Mormon Stories Podcast

Are They Credible?

Mormon Stories has significantly compromised its credibility as a source of accurate and unbiased information about the Church. Their documented history of harmful behavior toward both Church members and their own community has undermined the strength of their message, reducing it largely to rhetoric.

MORMON STORIES THREATS OF VIOLENCE

Mormon Stories publicly states its mission as "promoting understanding, healing, growth, and community for individuals experiencing or affected by religious transition". However, their mission is called into question by their decision to publish a video featuring a guest making violent threats against Elder Dallin H. Oaks.

MORMON STORIES DISRESPECT - PORNOGRAPHY

Even knowing how sacred the temple ceremony is to members of the Church, Mormon Stories published an interview with a guest who filmed and published the temple ceremony online and also expressed the desire to make an adult film in the temple.

MORMON STORIES CALLS OUR SAVIORS ATONEMENT "AN INSIDIOUS DOCTRINE"

Mormon Stories CEO called our Savior's Atonement an "Insidious Doctrine". The Prophet Mormon said: "Wherefore I show unto you the way to judge...whatsover thing persuadeth men to believe NOT in Christ, and deny Him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knoweldge it is of the devil."

Moroni 7:17

MORMON STORIES ABUSE OF WOMEN

Mormon Stories frequently criticizes the treatment of women within the Church—a perspective not shared by the majority of women who are members. Notably, however, 19 women who have worked directly with or under the CEO of Mormon Stories have publicly condemned him for abusive behavior toward women.

Open Letter from 19 Women who worked with the CEO at Mormon Stories:

We Do Not Support [CEO Name]

[CEO Name] has long used Mormon and x-Mormon women to mask his bad behavior.

He has used our talents, time, movements and reputation to bolster his brand and enrich himself. He takes advantage of vulnerable people in crisis, who are in legitimate need of help and community. When women come forward with critiques of his behavior or allegations of wrongdoing he retaliates by lashing out at them and attempting to publicly discredit them.

We have had enough.

Many of us have worked with him in the past, and want to make clear that we no longer do and don’t encourage any other women to do so. It’s not safe. We refuse to be used as a mask for abuse.

We think it’s a better use of everyone’s time and investment to support other folks building community and providing resources for exiting Mormonism. If you need therapy, you should seek out a professional who is actually licensed by the state to provide those services. If you need community (as we all do), you should seek out people who don’t regularly tear down women who disagree with them. It’s time we reconsider giving so much energy and support to someone who has the potential to do so much harm.

[CEO Name] often attempts to paint criticism as an “attack” and is an expert at making himself the victim.

This is not an attack. It’s a clarification of values. Our values are to support and believe women.

We invite you to do the same.

____________________________________

Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women

Jenn Kamp, former co-host of Mormon Stories Podcast and Director of Operations for Open Stories Foundation (Open Stories Foundation)

Joanna Smith, Ordain Women founding Board Member

Amy Grubbs, former Director of Operations for Open Stories Foundation (Open Stories Foundation)

Sharon Price, former Events Coordinator for Open Stories Foundation (Open Stories Foundation)

Dr. Kristy Money

Dr. Amber Choruby Whiteley

Dr. Mica McGriggs

Marisa McPeck-Stringham, MSW, CSW

April Carlson, LCSW

Aimee Evans Hickman, former editor-in-chief of Exponent II

Emily Clyde Curtis

Chelsi Barnard Archibald

Tresa Brown Edmunds

Hannah Wheelwright

“Rosebud,” representing herself and the many women [CEO Name] has intimidated into silence

Jaynee Talbot

Leanne Sawyer

Raina Kimball

MORMON STORIES LGBTQ MISTREATMENT

Mormon Stories Censured by LGBTQ Agencies

Mormon Stories often criticizes the LDS Church’s stance on the LGBTQ community in their videos. Ironically, the organization itself has faced formal censure from Equality Utah, Equality Arizona, and Equality Wyoming for its treatment of LGBTQ individuals within the Church.

MORMON STORIES RACISM

Although the Priesthood ban was officially lifted in 1978, Mormon Stories persists in accusing the Church of racism. Ironically, this video reveals their own current racial bias toward a Black member of the Church.

MORMON STORIES MISINFORMATION

In their efforts to solicit donations, Mormon Stories significantly misrepresented their financial status, employing misleading tactics toward the very individuals who support them—their own followers.

MORMON STORIES MOTIVATED BY MONEY

Public IRS filings show that Mormon Stories reported approximately $1.1 million in revenue in 2024, a slight decline from 2023 that coincided with reduced subscriber growth and viewership. Despite the revenue decrease, combined compensation for the organization’s CEO and his spouse reached a record $308,640. The organization’s funding model relies primarily on donations and fee-based services tied to a faith crisis. The more faith they shake, the more money they make

Mormon Stories' 2024 CEO (Plus Wife) Salary - $308,000

Mormon Stories Growth Rate is Declining

Strong data suggests that Mormon Stories is starting to see a significant decline in both Subscribership and Viewership of their YouTube channel.

SUMMARY

In a court of law, the credibility of a witness is paramount. If a witness is shown to exhibit questionable behavior or stands to gain personally from their testimony, their statements are often deemed unreliable and may be dismissed.

Mormon Stories has engaged in behavior that includes threats of violence, contempt toward the Church, dissemination of misinformation, ridicule, mistreatment of women and LGBTQ individuals, and profiting from the faith crises they have helped foster. Such conduct undermines the validity of any accusations they make against the Church or its leaders.

As Neal A. Maxwell aptly stated, “Studying the Church through the eyes of its defectors is like interviewing Judas to understand Jesus.”

The choice ultimately rests with you: you may invest months or even years scrutinizing their claims because you accept their words at face value, or you may critically assess their motives and integrity—and consequently reject their testimony.

This brings us back to a foundational truth: the most reliable and enduring source of understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not come from critics or apologists, but directly from God through the Holy Ghost, who is, after all, the ultimate source of all truth.

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