Mormon.ish

What do a $9 billion blood-testing startup and a church with a multibillion-dollar investment portfolio have in common? On Mormonish, we look at how Theranos and the LDS Church protected their reputations, kept information out of public view, and responded to people who asked hard questions. From the powerful names on Theranos’s board to the senior Church leaders who approved Ensign Peak’s shell-company filings, we follow the people who lent these institutions their authority. We dig into nondisclosure agreements, reports of private investigators following Theranos whistleblowers, and the LDS Church’s trademark lawsuit against Mormon Stories. We also look at what happens when secrecy gets called “confidentiality” and people who raise concerns are encouraged to doubt themselves. When you’ve trusted an institution for years, what does it cost to question it out loud?

You’ve left Mormonism… now what? Finding your people and building a new community can feel overwhelming, but our guest, Corrick Knight, hopes to make it easier—and a lot more fun—with the MoNoMo app! On this episode of Mormonish, we talk with Corrick Knight about the one-stop resource he created to help post-Mormons connect, explore, and build fulfilling lives after leaving the LDS church. MoNoMo brings together news, helpful resources, local and online groups, events, and opportunities to make new friends. With spaces to network, discuss, journal, and even vent, its engaging design puts you at the center of your own growing community. Join us as we explore what the app offers, why Corrick created it, and what he hopes it will accomplish for people navigating life beyond Mormonism. Whether you’re newly out or years into your journey, this conversation is all about finding connection—and discovering what comes next! Links: https://monomoapp.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6820222860 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.knightdevelopers.monomo Know a post-Mormon group or event that isn't listed? Email [email protected].

Mormonish and The Good Book Club are joined by the wonderful Matthew Harris to discuss his book "The Founding Fathers and the Debate over Religion in Revolutionary America" co-authored with Thomas S. Kidd.) Our discussion explores whether America was built as a secular republic or a Christian nation. Matt's book shows the Founders' beliefs varied widely. Some were skeptics like Thomas Paine, while others were traditional Christians like Patrick Henry. Despite these differences, most rallied around core religious principles such as: Human Equality: The belief that people were created equal.Religious Liberty: The separation of church and state, requiring the disestablishment of state-backed religions. And Public Virtue: The necessity of strong moral character for a republic to survive. This is a fascinating and timely discussion as Matt shares many stories and insights into the founding of America and what the lens of Mormonism does to the narrative.

Can Mormons celebrate Halloween? It depends on who you ask! On this episode of Mormonish Podcast, Rebecca and Landon are joined by the wonderful Lila Tueller to explore LDS Halloween traditions and the dos and don’ts of this delightfully terrifying holiday from an LDS perspective. From ward parties and trunk-or-treats to witch costumes and spooky decorations, Halloween offers plenty of opportunities for fun—and some interesting questions about where to draw the line. When does a harmless scare become an invitation to something sinister? Why do some families embrace the holiday while others approach it with caution? And who decides which Halloween traditions are a little too spooky for the Saints? With humor, personal stories, and lively conversation, we explore the intersection of faith, fear, folklore, and fun. Grab your candy, put on your favorite costume, and join us for a Halloween conversation with plenty of Mormonish treats!

What goes bump in the night in Mormon history? And why do stories of spirits, mysterious encounters, and messages from beyond continue to fascinate us? Join us for a special Halloween episode of Mormonish Podcast as we explore spooky stories from Mormon history alongside ghost stories submitted by our social media community. From encounters with departed loved ones to experiences that are a little harder to explain, these stories offer a glimpse into the mysterious side of Mormon belief and culture. We also talk about why people tell ghost stories in the first place. They can bring us together, offer comfort about life after death, pass along warnings, and help us make sense of experiences we don’t fully understand. What happens when those stories are viewed through a Mormon lens, with its teachings about spirits, ancestors, and the world beyond the veil? Turn down the lights, grab some Halloween candy, and join us for an evening of eerie tales, thoughtful conversation, and a few good chills!

Could a new data center put an important piece of Mormon history at risk? On this episode of Mormonish, John Hajicek and Ron Yorgason join us to explore John’s research into the historic Arthur plantation property near Liberty, Missouri, where a data center development raises questions about preserving the past. John shares his findings connecting the property to early Mormon history, Book of Mormon witness graves, and accounts of a reburied bone attributed to Zelph. We discuss the evidence, what remains uncertain, and what could be lost if these historical connections are overlooked. Will the LDS Church weigh in or take steps to help preserve this site? Could other Mormon denominations, historical organizations, or preservation groups get involved? We explore who might advocate for protecting this history—and whether there’s still time to make a difference.

In this episode, Ron Yorgason and Sarah Smith join Mormonish to discuss the Facebook support group they’ve started for parents who have stepped away from Mormonism while their children are serving—or preparing to serve—LDS missions. The group offers a place for post-Mormon parents to connect, share experiences, and talk through the challenges of navigating faith differences between themselves and their children. Many of these parents raised their children in Mormonism and encouraged them to want to serve missions, but later stepped away from the faith themselves. The group can also offer practical advice for situations that may arise during an LDS mission. At the group’s heart is a shared goal: loving and supporting their missionaries while maintaining positive, meaningful relationships across differing beliefs.

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A $2 million donation—and a quiet return. With the LDS Church now donating $3 million to the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, TX, we’re revisiting our episode about the First Americans Museum’s decision to return the church’s $2 million gift. The LDS church also previously donated $2 million to the International African American Museum in South Carolina. The common thread? Each museum partnership includes a FamilySearch genealogy center, connecting the church’s financial support with a presence inside institutions dedicated to preserving Black and Indigenous history. Genealogy can help visitors reclaim family stories, but FamilySearch is also operated by the LDS Church, where genealogy serves a religious purpose tied to temple ordinances for the deceased. How do those overlapping interests shape these partnerships—and why did the First Americans Museum give the money back? Join Mormonish as we explore philanthropy, faith, and who gets to tell a community’s story. This episode originally aired in October 2023.

“When the prophet speaks, the conversation is over.” “Follow the brethren.” “It’s wrong to criticize leaders, even if the criticism is true.” “This will all be sorted out in the next life.” “Doubt your doubts.” Sound familiar? Mormonish welcomes Unoriginal Jim to explore 40 thought-stopping phrases in Mormonism—and how they can shut down critical thinking and meaningful conversations. A thought-stopping phrase is a short, familiar saying used to dismiss questioning, doubt, or further discussion rather than address the issue itself. Steven Hassan discusses this technique in his work on undue influence and how it discourages independent thinking. We’ll unpack these familiar phrases, why they’re effective, and what happens when we stop accepting them as answers. How many do you recognize? What others can you add? You won’t want to miss this episode!

In Episode 10 of this series, Patrick presents the final, and strongest, set of textual clues that point to the Book of Mormon’s author. First, he reviews the claim that the theology in the text is the result of early Joseph Smith Sr exposure with the “seeker” movement. Next, he demonstrates that two phrases from the regional dialect of the Ohio/western Pennsylvania area (where Rigdon grew up) appeared frequently in the original text of the book. Patrick then leverages a recent Mormonism Live episode that reviews Rob Terry’s online article describing the dozens of obscure 19th century non-Biblical phrases in the Book of Mormon, and which religious books they might have originated in. This is an area of research ripe for academic study! But a few examples illustrate the point that the Book of Mormon author was likely well educated, well read, and familiar with higher level theological thought. Next, Patrick leverages another recent Mormonism Live episode that reviews Campbellism theology in the Book of Mormon. He lists two dozen points of Campbellite, or “Disciple” doctrine—most of which would be very familiar to the Mormon or LDS community—even today. He explains where the Campbell movement was physically located and which religions were primary in the Palmyra area where Joseph grew up. After a quick review of Joseph’s religious leanings (Methodist), Patrick demonstrates an amazing discovery—that the theology of the Book of Mormon lines up exactly with Rigdon’s personal theology! Further, the areas where Rigdon disagrees with the Campbells, those doctrines show up in the Book of Mormon with Rigdon’s view in all cases. There is even a change in the doctrine of the sequence of conversion that changes in Rigdon’s view during the dictation of the Book of Mormon—and his new view shows up after that point in the dictation sequence! The new view contradicts the prior position in the text. Patrick breaks out an Excel spreadsheet to compare the long list of doctrines from Campbell and Rigdon that map to the Book of Mormon and shows how the doctrines of the Methodists and other restoration churches contradict the Book of Mormon on most points of doctrine. Join us for a thoughtful look at the evidence behind one big question: who authored the Book of Mormon?