Mormon Stories Podcast

Welcome to part three of the Joseph Smith Podcast! In this episode, we explore one of the most pivotal and mysterious events in early Mormon history — the story of Martin and Lucy Harris and the infamous loss of the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript. With historian and non-Latter-day Saint scholar John G. Turner, we dive into the complexities of translation, belief, and the relationships that shaped the early Restoration movement.We also examine:- The discovery of the plates- Martin Harris’ background and motives- Lucy Harris’ suspicions and possible involvement- The cultural and religious context of the time- Theories about the Book of Mormon translation process- What the loss of the 116 pages reveals about Joseph Smith’s prophetic developmentThis episode also reflects on broader themes of faith, deception, historical interpretation, and the psychology behind religious movements. Whether you're a believer, skeptic, or historian, this deep-dive provides rich insight from a non-Mormon perspective.___________________ YouTube [https://youtu.be/3f2khKq8VR4] 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 [https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m] * Support us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories] * PayPal [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/mormonstories] * Venmo [https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories] Our Platforms: * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/mormonstories?sub_confirmation=1] * Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772] Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: * Insta: @mormstories [https://www.instagram.com/mormstories] * TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast] * Join the Discord [https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF]

Lindsay and Todd McCormick, a couple from Knoxville, Tennessee, share their powerful and emotional journey navigating faith, doubt, and community pressure within the LDS Church. From their musical Mormon upbringing and successful business ventures to being threatened twice with excommunication, this interview dives deep into the cost of questioning and choosing authenticity over conformity. They open up about their faith crisis, the controversial City Creek Mall, navigating parenthood in the church, and ultimately, their heartbreaking experience with betrayal from close friends and leaders. Through all of it, their love for each other and desire for truth remained steadfast. Topics include: -Faith deconstruction and polygamy -Church discipline and double standards -Excommunication threats and “apostasy” -Cultural expectations, identity, and healing -Choosing honesty over fear in Mormonism -Watch their raw and courageous story unfold. Contact Information: Lindsay on Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/lindsay.h.mccormick] Lindsay on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lindsayjane07] Todd on Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/todd.mccormick] Todd on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/toddaoskinao] Photobarn [http://www.photobarn.com] Lindsay's Photo Business [http://www.lindsayjane.com] 00:00:56 Introductions 00:03:14 Lindsay’s Mormon story 00:10:23 Gender expectations growing up 00:14:48 Lindsay started a photography business 00:17:15 Todd’s Mormon story 00:21:40 They met on her birthday and married in the Nauvoo Temple 00:24:06 When did their faith journey begin and their doubts? 00:25:47 How did the threats for excommunication start? 00:35:11 Todd didn’t feel inspired, he felt stagnant 00:36:30 They started their Photo Barn business and became successful overnight 00:41:55 Story of them in the temple and Lindsay thinking critically 00:43:33 Story of them in Sunday School and the prophets not leading them astray 00:50:21 The next catalyst happened on a ward temple trip 00:55:00 They chose to start over in all of their beliefs, taking subjects one by one, etc.  01:10:04 They realized the Doctrine and Covenants was a mess 01:16:22 The Word of Wisdom is confusing 01:29:20 They gave talks in Sacrament Meeting and were corrected publicly 01:31:08 “There is a case being built against the McCormicks” 01:33:55 Facing excommunication or baptizing their eight year old 01:37:13 Not being authentic can really hurt your physical and mental health 01:57:36 It’s a testament to how much they love the church that they attended for years 02:01:08 The person in the bishopric that worked for them that they let go 02:07:45 They got a message that the Stake President wanted to meet with them 02:12:05 They presented seven letters in a folder, less letters than before 02:17:58 Her friend repeated that Lindsay joked about wine 02:21:09 What happens when you get excommunicated  02:32:30 One critical part of the story - telling the leaders that they needed a warning 02:38:32 They were shocked when they found out that they were NOT getting excommunicated 02:41:49 How has the membership played out after this moment?  02:49:18 Nathan apologized for how he treated her when she left the church 02:59:14 I didn’t leave the church AT you, it’s just our path ___________________ YouTube [https://youtu.be/LcnghXOSn1s] 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 [https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m] * ⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories] * ⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠ [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/mormonstories] * ⁠⁠Venmo⁠⁠ [https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories] Our Platforms: * ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/mormonstories?sub_confirmation=1] * ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories] * ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404] * ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772] Social Media: * ⁠⁠Insta: @mormstories⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/mormstories] * ⁠⁠TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast] * ⁠⁠Join the Discord⁠⁠ [https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF] Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

In this second episode exploring Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet by John G. Turner, we dive into Chapters 2 and 3, covering Joseph Smith's evolving accounts of the First Vision, early controversies, treasure digging escapades, and his transformation into a religious leader. We discuss historical inconsistencies, cultural influences, and Turner's critical conclusions about Smith's experiences and motivations. Based on Chapters 2 & 3 of John G. Turner’s book, topics include: The First Vision's late emergence and conflicting versions Treasure digging and supernatural claims The influence of revivalist culture Early church documents and evolving theology Turner's secular interpretation of Joseph Smith’s story ___________________ YouTube [https://youtu.be/StncwKuMzLs] 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 [https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m] * Support us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories] * PayPal [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/mormonstories] * Venmo [https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories] Our Platforms: * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/mormonstories?sub_confirmation=1] * Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772] Social Media: * Insta: @mormstories [https://www.instagram.com/mormstories] * TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast] * Join the Discord [https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF] Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Brooke is returning to Mormon Stories Podcast after 13 years, when she and her husband came on as the first couple to be interviewed on the podcast. Brooke’s husband at the time, John McLay was a CES employee who lost his faith while working for the church. It was an epic Mormon Stories interview, and we are excited to hear what Brooke has been up to since. We will hear about how Brooke has rebuilt her life and career after a divorce, and how her life has been impacted by sharing her story in such a public way. ___________________ YouTube [https://youtu.be/-ectTcMzCVk] Show Notes [https://www.mormonstories.org/my-life-after-mormon-stories-with-brooke-lark/] 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 [https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m] * Support us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories] * PayPal [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/mormonstories] * Venmo [https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories] Our Platforms: * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/mormonstories?sub_confirmation=1] * Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772] Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: * Insta: @mormstories [https://www.instagram.com/mormstories] * TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast] * Join the Discord [https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF]

Today we are rebroadcasting an older, classic, episode of Mormon Stories from 2012!In this episode we interview John and Brooke McLay. John served for 14 years as an employee of the LDS Church Education System (CES). In this capacity he served as: a seminary teacher and principal, an institute teacher and director, a BYU Education Week speaker and an EFY Director. John also served as a member of a stake high council, and was serving in a bishopric during the months leading up to his decision to leave the LDS Church. John and Brooke resigned their membership of the LDS Church in August of 2011.  This is their story.Join us in the next episode where we re-interview Brooke Lark! ___________________ YouTube [https://youtu.be/KwNA52iGQXA] Show Notes [https://www.mormonstories.org/ces-director-and-wife-leave-mormonism-john-and-brooke-lark-mclay-rebroadcast/] 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 [https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m] * Support us on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories] * PayPal [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/mormonstories] * Venmo [https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories] Our Platforms: * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/mormonstories?sub_confirmation=1] * Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772] Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: * Insta: @mormstories [https://www.instagram.com/mormstories] * TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast] * Join the Discord [https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF]