You may not recognize the name John Dehlin. But you should. Not just because John took Renee Zellweger to an LDS Church dance (Hear the story in the podcast) but because John is a pioneer in the “Mormon Blogosphere and Podcasting arena.”
I will site his Wiki entry so I don’t have to type it.
” In September 2005, after finding reasons to stay a member of the LDS Church, Dehlin created the Mormon Stories podcast as an open discussion of Mormon issues with the intention of giving listeners reasons to remain in the church. Listenership eventually reached over 10,000 downloads per episode. At its height, the show was broadcast on KVNU in Logan, Utah.[13] Gaining notability, Dehlin was quoted in June 2007 for stories by The New York Times and Good Morning America, discussing Mitt Romney and Mormonism.
In June 2007, Dehlin started Mormon Matters as a blog and weekly podcast, with the intention of eventually becoming a radio show. The format was a discussion panel on events, culture, politics and spirituality within Mormonism. Panelists were to represent different sides of each issue, although the show later struggled to retain regular conservative LDS panelists. In early 2008, Dehlin converted Mormon Matters into a group blog and lessened emphasis on new podcast episodes. Dehlin resumed the Mormon Matters podcast on March 5, 2011 with Dan Wotherspoon as the host, and Joanna Brooks as a frequent co-host.
Dehlin is also the co-founder of the Mormons for Marriage website (a pro-gay marriage site) and Stay LDS, a community dedicated to helping unorthodox Mormons stay in the LDS church if that is their desire.”
John also has a shady past with “The Cultural Hall.” He has been not only a tremendous support to us, but is also one of the reasons it took so dang long for us to get this podcast together.
We’ll be saving a seat for you on the back row.
Richie T and Lauren
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
This was Awesome! I am really enjoying your podcast. Good job.
Maybe for your catchphrase just have on person say it. “We’ll be seein yah on the back row here at the Cultural Hall.” Saying it together sounds too cute! 🙂
Maybe for your catchphrase just have one person say it. “We’ll be seein yah on the back row here at the Cultural Hall.” Saying it together sounds too cute! 🙂
yes
Richie, you asked about reliable sources for Mormon History. I would recommend that you read “Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling” by Richard Lyman Bushman as a start. Bro. Bushman is a former stake president and, currently, is a patriarch. He’s also an emeritus history professor at Columbia University. In writing his biography of Joseph Smith, he even asked President Packer to give him a blessing to help him write. Some secular historians have accused Bushman of being too fair in his treatment of Joseph Smith, but I think he did a pretty good job of showing the good and bad of Joseph Smith from the most reliable sources.
D. Michael Quinn’s “Mormon Hierarchy” books are another example of great source material. Dr. Quinn once had nearly unrestricted access to many Church historical documents, and did an excellent job of indexing and citing source material for the reader (in case you want to follow-up to see original sources).
John is right though. Fawn Brodie’s Joseph Smith biography, “No Man Knows My History,” may be the quintessential bio of the prophet. Many of the things that we know about the prophet today, both in and outside of the Church, were brought to light by Mrs. Brodie (for good and bad).
I have to admit that this has been my least favorite episode thus far. While other episodes have been entertaining, informative and even uplifting, this one was different.
I felt like this episode was trying to challenge or damage my testimony instead of adding to it. This episode upset me at times and, after it was over, I just felt frustrated. There were a number of things which John Dehlin said that I just didn’t agree with. Maybe you two didn’t agree with him, either, but you never really challenged him or questioned his “facts” and opinions.
I guess I expected this podcast to be a “safe” place, where I didn’t have to worry about the philosophies of the world seeping into doctrine. However, this episode made me realize that I’ll have to keep my guard up, even in The Cultural Hall, just in case.
I am glad to hear he let you have the URL, though.
JR, what did John say that you disagreed with? Just curious. I didn’t hear John say anything that wasn’t factual.
I agree with you JR. John is trying to pass himself off as a semi-active member who just disagrees with modern teachings in the church. People like him started the RLDS church as well as the FLDS church because they didn’t like what the new leadership was teaching. They refuse to believe that modern day revelation exists and that though the basics of the gospel are unchanging, some of the rules may be adjusted to try people’s faith.
I liked this episode and I am glad to know there are other free thinking Mormons out there who value the church but don’t take everything on the surface of the church at face value. I have questions and I have opinions that may be contrary to the standard Mormon. John gives me perspective that there is a discussion going on with other LDS members who still believe. Just like the Jewish community there is orthodox and a more liberal community. It’s good to know that there are like minded members out there like me.
I, like others who have commented, felt this episode was not good. Kirby’s was so spiritual and really increased my testimony. This one, on the other hand, was the opposite. John Dehlin frequently states that the Church was different when it first started and changed within the last 50 years to fit the interpretation of the leadership at the time, and that is a sign that some of our current teachings are incorrect. This really discounts a vital teaching within the church that the lord continues to give revelation. This is something that makes us different than all other churches.
I know this podcast isn’t Church sponsored and should be treated as opinion, but I hope as representatives of our faith, whether called to be that way or not, you will be more discerning about what you put out there. I choose not to visit any of John’s links because I feel his goal in life is to make people question their faith through things that happened 150 years ago instead of listening to the Holy Ghost’s prompting about what is true.
Sorry for the seriousness; I really do love this podcast and look forward to future uplifting episodes.
Get up on the Rameumptum! Haha!
What bothers me about this is that he presents ideas that the church supposedly ‘teaches’ that don’t fit in the 21st century, when the things he says the church supposedly ‘teaches’ are not the things that I have been taught. Not that it hasn’t been taught in the past, but it’s not what is being taught today as doctrine (example-birthcontrol, just to name one). Lots of things I say ok and even applaud for, and other things that, well, he really needs to rethink or re-research, just plain pray about. 🙂 Not as uplifting, but interesting podcast.
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get
three e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service?
Thanks!
Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So good to find someone with some authentic thoughts on this subject. realy thanks for starting this up. this web site is something that’s wanted on the net, somebody with slightly originality. helpful job for bringing something new to the internet!