Everything I've Always Wanted to Ask Ex-Mormon John Dehlin, Answered ft. @mormonstories

John Dehlin is usually the one asking the tough questions in his Mormon Stories interviews. This time, I turn the tables and find out some of the most shocking things he's heard in his 25+ years of experience podcasting, how he handles the spotlight, public smearing, how it impacts his family life, his current beliefs and more!

00:00 Intro
00:02:06 The most shocking things you've heard in an Interview?
00:25:36 What inspires you to keep going?
00:33:32 How do you deal with the negative criticism?
00:46:46 How does your family handle your role as the ultimate apostate?
00:52:57 What are your current spiritual beliefs?
01:03:00 What is the most difficult thing about no longer being LDS?
01:06:32 The benefits of having the podcast?

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About John:
Dr. John Dehlin, who has a A PHD in counseling psychology started the Mormon Stories podcast in 2005 and is the #1 Mormon themed podcast out there which provides an important resource in helping others through their faith transitions. He’s been featured on a variety of other podcasts and news outlets and is holding the church accountable for their actions & informational control.

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Theme Song Produced and Composed by Christian Guevara

**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**

[sharonhamm]

John's comments about the repercussions that his kids received in the community because of what stance their dad took with the Mormon church is very telling. It reflects the character of those calling themselves Christians who do bullying instead of love and compassion.

[jonb]

JOHN! Your work is immeasurable. I checked all the boxes as a Mormon, like mission, BYU, married in the temple, demanding church callings and even rubbed shoulders with the "elite" boys' club. The one thing I still believe after leaving the "church" is seeking and spreading truth.
I am 100 times the person I used to be, and I have helped more marriages and lives in the last nine years than my previous 45 years as a member. 75 percent of my search for truth has started from your amazing "Mormon Stories" episodes.

[kerstinklenovsky]

You two are only getting so much criticism because you are doing a damn good job.
Please don't quit you two. Ever.
You are saving lives.

[kiterafrey]

John really helped me with my faith crises. I wasn't Mormon I was Pentecostal. However, I wasn't ready to break down the unique beliefs of Pentecostals and question them, but I knew I was questioning being in a high demand religion. Seeing other people in a similar but different high demand religion have the same situations and trials as me was enough to break through to me so that I could start my healing journey that I'm on right now.

[DeathValleyDazed]

The longer the interview format the more John Dehlin’s authenticity makes manifest. Long live John Dehlin so we can watch the evolution and complete life cycle of a real human being.

[anushkabasu]

I am a Hindu by birth and recently having difficulties with my faith as my religion is persecuting other religions. So somehow I ended up on your channel. It's literally saved me. The fact that John says the holy grail of human experience is finding a passion gives me hope for a better tomorrow. Thanks ❤

[jjfloyd]

I know I'm a little late to the game, but I found you last week after finding John's podcast last month. John's advice to you about not quitting and not letting the haters hate, can be true to ALL OF US. I have literal tears streaming down my face. I feel as if my big brother is scolding me (in a good way). Don't feed the bears/trolls. I cannot get enough of this episode.

[anneford]

I was raised Orthodox Mormon. Both parents worked for the LDS church as therapists. One day I hope to tell my story, until then, you are voices for people like me.

[kiterafrey]

My grams was adopted (much against the will of her tribe) into a white family in the 30's. She was fully Native American but her family told her to pretend to be white when in public. She used to wear long sleeves in the summer in California (after moving from the Res in Wyoming) too. As a child I was born with much lighter skin, even though my birth-father was fully Jewish and my mom was only half white. She used to tell me how lucky I was and not let me tan because she said "You'll fit in better and never have worry about if people hate you." I have no doubt the church was a huge factor in that considering the elder of the church in the area of WA I grew up in told me that as a mixed girl I was unevenly yolked and had to work harder to get to heaven and that since I was Jewish I killed Jesus, despite that they teach Jewish people are the chosen ones.

[tombowers]

1 minute in and Dr John proves what an amazing good guy he is. Lots of respect for the man

[sunny]

John said a lot about the Second Anointing, but the reason it bothered me is the theological implications. When I was taught about Jesus coming back, I was told EVERYONE would be judged, with lots of grace of course, and then put into their kingdoms. But with this second anointing, these super special people get a "Golden Ticket" - a "Fast Pass" - a way to skirt around Jesus and shoot right up to the top, no matter what! And that just doesn't sound like the God or Jesus or Second Coming I was raised to believe in. "God is no respecter of persons" yeah right. And that's when I KNEW 100% that this church is bullshit. I stopped believing in ALL of it. And I'd been a member for 35 years, temple married, teens in youth groups, callings held the whole way. The second anointing blew it all apart.

[irvinlending]

Man, as an Ex Mo, and "Lamanite" this was emotional and cathartic to get validation as a Latino that grew in the LDS church . I didn't realize the level of emotional abuse I was Subjected to as a kid

[aaronhawkins]

Shelise, thank you so much for what you are doing! You are helping more people than you know. I am an ex-JW. I got hooked on your channel after watching the episode with Jake/Altworldly. It's not just Mormons that find value in what you do. All these high control groups are so similar. Please please please keep doing what you are doing and ignore the haters. They attack you cause they are threatened and scared you are waking people up. My six year old daughter has a mantra, every morning I ask her "what's the word?" And she yells at the top of her lungs "PERSEVERANCE" and I say "What does it mean?" She yells"NEVER EVER GIVE UP" and I say "What are you?" she yells "SMART, STRONG, BEAUTIFUL, CONFIDENT, BRAVE, AND I WONT CHANGE MYSELF."
Never ever give up what you are doing Shelise. You ARE making a difference. You are bringing light to these dark abusive organizations that have had too much power for far too long.

[GrumpyVickyH]

John is a legend. Shelise is amazing. Both of you are educators in helping us recognise and deal with high control groups and situations. Late to this party but very grateful.🌹

[lilatueller]

9:46 about the second anointing: it’s a free pass to commit heinous crimes with no guilt or punishment from God, no repentance needed, no reason to apologize, which explains SO MUCH about their lies and refusal to admit any wrong doing. It’s narcissism on steroids

[Izzrules]

This is great- I love watching mormon stories & it’s soo cool to hear John’s side of things… I’m also hoping this might mean Shelise will get her own mormon story episode 👀

[brothernobody]

Thank you, John, your podcast has become a go to for me in trying to articulate what was experienced growing up LDS. After finding a UU congregation the renewed faith journey has been a struggle, however it took watching your guests bravely unpacking their stories to realize just how worth it doing so is. Thank you for the motivation to heal

[krissy]

It's so nice hearing John speak passionately and candidly about these crazy rituals. When I was in my teens my mom thought she was invincible. She told me God told her she was immortal. She thought she was a prophetess and I had to do exactly what she said I should do. She died a few years after telling me she was immortal (starving herself fasting). I couldn't talk about any of this and I still can't because no one knows how to respond. I'm getting my masters in psychology and I don't fit into that DSM and it's nice to hear him talk in real world experiences.

[dianethulin]

My boyfriend has a Samoan Mormon Church behind his and his neighbors homes. For some reason they were throwing used mattresses over the fence from the church into their backyards. His neighbor contacted Church officials to ask them to stop. This white man laughed and told him he couldn’t even get them to wear proper clothes! We go by that church all the time and I love to see them dressed up in their traditional dress for Sunday services. It was shocking to hear how Church leaders look down on People of Color. When they renovated the Oakland Temple this same group of Pacific Islanders were our tour guides. They were so gracious! They deserve more respect

[ursulascholten]

He's one of a kind, in a most positive way