active in the Church, serve a mission in Guatemala, and eventually became an institute teacher in Mexico. 

The interview includes topics like what it’s like being Mormon in Mexico, growing up in a predominantly Catholic culture, p*rnography shame and bishop interviews, faith crisis as a fourteen year old boy, the CES Letter and apologetics, mission burnout, mental health and suicidal ideation, remaining active after losing certainly, as well as current beliefs about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, polygamy, and LGBTQ issues. 
Whether you agree with Gustavo’s conclusions or not, his story offers an honest and nuanced look at faith, doubt, mental health, and what it means to stay.
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YouTube

At 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 theology
2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
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Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories 
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 
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📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF 

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

In this episode, John and Meggan examine several major stories shaping the current state of Mormonism, including new research on LDS disaffiliation and decline, increasing institutional strain on local leadership, financial fraud tied to prominent Utah business figures, and the continuing controversy surrounding the Fairview Texas temple.

•Drawing from research and analysis by Jeff Strong and team of researchers, we discuss what current membership and retention trends may reveal about blind spots devout Latter-day Saints have, the primary reasons for disaffiliation, how LDS trends compare with other denominations, gender differences in the decline, institutional trust, and why many members appear to be quietly disengaging from traditional LDS expectations.

•We also examine a recent Salt Lake Tribune report detailing how some Utah County prosecutors notify the church’s law firm when LDS bishops submit letters on behalf of criminal defendants, raising questions about ecclesiastical influence, legal systems, and institutional boundaries.

Additional topics include:

•A Church News livestream acknowledging how overwhelmed many LDS bishops have become while supporting young men

•The Noah’s Event Centers fraud convictions involving active Latter-day Saints and ongoing questions surrounding discernment
• The final public plea from the mayor of Fairview, Texas asking the church to reconsider the height of the proposed temple steeple in an effort to preserve community trust.

•The church battling insurers over sex abuse settlement coverage before the 10th Circuit Court

•And Charlie Bird and Ryan Clifford announced via social media this week that they have already begun the process to add a child to their family.

Together, these stories paint a larger picture of a church navigating growth, decline, public scrutiny, generational change, and increasing tension between institutional authority and individual experience.
___________________

YouTube

At 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 theology
2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m 
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories 
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories 
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories 

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join

Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories 
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories 
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF 

Contact us:
📧 [email protected]
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

In Part 2 of our series on Seventh-day Adventism, Melissa Spiers shares her personal story of growing up as a fourth-generation Adventist in a deeply religious family shaped by strict lifestyle rules, purity culture, and constant pressure to perform spiritually.

Melissa describes her experience navigating SDA education systems, thought control, and the intense expectations placed on young women within the church. She also discusses her eventual move away from Adventism, and the complicated relationship between religion, identity, and personal freedom.

Another major focus of this episode is Melissa’s discovery of abuse within her own family, the response from Seventh-day Adventist leadership, and the broader systems she believes protect abuse within high-control religious institutions. She shares how these experiences affected her relationships, mental health, and eventual religious deconstruction.

Throughout the conversation, Melissa reflects on healing, rebuilding life outside of religion, and the challenges many people face after leaving high-demand faith communities. We also discuss her new memoir, "Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows".

You can purchase it here.
___________________

YouTube

At 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 theology
2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m 
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories 
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories 
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories 

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join

Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories 
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories 
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF 

Contact us:
📧 [email protected]
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

For the first time on Mormon Stories Podcast, we’re diving into the world of Seventh-day Adventism. John sits down with Melissa Spiers, a former Seventh-day Adventist, to explore the history, beliefs, culture, and practices of the SDA Church—and to compare them with Mormonism along the way.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Melissa gives an overview of Seventh-day Adventist origins, theology, lifestyle standards, and church culture, while John and Melissa discuss some of the surprising similarities and key differences between the SDA and LDS traditions.

Then later this week in Part 2, Melissa shares her personal story of growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, her experiences within the faith, and the reasons she ultimately chose to leave.

If this topic interests you, be sure to check out Melissa’s book, "Holy Disobedience: Sex, Sin, and Secrets in the Biggest Church No One Knows."

You can purchase it here.
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Show Notes
YouTube

At 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 theology
2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m 
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories 
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories 
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories 

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join

Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories 
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories 
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF 

Contact us:
📧 [email protected]
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Welcome to our final episode in our Joseph Smith: The Podcast series, where we cover John Turner’s new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” In this episode, we explore the immediate aftermath of Joseph Smith’s assassination and the profound consequences that followed his family, plural wives, and the early Latter-day Saint movement.

The chapter we are covering today is the Epilogue.

We look at the chaotic hours and days after his death in Nauvoo, including how his body and Hyrum’s were handled, the conditions of their temporary burial, and the secrecy surrounding their remains. The episode also examines Emma Smith’s role in the aftermath --her grief, her control over Joseph’s body, and the difficult position she found herself in as both widow and critic of polygamy.

We also discuss how Joseph’s plural wives responded to his death, the emotional and political complexities of their mourning, and the uneasy reality of their realtionships with Brigham Young and other church leaders. From there, we move into the succession crisis that followed --how leadership shifted, why Brigham Young ultimately prevailed over Sidney Rigdon, and how competing visions of the church began to emerge.

Finally, we step back to consider Joseph Smith’s broader legacy, the scale of opposition he faced, and how his influence continued to shape American religious history long after his death.

If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!

Purchase John Turner’s book here.

Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.
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Show Notes
YouTube

At 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 theology
2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis
3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today
One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m 
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories 
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories 
Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories 

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6OgmoqJbOVRq-Lv1P7SzA/join

Our Platforms:
🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 
🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories 
✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 
🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 
🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories 
📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 
🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF 

Contact us:
📧 [email protected]
📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117