In this episode of Latter Day Bridge Builders, Mitch sits down with Ashton Smith to talk about what it really means to build bridges across belief.

Ashton shares his experience growing up in an orthodox LDS environment, serving as an Elders Quorum president, and learning how curiosity, humility, and respect matter more than winning arguments. Together, they explore why “us vs. them” thinking shows up so easily in religion, politics, families, and online spaces, and why it quietly destroys relationships.

This conversation dives into faith transitions, judgment vs. curiosity, the limits of “I know,” and how people on very different paths can still choose empathy over control.

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

In this episode of Latter Day Bridge Builders, Mitch sits down with returning guest Stevie for a raw, unfiltered conversation about faith, doubt, and what it actually feels like to live in the tension between the two.

Stevie shares her experience moving from spiritual certainty into a full-blown faith crisis; one that collided with postpartum depression, suicidal ideation, temple service, and deeply personal questions about God, authority, garments, and identity. Rather than offering tidy answers, this conversation lives in the uncomfortable middle: wrestling with belief, grieving certainty, questioning institutional boundaries, and learning to find peace without resolution.

Together, Mitch and Stevie talk about cognitive dissonance, spiritual burnout, the pressure to “know” instead of wonder, and why love, curiosity, and honesty often matter more than being right. They also explore what it means to step outside religious labels, how judgment (both internal and external) shapes faith journeys, and why many people feel safer talking to those who’ve left than those who’ve stayed.This episode isn’t about deconstruction for its own sake, nor is it an attempt to reconvert anyone. It’s about making room for real people with real questions, and choosing compassion over certainty.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between belief and disbelief, tired of tidy answers, or unsure where you fit anymore, this conversation is for you.

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

In part 2 of our interview with Christian Hägglund, we discuss ways in which Ex-Mormons may be able to see Latter-day Saints in a different light. While this episode may be more intentionally spoken towards Ex-Mormons, we feel many people from different backgrounds and walks of life.

Send us an email with questions, feedback, or comments to: LDSBridgeBuilders@gmail.com

Christian Hägglund is a Swedish author, lawyer and Ex-member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In part 1 of this interview, he shares his experience growing up in the church in Sweden and how religious shame was a motivating factor in his life and mission. He also shares how he came across the teachings of Denver Snuffer and Max Skousen and how those teachings influenced him as a member of his local bishopric.

Be sure to listen to Part 2 where we get into how some of these teachings can help people have more positive views on those who believe differently than them.

Thanks for listening!

Send us an email with comments, feedback and questions to: LDSBridgeBuilders@gmail.com

Buy Christian's book What Lack I Yet? on Amazon

Join us in listening to Stevie Johnson share her conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Stevie grew up in Utah and was raised in a non-denominational church by her adoptive mother (an ex-Mormon). Listen to her story as she shares how she gained a testimony of the church and how that story relates a little to Garrett and Mitch's stories of stepping away from the church.

Thank you for your support this year! We will return with new episodes in the beginning of 2023. Happy Holidays!

Follow Stevie on Instagram: @coachsteviej

Send us an email: LDSBridgeBuilders@gmail.com

We absolutely LOVE this interview we did with Paul Callister. Paul is a mental health counselor who practices in Bountiful, UT. See more about his practice here: Bountiful Counseling

Paul received his Ph.D. from Oregon State University. The title of his dissertation is The Book of Mormon Topic Structure, Keyness Distinctions, and Collocates of Deity: Implications for Mental Health Professionals

In the interview, we discuss some of Paul's dissertation findings and how it relates to the wider discussion of mental health and worldviews that Latter-day Saints have. We also talk about what ways members and ex-members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can better understand each other.

If you would like to donate to support the podcast, you can submit donations to Mitch's Venmo, or by clicking the link at the bottom of the show notes. Thank you!

Show Notes:

https://www.dialoguejournal.com/

Join us for a special interview with Jacqueline Schneiber-Pettit who is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this interview, we ask Jacqueline about how her journey in the church has been and how different views on things may be reconciled while still believing in the church/gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are thankful to our listeners who have generously given donations so we can get some more audio equipment and keep interviews like this one a regular thing on Latter Day Bridge Builders Podcast. If you would like to make a donation you can send it to https://www.venmo.com/u/Mitchell-Crosgrove

Be sure to send us an email with feedback, content requests, or other comments to LatterDayBridgeBuilders@gmail.com

Be sure to share this or any other episode with someone you think could benefit from the conversation.

**ANNOUNCEMENT**

We at Latter Day Bridge Builders feel the need and want to expand our hosting backgrounds. In an effort to better build bridges, we are looking for a third host. We are looking for someone who is an active/believing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Preferably we would like to get a woman's voice on the show to have more diversity of thought and experience. If you or someone you know would be interested, please reach out via email to LatterDayBridgeBuilders@gmail.com

This hosting opportunity would ideally be a permanent position on the Latter Day Bridge Builders Podcast. We record in Bountiful Utah and would expect a time commitment of about 2 hours every other week. We generally will be recording on Saturday mornings.

In addition to this added position, we are asking our viewers if they would be able to donate some funds for some extra recording equipment, we want to make the transition for a new host as easy as possible. We appreciate the support of our listeners whether it be financial or just listening in. If you have the means and would like to donate you can send a payment to Mitch's Venmo or by clicking the link at the very bottom of the show notes. Our goal with this fundraising is $150 for a microphone, stand and headphones for our new host and/or future guest interviewees. All funds raised will stay within the podcast and are not put directly into LDBB host pockets. If everyone who listens to this episode donated $5 we would exceed our goal. Thank you so much, bridge builders!

In this episode, Mitch and Garrett discuss the cliche often used by members that the church is imperfect, but the gospel is perfect. We talk about what the gospel can be defined as and what good the church does in the world. As well as some of the questions that ex-members have on this subject, because things like doctrine, the gospel, teachings, priciples and policy are sometimes not well defined in the church.

If you have some answers to our questions or have other feedback please send an email to LatterDayBridgeBuilders@gmail.com

Listen, if you're a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you probably have heard someone refer to the church as a cult. Maybe as an ex-member, you have called the church a cult.

In this episode of LDBB, Garrett and Mitch do a deep dive into this controversial call sign. What are the definitions of the word "cult?" What are the connotations? Does the church maybe fit some areas that can be considered culty? Is there perhaps a better term (like "high demand religion") to better facilitate conversations about this subject? Listen to the discussion and share your bridge-building thoughts in an email to LDSBridgeBuilders@gmail.com if you would like us to read your comments on a future episode.

Show notes:

Steven Hassan's BITE Model of Authoritarian Control

Take the Is it Culty Quiz and share a screenshot of your results to our email so we can see how our listeners feel

This is our first episode in a limited series called "Tackling Clichés" where we discuss several quips often used in discussions about Mormonism. Usually, these clichés are used as "gotcha" statements and end conversations instead of opening discussions. In this series, we will discuss what is true about the statement and where we may take things too far.

The phrase, "you can leave the church, but you can't leave it alone" is often used by members of the church in reference to ex-members. Ex-Mormons have a complicated relationship with the church and often have some serious issues that they want to discuss. When we try to diminish or downplay these experiences, ex-members may feel like they are not being heard. Though there are times when ex-members really do be overly critical of the church.

If you have insights on this cliché or want to send us other feedback please send an email to LDSBridgeBuilders@gmail.com

Salt Lake Tribune article: Commentary: Why can’t ex-Mormons just leave the LDS Church alone? Turns out, most do.

Another good article by a nuanced/progressive member Nate Bagley

Boundaries. What are they? Why are they important?

Mitch and Garrett express some of their views on boundaries and some ways that both members and ex-members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may be crossing a boundary they don't know is there.

Please leave us a review, or send us an email with feedback:

LDSBridgeBuilders@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER: No specific information about "Anti-Mormon" material is presented in this episode. Our podcast does not want to create or share doubt/disbelief in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or its doctrine.

In today's discussion, Garrett and Mitch talk about why they think people leave or become less active/believing in Mormonism. And if those are valid reasons or not.

SPOILER ALERT: They are!

We would love it if you could leave us a review/rating and share this episode with your friends/family if you think it could help!

Send us an email to LDSBridgeBuilders@gmail.com with any feedback, questions, or concerns.

In this episode of Latter Day Bridge Builders, Mitch sits down with James Linton, an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to talk about the uncomfortable space between belief and disbelief; and why so many relationships get stuck there.

Instead of debating doctrine, this conversation digs into how members and ex-members see each other, why fear and silence creep into friendships, and what actually helps bridge the gap.

They explore ideas like:

- Why religious identity feels so personal, and so fragile

- How institutions struggle with nuance (and people don’t have to)

- Alcohol, social spaces, and unspoken rules

- Why “no strings attached” time might be the most radical act of bridge-building

- The danger of believing you possess all the truth

This episode isn’t about changing minds. It’s about remembering the humanity on the other side—and learning how to stay connected without preaching, fixing, or disappearing.

🎧 If you’ve ever felt like you’re walking on eggshells with believing or former-believing family and friends, this one’s for you.

📩 Reach James: @JimmerLinton (socials) | LinkedIn: James Linton🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

In today's episode, Garrett and Mitch discuss why they think people join or stay in the LDS church. And if those are valid reasons or not. SPOILER ALERT: They are!

We would love it if you could leave us a review/rating and share this episode with your friends/family if you think it could help!

Send us an email to LDSBridgeBuilders@gmail.com with any feedback, questions, or concerns.

In this episode, we explain what we want to accomplish with this podcast, as well as some rules that we have for ourselves and any potential guests we may have in the future.

Our first two episodes will drop next week on Aug 14, 2022. Here are their titles:

Episode #1 - Why do people stay in the LDS church? Are they valid in their decision to stay?

Episode #2 - Why do people leave Mormonism? Are they valid in that choice?

Send us an email to LDSBridgeBuilders@gmail.com with any feedback, questions or concerns.

Serving a Mormon mission in Cape Verde, Africa completely changed my life. It made me more serious, more committed, and opened my eyes to a culture totally different from the white Utah bubble I grew up in. It also pushed me to my limits, exposed me to the church’s messy racial history, and left me with questions I couldn’t ignore.

In this episode, I reminisce about my mission:

- What it was like serving in Cabo Verde on those 10 islands off the coast of West Africa

- Learning Portuguese and Creole and navigating totally different dialects

- The high-demand, rule-heavy culture of LDS missions and how “obedience” shaped us

- The tension between the church’s racist past and teaching Black Africans the restored gospel

- Rapid baptisms, low retention, and whether we were really giving people informed choice

- Why my own exit from the church took 18 months of wrestling while many converts joined in a few weeks

- Going back for the 2022 Cabo Verde Temple dedication as a non-believer and feeling genuinely happy for the members there

Two things can be true at once: my mission was one of the hardest, most beautiful, most confusing things I’ve ever done. I can see harm and still see real good. I can be out of the church and still be grateful for people who loved me and the structure it gave others.

Whether you’re an ex-missionary, a believing Latter-day Saint, or somewhere in between, I hope this episode gives you language for your own “both/and” experience.

👉 Tell me your story:

What did your mission do to you? Do you resonate with anything I share here? Drop a comment and let’s talk about it—respectfully, thoughtfully, like actual bridge builders.

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

This week, I sit down with Jules Miller.Former seminary teacher, lifelong feminist, and someone who knows purity culture from the inside and the outside. We get into the object lessons, the bishop interviews, the shame cycles, the “worthiness” obsession, and how all of it shaped the way so many of us grew up.We pull apart the mixed messages, the contradictions, the fear, and the mental gymnastics… and we talk honestly about how this stuff lands on real people. Especially women.If you’ve ever been told you were chewed gum, a licked cupcake, a walking temptation, or someone else’s spiritual responsibility; this one’s gonna hit.

Follow Jules' Cookie IG Page: https://www.instagram.com/angryfeministcookies/

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuildersIf this conversation resonated with you, or even challenged you, leave a comment. Let’s disagree without being disagreeable, and keep building bridges together.

In this episode of Latter Day Bridge Builders, Mitch reflects on four real life conversations that reshaped how he sees faith, empathy, and connection.Each of these moments with friends, mentors, and fellow Latter-day Saints revealed something deeper about what it truly means to listen instead of trying to be right.It’s an honest, thoughtful look at how bridge building works in the real world—not in theory, but across dinner tables, text threads, and long drives home.🧠 What you’ll hear:• How four conversations taught the “art of listening”• Why being open-minded matters more than being right• The role of nuance and empathy in faith discussions• Finding balance between belief, doubt, and respect🎙️ The Art of Listening is about humility, curiosity, and learning from people who see the world differently—and that’s what bridge building is all about.🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuil...📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders🎥 TikTok: / latterdaybridgebuilders 📺 Subscribe for weekly episodes: ‪@latterdaybridgebuilders‬ ☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuildersIf this conversation resonated with you, or even challenged you, leave a comment. Let’s disagree without being disagreeable, and keep building bridges together.

Aftershocks in Zion | Latter Day Bridge Builders PodcastUtah has been through a lot lately — tragedy, transition, and questions about who we are as a community. In this episode, we reflect on three recent events that shook the Latter-day Saint world:• The shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah Valley• The passing of President Russell M. Nelson and the rise of President Dallin H. Oaks• A devastating attack on a Latter-day Saint congregation in Michigan.Rather than react with outrage or division, we explore what it means to respond with empathy, faith, and understanding — to build bridges even when the ground feels unstable. Along the way, we share thoughts on belief, belonging, and the vision that sparked Latter Day Bridge Builders: a community where active members and former members can still meet at the same table.✨ Topics include:– Grieving without politicizing tragedy– How “tribes” shape our sense of belonging– Empathy for those who see the world differently– Remembering President Nelson’s call to “build bridges of understanding”🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latterdaybridgebuilders📺 Subscribe for weekly episodes:  @latterdaybridgebuilders  ☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuildersIf this conversation resonated with you, or even challenged you, leave a comment. Let’s disagree without being disagreeable, and keep building bridges together.

It’s been a while. In this re-introduction, I share what’s happened since the last time you heard from me; why the podcast went quiet, what’s changed in my life and faith, and why I felt it was time to come back.A lot has happened since I first started Latter Day Bridge Builders. I talk about officially stepping away from the Church, what that process looked like for me, and how I’m learning to rebuild connection and meaning on my own terms. But more than anything, this episode is about coming back to what matters: empathy, nuance, and honest conversation between those who believe and those who no longer do.If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since the beginning, thank you for sticking around. Let’s start this again!

Links Mentioned:

My interview on Why I Stay Podcast →

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uESfe5mwyw

All my links, socials, and support options → https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders

It's no secret that LGTBQ+ individuals have a hard time being members of the LDS church. Statements, talks, policies and doctrines have made many LGTBQ+ people feel isolated and alienated as well as deeply hurt by the church that claims to be in direct communication with Jesus Christ through modern prophets, seers and revelators. It can be difficult for a queer or transgender person to know where they belong.

Jonathan Alder is a gay, ex-member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who has authored several books including his fictional series The Hawthorn Saga and a personal memoir; Closeted: My Life as a Gay BYU Student.

In today's episode, Jonny and Mitch discuss how we can all become better allies and be more LGTBQ+ affirming.

Check out Jonny's books, including Closeted here: http://jonathan-alder.com/books.php

You can also find the audiobook version of Closeted on most major audiobook apps, including Spotify and Audible.

Whether you were/are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not, you probably know about Mormon missionaries. They're the young adults with black name tags and are usually dressed in a white shirt and tie, or a dress/skirt.

In this episode of LDBB, Garrett and Mitch talk about some of the LDS culture regarding missions. The goal of this episode is to build bridges with people who feel like they don't fit the traditional narrative regarding this "right of passage" in Mormonism. Whether it's from not serving a mission at the culturally accepted age, coming home early from a mission, not serving a mission at all, or not having a good mission experience; many members of the church feel like outsiders around this topic.

Send us an email to LDSBridgeBuilders@gmail.com

In this episode, we wrap up our discussion of why we even need a podcast like this in the first place. Juliet pushes back on Ashton's elephant metaphor, we talk about whether or not we should even care what the people around us believe, and Mitch shares a "pain point" from the last time he attended church. We talk about the vulnerability that comes when we "exit the cave" and trying to be rooted in relationship instead of in identity. We tend to be "possessive" of the spiritual journeys of others, but when working within the confines of Mormon theology, do we have any other option?This episode is part of our ongoing attempt to simultaneously improve our understanding of our own experiences and the experiences of others- both those who agree with us and those who don't. Instead of arriving at answers, we often find ourselves arriving at questions that are more complicated than the ones we set out with. But we arrive at those questions together, and in sincerity and whole-heartedness. If you have ever felt caught between worlds, unsure where you belong, or hesitant to speak honestly about your faith or lack of it, this conversation is for you.Thanks for listening, for sharing, and for helping us build something better than the all or nothing conversations we are used to.If you would like to support the podcast, there is a Buy Me a Coffee link in the description.🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

In this episode, we officially introduce the new co hosts of Latter Day Bridge Builders. Juliet, Ashton, and I talk openly about why this space exists and why building bridges in the LDS world can feel so hard.

We get into what it is like to sit in the middle. Feeling too Mormon for some spaces and too ex Mormon for others. We talk about faith transitions, loneliness, nuance, and why dignity often gets lost when people are pushed to pick a side.This is not an episode about convincing anyone to stay in the Church or leave it. It is about what happens when certainty cracks, when beliefs change, and when people are just trying to be honest about where they are at without being reduced to a stereotype.

We talk about why nuance feels threatening, why the middle can be the loneliest place to stand, and why curiosity and humility matter more than winning arguments.If you have ever felt caught between worlds, unsure where you belong, or hesitant to speak honestly about your faith or lack of it, this conversation is for you.Thanks for listening, for sharing, and for helping us build something better than the all or nothing conversations we are used to.

If you would like to support the podcast, there is a Buy Me a Coffee link in the description.

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

A new apostle has been called: Clark Gilbert.

What does that mean? And more importantly—what does it reveal about how we think about priesthood authority?

In this episode of Latter Day Bridge Builders, Mitch, Ashton, and Juliet talk candidly about:

• The appointment of Clark Gilbert and the reactions surrounding it

• Authority vs. humanity in church leadership

• The difference between “letter of the law” and “spirit of the law”

• Real experiences with bishops and power dynamics

• The tension between revelation and accountability

• Why training and checks might matter more than we admit

• And what it actually means to have a direct relationship with God

This conversation gets personal. We talk about depression, temple recommends, leadership mistakes, and what happens when authority goes unchecked. But we also talk about growth, humility, and what healthy leadership can look like.

At the end of the day, the big question is this:
How do we honor faith while still protecting personal agency?

If you’ve ever wrestled with church leadership, priesthood authority, or your own spiritual autonomy, this one’s for you.

👍 Like & Subscribe
💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments
📲 Follow us on Instagram for updates and live episode announcements

If you’d like to financially support the podcast, links are in the description below. We’re grateful for you.

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

#LDS #Mormon #ExMormon #Priesthood #FaithCrisis #ChurchLeadership #ClarkGilbert #Deconstruction #SpiritualAutonomy #LatterDayBridgeBuilders

Do people leave the church because they want to sin? The answer may not be so simple after all. In this episode, we talk about tattoos, piercings, the word of wisdom, and sex, to name a few things, and how they interact with peoples' journey's out of the church. Is it simply a matter of abandoning the anchoring principles they once held to, or is it a way to re-establish connection and identity after an uprooting life event?We also explore the definition of sin and morality and how and why we find ourselves re-conceptualizing these things throughout our lives.👍 Like & Subscribe💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments📲 Follow us on Instagram for updates and live episode announcementsIf you’d like to financially support the podcast, links are in the description below. We’re grateful for you.🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders#exmormon #lds #sin #wordofwisdom #mormon #prolds #faithcrisis #religiousdeconstruction

Baylie Clark (@bayliebelieves) is a Latter-day Saint content creator from Alberta, Canada who built a faith-focused platform almost overnight; and she's not afraid to ask hard questions, including ones aimed at people who've left the church. In this episode, we talk about why she uses the #ExMormon hashtag, what happened when a viral response video misread her intent, and how she thinks about happiness, including whether you can really only find it inside the church.

We also get into her recent viral moment with Britt Hartley, how social media turns good-faith questions into internet wildfires, and what Baylie would want her loved ones who've left the church to hear.

It's an honest conversation between an two active members, and two ex-members — which is kind of the whole point of this podcast.

Find Baylie on Instagram and TikTok: @bayliebelieves

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latterdaybridgebuilders☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

Mitch is out, so Juliet and Ashton are flying solo and diving straight into one of the deepest fault lines in Mormon culture: gender and power.

Juliet, a feminist who has left the church, and Ashton, an active Elders Quorum President, ask each other honest, uncomfortable questions about priesthood ordination, spiritual worth, what "wife material" really meant growing up, and whether incremental progress inside a flawed system is meaningful, or just a really small band-aid.

No gotcha questions. Just two people trying to understand each other across a wide spectrum.

Topics covered: the ebb and flow of women's roles throughout church history, whether gender equality is possible without ordination, the "separate but equal" problem, and what it actually feels like to consider speaking up from inside the institution.

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latterdaybridgebuilders☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

Patrick Mason, historian, Fulbright Scholar, and holder of the Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University, joins Latter Day Bridge Builders for a wide-ranging conversation on faith, doubt, and what it means to stay curious inside a religious community.We talk about how to create space for hard questions without feeling dismissed, what both faithful members and critics most often get wrong about church history, theories of change and activism within the church, and how to hold your convictions without losing sight of the humanity on the other side.Patrick also opens up about his experience on Mormon Stories, what it taught him about seeing people beyond their positions, and why he believes Jesus redeems history, including the messy, human parts of it.🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latterdaybridgebuilders☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

Tiana Chambers is a community organizer and event planner who ISN'T a matchmaker (even though she matches people?). She sat down with us to talk about some of the trickier parts of dating across the wide LDS spectrum, including standards vs values, spirituality vs. religiosity, and curiosity vs. judgement. We even try to answer the age-old question: Why are LDS guys always asking for "noodles"???If you are currently LDS single, if you plan to be, or if you ever have been before, we think you'll hear something in this episode that makes you laugh, and something that makes you feel seen. #lds #mormon #prolds #exmormon #utah #utahdating 📸 Follow Tiana on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shift.lds.dating🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latterdaybridgebuilders☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

Is the LDS Church a Cult? Who knows! But either way, people do call it a cult, and that doesn't seem like that will be changing any time soon. Join us as we talk about WHY people call it a cult. Is it just an inflammatory pejorative? Or does the term serve an important purpose?What does our choice of whether or not to refer to it as a cult say about our experience, and is it possible that someone could be having a legitimate experience that is different?We dig deep into our thoughts about how we've separated the LDS Church from other religions and organizations, and examine if those distinctions still feel like they hold water.This episode is a part of our Tackling Clichés series. 🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latterdaybridgebuilders☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

Juliet served her mission in the Independence Missouri Mission — but spent most of it in rural Kansas, an hour from the nearest missionaries, 500 square miles of farmland between her and anything familiar. Five months in, she came home early.

In this episode, Juliet opens up about the mental health struggles she carried into her mission, what it felt like when her coping tools were stripped away, and what happened when she walked into her mission president's office and walked out with a plane ticket home.

But this episode isn't really about leaving. It's about what happened after — a dad waiting at baggage claim on his way home from work, a stake president who said exactly the right thing, and a ward that put up a banner before she even changed out of her missionary clothes.

If you or someone you love has come home early, this one's for you.

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latterdaybridgebuilders☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

On Latter Day Bridge Builders, Ashton shares his mission story serving in Salt Lake City in the Family and Church History Headquarters Mission full-time and only about 35 minutes from his childhood home.Instead of proselytizing, Ashton worked service assignments at Temple Square, including the Family History Library (helping patrons, dealing with printers, shelving), the Church History Library, and the Joseph Smith Mrmorial Building doing behind-the-scenes support. Missionaries were instructed not to preach unless responding to questions.He describes living downtown with 90–100 elders in one apartment complex, shifting companionship rules over time, and the pros/cons of staying around the same group for an entire mission.Ashton also recounts encounters with general authorities (Gary Stevenson, Steven Snow, Elder Holland) and reflects on deifying leaders versus recognizing their humanity. He opens up about doubts over whether his mission “counted,” and ends with the takeaway: it doesn’t matter where you serve, but how you serve and treat others.🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuil...📸 Follow us on Instagram:   / latterdaybridgebuilders   🎥 TikTok:   / latterdaybridgebuilders  ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridg...

Ashton and Juliet host author Jeff Strong to discuss his Latter-day Saint-focused book Torn and what drove him to write about faith struggle, deconstruction, and belonging. Jeff shares how his son came home early from the MTC 13 years ago, the “fog of war” that followed, and how family and community reactions created misunderstanding, rejection, and years of pain before finding a healthier way forward. Drawing on experience as a bishop, church employee, BYU teacher, and mission president, he describes common misconceptions: active members underestimate how many leave, misjudge why they leave, and assume life falls apart afterward; while some post-Mormons dismiss why thoughtful, informed people stay. The conversation emphasizes empathy, humility, “new wine in new bottles,” and building bridges to protect marriages, parent-child relationships, and ward culture.Purchase "Torn" here: https://www.amazon.com/Torn-People-Le...🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuil...📸 Follow us on Instagram:   / latterdaybridgebuilders   🎥 TikTok:   / latterdaybridgebuilders  ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridg...

Skyler Sorenson joins us share his story as a covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint who experiences same-sex attraction, is temple married to his wife Amanda, and is a father. He discusses his book Exclude Not Thyself and why he uses the word “thriving” to challenge assumptions that faithful gay Latter-day Saints can’t find joy in the Church. The conversation covers navigating labels and assumptions from both active members and critics and how to avoid judging others while still making moral choices. Skyler explains why “maybe someday” language about doctrine can create religious paralysis, encourages keeping options open, and emphasizes staying connected to others to maintain access, love, and understanding.🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuil...📸 Follow us on Instagram:   / latterdaybridgebuilders   🎥 TikTok:   / latterdaybridgebuilders  ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridg...

Ashton and Juliet welcome Crystal, a gay woman raised in the LDS Church in Iowa, to share her journey of secrecy, shame, and eventually stepping away from church activity. Crystal describes growing up with strong church expectations (her dad served in leadership), not feeling safe discussing emotions at home, and living a double life after a secret high school relationship with a girl. She recounts intense sexual shame, suicidal ideation, and a pivotal “worthiness” dynamic when her dad questioned her in the stake president’s office. Therapy helped her name her experience, begin coming out, and navigate family reactions. Crystal contrasts supportive friends and a compassionate bishop with systemic church power dynamics, explains panic attacks and depression tied to church participation, and shares how love, nature, and community helped her leave and build a healthier life.We go deep in this episode and hope you are willing to go deep with us.🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuil...📸 Follow us on Instagram:   / latterdaybridgebuilders   🎥 TikTok:   / latterdaybridgebuilders  ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridg...

It's Pride Month, and we're getting personal about our own histories with LGBTQ+ issues and the LDS Church.

Juliet opens up about a chapter in her early Mormon years; actively campaigning for California's Prop 8 in 2008. Knocking on doors and holding signs, despite personally believing gay marriage wasn't wrong. She reflects on outsourcing her moral compass to God, the cognitive dissonance that came with it, and the quiet relief she felt when Prop 8 was later overturned.

Mitch shares his own slow evolution from casually using slurs in a church environment where that went uncorrected, to becoming a more genuine ally.

Ashton, coming from a place of honest self-described unawareness, and brings in scriptural perspective in order to question whether religious institutions should define a single path for sexuality and morality.

Together, we explore why labeling religious opposition to LGBT rights as simply "hateful" often misses the mark, the incongruity of the church's involvement in Prop 8 versus its usual political neutrality, and the irony of a church with a polygamy history campaigning for "one man, one woman" marriage.

Show Notes:

On the Record: A Chronology of LGBTQ Messaging Within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — a 109-page PDF from the podcast Latter Gay Stories — https://lattergaystories.org/record/

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latterdaybridgebuilders☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders