Mormon Stories Podcast

Does chiasmus prove that the Book of Mormon is an ancient text? In this episode of LDS Discussions, we take a closer look at one of the most frequently cited arguments for the Book of Mormon’s ancient authenticity: chiasmus. Mormon apologists have argued that the presence of complex chiastic structures demonstrates that the Book of Mormon was written by ancient Hebrew authors and could not have been produced by Joseph Smith in the 19th century. But there is a problem with that argument: chiasmus does not appear only in the Book of Mormon. We examine what chiasmus actually is, how John W. Welch famously identified chiasmus in the Book of Mormon. We also look at the way chiasmus and other biblical literary patterns appear throughout the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Moses, Book of Abraham, and even Joseph Smith’s personal writings and letters. We also examine an important question about translation. If the Book of Mormon was originally written in Reformed Egyptian and then translated into English, how could highly specific Hebrew literary structures survive that process? The Book of Mormon itself says that its language had been altered, raising questions about the assumption that these literary structures should necessarily have been preserved. If the presence of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon is supposed to demonstrate that it was written by ancient authors, what should we make of the same literary technique appearing in texts that unquestionably originated in the modern era? Even Shakespeare, who was born in London, wrote complex chiasms. The goal is not simply to ask whether chiasmus exists in the Book of Mormon, but whether its existence actually demonstrates ancient authorship. ___________________ Show Notes YouTube At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology 2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis 3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions 🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today ⁠One-time or recurring donations⁠ ⁠Patreon⁠ ⁠Venmo ⁠ ⁠PayPal ⁠ Our Platforms: 🌐⁠Mormon Stories Blog ⁠ 🎙️⁠Patreon ⁠ ✳️⁠Spotify⁠ 🍎⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ 🖼️⁠Instagram ⁠ 📱⁠TikTok ⁠ 🎮⁠Discord ⁠ Contact us: 📧 [email protected] 📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

What does it mean to grow up Black and Mormon in an overwhelmingly white church? In Part One of our conversation with Mariama Nadworna, she shares her story of growing up in Sierra Leone before moving to the UK as a child. When her mother began investigating Mormonism, Mariama’s family eventually went “all in” on the church, embracing its teachings and community as they adjusted to life in a new country. Mariama describes how her Mormon upbringing shaped the way she understood race, worthiness, obedience, and her own identity. She also discusses growing up Black in predominantly white Mormon spaces, learning to navigate the world “from the outside in,” and feeling pressure to be exceptional in order to prove herself. We explore the church’s historical teachings about race, including the “Curse of Cain,” interracial marriage, and the priesthood ban, as well as the ways these teachings affected her understanding of her own worth. Mariama also reflects on her mission, dating, education, and the ways her African heritage and spirituality shaped her relationship with Mormonism. This episode ultimately begs the question: What happens when the community you seek belonging in will not accept you for who you truly are? ___________________ Show Notes YouTube At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology 2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis 3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions 🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today ⁠One-time or recurring donations⁠ ⁠Patreon⁠ ⁠Venmo ⁠ ⁠PayPal ⁠ Our Platforms: 🌐⁠Mormon Stories Blog ⁠ 🎙️⁠Patreon ⁠ ✳️⁠Spotify⁠ 🍎⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ 🖼️⁠Instagram ⁠ 📱⁠TikTok ⁠ 🎮⁠Discord ⁠ Contact us: 📧 [email protected] 📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

What does it mean to grow up Black and Mormon in an overwhelmingly white church? In Part One of our conversation with Mariama Nadworna, she shares her story of growing up in Sierra Leone before moving to the UK as a child. When her mother began investigating Mormonism, Mariama’s family eventually went “all in” on the church, embracing its teachings and community as they adjusted to life in a new country. Mariama describes how her Mormon upbringing shaped the way she understood race, worthiness, obedience, and her own identity. She also discusses growing up Black in predominantly white Mormon spaces, learning to navigate the world “from the outside in,” and feeling pressure to be exceptional in order to prove herself. We explore the church’s historical teachings about race, including the “Curse of Cain,” interracial marriage, and the priesthood ban, as well as the ways these teachings affected her understanding of her own worth. Mariama also reflects on her mission, dating, education, and the ways her African heritage and spirituality shaped her relationship with Mormonism. This episode ultimately begs the question: What happens when the community you seek belonging in will not accept you for who you truly are? ___________________ Show Notes YouTube At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology 2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis 3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions 🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today ⁠One-time or recurring donations⁠ ⁠Patreon⁠ ⁠Venmo ⁠ ⁠PayPal ⁠ Our Platforms: 🌐⁠Mormon Stories Blog ⁠ 🎙️⁠Patreon ⁠ ✳️⁠Spotify⁠ 🍎⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ 🖼️⁠Instagram ⁠ 📱⁠TikTok ⁠ 🎮⁠Discord ⁠ Contact us: 📧 [email protected] 📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Today on Mormon Stories News, John and Meggan examine new Pew data on Mormon retention, the Church’s opposition to Idaho Proposition 1, questions surrounding David McConkie’s employment at BYU, a response from Suzie Greco, Elizabeth Smart’s Survivor Files, and Colorado State’s apology following anti-Mormon chants at a BYU football game. ARE MORMONS STAYING? New Pew data gives us another look at LDS retention in the United States. We compare the new findings with Church-focused retention research released earlier this year. https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/06/05/latter-day-saint-faith-retention-united-states/ https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/09/22/tradition-and-change-among-latter-day-saints-in-the-us/ CHURCH OPPOSES IDAHO PROP 1 The LDS Church has asked Idaho members to oppose Proposition 1, a reproductive freedom ballot initiative. We look at what has transpired since. https://www.eastidahonews.com/2026/09/read-letter-from-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saint-leaders-on-idaho-abortion-prop-1-initiative/ DAVID McCONKIE AT BYU Questions are being raised about BYU’s employment of David G. McConkie, who appears on a public offender registry. We look at the available records and what is being reported about his work at BYU. https://www.nsopw.gov/search-public-sex-offender-registries?search= https://www.icrimewatch.net/offenderdetails.php?OfndrID=31038418&AgencyID=54438 https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/1wj58fx/byu_employs_convicted_sex_offender_david_g/ SUZIE GRECO RESPONDS Survivor advocate and researcher Suzie Greco responds following our previous coverage of the warning she says she received from LDS leaders. ELIZABETH SMART: SURVIVOR FILES Elizabeth Smart is sharing a new series, Survivor Files, centered on survivor stories and experiences. https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth_smart_official/reels/ COLORADO STATE APOLOGIZES TO BYU Colorado State apologized after fans directed derogatory chants at BYU during their football game. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49986309/colorado-st-apologizes-byu-derogatory-chants-fans ___________________ YouTube Show Notes At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology 2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis 3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions 🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today ⁠One-time or recurring donations⁠ ⁠Patreon⁠ ⁠Venmo ⁠ ⁠PayPal ⁠ Our Platforms: 🌐⁠Mormon Stories Blog ⁠ 🎙️⁠Patreon ⁠ ✳️⁠Spotify⁠ 🍎⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ 🖼️⁠Instagram ⁠ 📱⁠TikTok ⁠ 🎮⁠Discord ⁠ Contact us: 📧 [email protected] 📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Today on Mormon Stories News, John and Meggan examine the LDS Church attorney’s response to claims about the Mormon Stories lawsuit, new Pew data on Mormon retention, the Church’s opposition to Idaho Proposition 1, questions surrounding David McConkie’s employment at BYU, a response from Suzie Greco, Elizabeth Smart’s Survivor Files, and Colorado State’s apology following anti-Mormon chants at a BYU football game. LDS CHURCH LAWYER RESPONDS An attorney for the LDS Church responds to John Dehlin’s claims about the Mormon Stories lawsuit. We compare his account with the original correspondence, court filings, mediation claims, and the Church’s earlier Bad Mormon trademark dispute with Heather Gay. https://youtu.be/eW0XiaJ0yA4 https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2023/2/8/23590017/bad-mormon-court-fight-church-of-jesus-christ-heather-gay-real-housewives-salt-lake/ https://www.mormonstories.org/lds-church-lawsuit/ ARE MORMONS STAYING? New Pew data gives us another look at LDS retention in the United States. We compare the new findings with Church-focused retention research released earlier this year. https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/06/05/latter-day-saint-faith-retention-united-states/ https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/09/22/tradition-and-change-among-latter-day-saints-in-the-us/ CHURCH OPPOSES IDAHO PROP 1 The LDS Church has asked Idaho members to oppose Proposition 1, a reproductive freedom ballot initiative. We look at what has transpired since. https://www.eastidahonews.com/2026/09/read-letter-from-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saint-leaders-on-idaho-abortion-prop-1-initiative/ DAVID McCONKIE AT BYU Questions are being raised about BYU’s employment of David G. McConkie, who appears on a public offender registry. We look at the available records and what is being reported about his work at BYU. https://www.nsopw.gov/search-public-sex-offender-registries?search= https://www.icrimewatch.net/offenderdetails.php?OfndrID=31038418&AgencyID=54438 https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/1wj58fx/byu_employs_convicted_sex_offender_david_g/ SUZIE GRECO RESPONDS Survivor advocate and researcher Suzie Greco responds following our previous coverage of the warning she says she received from LDS leaders. ELIZABETH SMART: SURVIVOR FILES Elizabeth Smart is sharing a new series, Survivor Files, centered on survivor stories and experiences. https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth_smart_official/reels/ COLORADO STATE APOLOGIZES TO BYU Colorado State apologized after fans directed derogatory chants at BYU during their football game. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49986309/colorado-st-apologizes-byu-derogatory-chants-fans ___________________ YouTube Show Notes At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology 2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis 3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions 🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today ⁠One-time or recurring donations⁠ ⁠Patreon⁠ ⁠Venmo ⁠ ⁠PayPal ⁠ Our Platforms: 🌐⁠Mormon Stories Blog ⁠ 🎙️⁠Patreon ⁠ ✳️⁠Spotify⁠ 🍎⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ 🖼️⁠Instagram ⁠ 📱⁠TikTok ⁠ 🎮⁠Discord ⁠ Contact us: 📧 [email protected] 📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117