Merry Christmas and Cheers to the Fall of Mormon Stories

[Pyreaux]

Hi everyone. In the spirit of uplifting this season, I wanted to start a thread examining a trend we’re seeing with the Mormon Stories podcast and what it may mean for faithful Latter-day Saints everywhere.

What Mormon Stories (Really) Is

First for context (never assuming everyone on the forum knows), Mormon Stories Podcast was started in 2005 by John Dehlin and has been one of the most prominent independent podcast platforms discussing LDS topics with a claim to focus on interviews with a wide variety of perspectives, including critics of the Church. Their official mission statement (from their own website) frames their work as facilitating informed consent, supporting those in faith crisis, and building community, reflecting their self-identified purpose rather than the claims of critics or promoters.

This is all deception. Not only is Mormon Stories not an LDS platform., its an Ex-LDS platform. It is run entirely by former members, many of whom are openly hostile to the Church. The name and icons strongly implies it is a faithful LDS or objective organization, which misleads both members and non-members searching for legitimate LDS information.

They are the top search result for the term "Mormon". This branding strategy allows the platform to intercept people at moments of vulnerability, like LDS investigators, questioning LDS members, and those in faith crisis. The result is not informed consent, but directional persuasion.

Who the Main Audience (Really) Is

While Mormon Stories claims to serve people navigating faith transitions (in one direction only), its core audience increasingly appears to be Never-LDS who enjoy exaggerated narratives of "cult escape", abuse amplification, large institutional villainization, shock-value storytelling about LDS culture. This mirrors trends seen in other anti-religious media spaces, where outrage and trauma-p0rn outperform nuance. Faithful discussion, context, and spiritual outcomes are not the product being sold, the conflict is.

Supported by a viewership of never-LDS and donation from ex-LDS and anti-LDS. Mormon Stories functions less like a support group and more like a deconstruction factory. Guests are guided, sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly, toward predetermined conclusions. The same accusations are recycled with new faces. For this they get donations. This is pure commercialized deconversion, not pastoral care.

Hypocrisy

A recurring theme on Mormon Stories is criticism of how the Church handles money. Yet Mormon Stories itself operates under a structure where the brand is inseparable from its founder. All revenue and donations overwhelmingly benefit their central figure. Compensation transparency is minimal compared to the moral scrutiny applied to the Church. At minimum, this represents a double standard. At worst, it suggests projection.

I’m not saying Mormon Stories is a cult the way others overbroadly use it, but it’s worth asking why it increasingly resembles the very systems it claims to oppose. There is a central charismatic authority, he has narrative control, people are emotional dependent on him. He uses moral absolutism, he is financial reliant on followers. His followers do identity reconstruction ("before" vs "after" self).

If we applied criteria for identifying ‘cult behavior’ to Mormon Stories itself, would it pass? If those patterns are troubling inside churches, they should be troubling in non-churches.

The platform only survives if people keep leaving and keep paying. Guests rarely leave more independent. Any later reconciliation to the church is bad for business. Any peace or resolution ends engagement. Therefore, only continued anger sustains it. There will never be a solution.

Declining Influence

Growth momentum appears to have slowed. Engagement fatigue is visible even among its former supporters. Long-time listeners describe content as repetitive and ideologically rigid. These two consecutive years of reduced growth is not a fluke, it is a trend.

Over a two-year span, both viewership growth and audience momentum slowed noticeably. This matters because Mormon Stories’ model depends on sustained emotional engagement. Specifically anger, grievance, and disillusionment. That kind of content performs well in bursts, but it does not age well. Anger is exhausting, repetition dulls outrage, and audiences eventually move on when every story resolves the same way. Platforms built on permanent resentment face an unavoidable problem. Once the emotional payoff diminishes, so does the audience. The decline was already underway because grievance is not a renewable resource.

The actual growth rates over recent years are not publicly broken down month-by-month on Social Blade without paid access, so I can't verify claims like 2023 had 117,000 new subscribers vs 57,000 in 2024 and 28,000 in 2025. If anyone has access to month-by-month analytics, that would be great to share.

When Weak, a Forced Rebrand is a Direct Hit to their Deception Model

The Church’s request that Mormon Stories stop using branding that implies official or representative LDS status strikes at the heart of the platform’s growth strategy. The name itself functions as a search engine funnel. Capturing members, investigators, and outsiders searching for authentic LDS perspectives, then redirecting them into adversarial content. Removing that ambiguity disrupts discoverability, weakens first impressions, and forces the platform to operate honestly as what it is: an ex-LDS commentary channel.

The Church has every legal and ethical right to protect its identity and its members from confusion. Coming amid an existing decline, rebranding is not a inconvenience, it is a compounding blow. When growth is already slowing, losing a misleading point of entry can accelerate irrelevance.

Organizations like Mormon Stories are far more fragile than they appear. They are not a lean volunteer group; they are bulky operations with fixed costs, salaries, production expenses, contractors, studio infrastructure, and brand maintenance. All funded almost entirely by ongoing donations and attention. Even a modest, sustained decline in views, engagement, or donor enthusiasm can have outsized effects. When revenue dips below operating expectations, there is little cushion, and pressure compounds quickly.

Happy Holidays

Unlike the LDS Church, which is diversified, geared for the long-term, and not dependent on outrage, Mormon Stories must constantly replace disengaging donors with newly disaffected members. As that pool shrinks and fatigue sets in, the math turns unforgiving. For faithful Latter-day Saints this represents a quiet but meaningful shift. Fewer resources fueling anger, fewer incentives to sensationalize faith crises, and fewer members being monetized at moments of vulnerability. If trends continue, from a faithful LDS perspective, this season truly may be a Merry Christmas for those who care that truth and faith outlasted a grievance-driven enterprise.

May we look toward to the new year and hope for fewer fires. Fires of contention and outrage, and fewer literal fires as well. Attacks on churches, vandalism, and arson against houses of worship are never acceptable, no matter the ideology. When rhetoric cools and grievance-driven platforms lose influence, the real-world temperature often lowers too. A calmer media environment makes room for safer congregations, healthier dialogue, and faith practiced without fear. That is a hope worth carrying into the new year.

Discussions

Have you noticed fewer people recommending Mormon Stories lately?

Do you think the name is intentionally misleading?

What platforms do you see filling the gap?

What trends have you noticed in Mormon Stories’ influence, for yourself or others?

Have you noticed increased engagement with faithful LDS channels since 2023?

Do you think metrics like subscriber counts has told us anything meaningful?
Again, Mormon Stories is produced by the Open Stories Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Reliable revenue data needs the IRS Form 990. If you can access the latest filings, please post them!

Edited December 21, 2025 by Pyreaux

[CV75]

33 minutes ago, Pyreaux said:

Hi everyone. In the spirit of uplifting this season, I wanted to start a thread examining a trend we’re seeing with the Mormon Stories podcast and what it may mean for faithful Latter-day Saints everywhere.

What Mormon Stories (Really) Is

First for context (never assuming everyone on the forum knows), Mormon Stories Podcast was started in 2005 by John Dehlin and has been one of the most prominent independent podcast platforms discussing LDS topics with a claim to focus on interviews with a wide variety of perspectives, including critics of the Church. Their official mission statement (from their own website) frames their work as facilitating informed consent, supporting those in faith crisis, and building community, reflecting their self-identified purpose rather than the claims of critics or promoters.

This is all deception. Not only is Mormon Stories not an LDS platform., its an Ex-LDS platform. It is run entirely by former members, many of whom are openly hostile to the Church. The name and icons strongly implies it is a faithful LDS, which misleads both members and non-members searching for legitimate LDS information.

This branding strategy allows the platform to intercept people at moments of vulnerability, like LDS investigators, questioning LDS members, and those in faith crisis. The result is not informed consent, but directional persuasion.

Who the Main Audience (Really) Is

While Mormon Stories claims to serve people navigating faith transitions (in one direction only), its core audience increasingly appears to be Never-LDS who enjoy exaggerated narratives of "cult escape", abuse amplification, large institutional villainization, shock-value storytelling about LDS culture. This mirrors trends seen in other anti-religious media spaces, where outrage and trauma-p0rn outperform nuance. Faithful discussion, context, and spiritual outcomes are not the product being sold, the conflict is.

Supported by a viewership of never-LDS and donation from ex-LDS and anti-LDS. Mormon Stories functions less like a support group and more like a deconstruction factory. Guests are guided, sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly, toward predetermined conclusions. The same accusations are recycled with new faces. For this they get donations. This is pure commercialized deconversion, not pastoral care.

Hypocrisy

A recurring theme on Mormon Stories is criticism of how the Church handles money. Yet Mormon Stories itself operates under a structure where the brand is inseparable from its founder. All revenue and donations overwhelmingly benefit their central figure. Compensation transparency is minimal compared to the moral scrutiny applied to the Church. At minimum, this represents a double standard. At worst, it suggests projection.

I’m not saying Mormon Stories is a cult the way others overbroadly use it, but it’s worth asking why it increasingly resembles the very systems it claims to oppose. There is a central charismatic authority, he has narrative control, people are emotional dependent on him. He uses moral absolutism, he is financial reliant on followers. His followers do identity reconstruction ("before" vs "after" self).

If we applied criteria for identifying ‘cult behavior’ to Mormon Stories itself, would it pass? If those patterns are troubling inside churches, they should be troubling in non-churches.

The platform only survives if people keep leaving and keep paying. Guests rarely leave more independent. Any later reconciliation to the church is bad for business. Any peace or resolution ends engagement. Therefore, only continued anger sustains it. There will never be a solution.

Declining Influence

Growth momentum appears to have slowed. Engagement fatigue is visible even among its former supporters. Long-time listeners describe content as repetitive and ideologically rigid. These two consecutive years of reduced growth is not a fluke, it is a trend.

Over a two-year span, both viewership growth and audience momentum slowed noticeably. This matters because Mormon Stories’ model depends on sustained emotional engagement. Specifically anger, grievance, and disillusionment. That kind of content performs well in bursts, but it does not age well. Anger is exhausting, repetition dulls outrage, and audiences eventually move on when every story resolves the same way. Platforms built on permanent resentment face an unavoidable problem. Once the emotional payoff diminishes, so does the audience. The decline was already underway because grievance is not a renewable resource.

The actual growth rates over recent years are not publicly broken down month-by-month on Social Blade without paid access, so I can't verify claims like 2023 had 117,000 new subscribers vs 57,000 in 2024 and 28,000 in 2025. If anyone has access to month-by-month analytics, that would be great to share.

When Weak, a Forced Rebrand is a Direct Hit to their Deception Model

The Church’s request that Mormon Stories stop using branding that implies official or representative LDS status strikes at the heart of the platform’s growth strategy. The name itself functions as a search engine funnel. Capturing members, investigators, and outsiders searching for authentic LDS perspectives, then redirecting them into adversarial content. Removing that ambiguity disrupts discoverability, weakens first impressions, and forces the platform to operate honestly as what it is: an ex-LDS commentary channel.

The Church has every legal and ethical right to protect its identity and its members from confusion. Coming amid an existing decline, rebranding is not a inconvenience, it is a compounding blow. When growth is already slowing, losing a misleading point of entry can accelerate irrelevance.

Organizations like Mormon Stories are far more fragile than they appear. They are not a lean volunteer group; they are bulky operations with fixed costs, salaries, production expenses, contractors, studio infrastructure, and brand maintenance. All funded almost entirely by ongoing donations and attention. Even a modest, sustained decline in views, engagement, or donor enthusiasm can have outsized effects. When revenue dips below operating expectations, there is little cushion, and pressure compounds quickly.

Happy Holidays

Unlike the LDS Church, which is diversified, geared for the long-term, and not dependent on outrage, Mormon Stories must constantly replace disengaging donors with newly disaffected members. As that pool shrinks and fatigue sets in, the math turns unforgiving. For faithful Latter-day Saints this represents a quiet but meaningful shift. Fewer resources fueling anger, fewer incentives to sensationalize faith crises, and fewer members being monetized at moments of vulnerability. If trends continue, from a faithful LDS perspective, this season truly may be a Merry Christmas for those who care that truth and faith outlasted a grievance-driven enterprise.

May we look toward to the new year and hope for fewer fires. Fires of contention and outrage, and fewer literal fires as well. Attacks on churches, vandalism, and arson against houses of worship are never acceptable, no matter the ideology. When rhetoric cools and grievance-driven platforms lose influence, the real-world temperature often lowers too. A calmer media environment makes room for safer congregations, healthier dialogue, and faith practiced without fear. That is a hope worth carrying into the new year.

Discussions

Have you noticed fewer people recommending Mormon Stories lately?

Do you think the name is intentionally misleading?

What platforms do you see filling the gap?

What trends have you noticed in Mormon Stories’ influence, for yourself or others?

Have you noticed increased engagement with faithful LDS channels since 2023?

Do you think metrics like subscriber counts has told us anything meaningful?
Again, Mormon Stories is produced by the Open Stories Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Reliable revenue data needs the IRS Form 990. If you can access the latest filings, please post them!

I don't think I've ever looked at this website, basing my decision on what its proponents have had to say about it on this forum.

[Calm]

2 hours ago, Pyreaux said:

The Church’s request that Mormon Stories stop using branding that implies official or representative LDS status strikes at the heart of the platform’s growth strategy.

Except being a countervoice this may help boost attention and income for awhile (being used as a outlet to express frustration, anger, or hatred towards the Church by supporting someone seen as their opponent/enemy).  If the Church takes them to court, then they will be in the news driving up revenue as well.  Short term gains even if longterm decline if they lose.

Actually losing the name would be a major hit for it, but is that likely to happen?  I have wondered if taking the name off of our own brand for the most part, if that would still allow us to maintain it given its cultural significance.  Is there anything the Church h owns that still carries the name (it accepts the usage of “Mormon” for historic places such as the Mormon Trail, but the Trail isn’t owned by the Church).

The “I am a Mormon” YouTubes are still on the Church’s YouTube channel, which should help.

Edited December 21, 2025 by Calm

[InCognitus]

I drove back to Arizona again today (I'm visiting my dad in the hospital again), and coincidently I had this Interpreter Foundation article on my MP3 play list and listened to it today:

An Analysis of the Financial Incentives in Attacking the Restoration, by Ron C. Rhodes.  It was published in 2024, and it is reporting on 2022 tax filings, so it may not reflect current trends.

The article dives into two Youtube channels that are raking in the dough by attacking the church, and one of them is Mormon Stories.

The article reports the financial filings of Mormon Stories as follows:

Quote

According to IRS records, the leading organization critical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormon Stories, reported earnings in donations of $751,928 in 2021 and $738,478 in 2022.⁹ This organization experienced an average annual revenue growth rate of 23.9 percent over the previous eight years.¹⁰ Using this average growth rate, its estimated revenue for 2023 is $907,589. Mormon Discussions reported revenue to the IRS of $327,345 in 2022.¹¹ Its growth rate since 2019 was 60.2 percent, and in fact, its revenue more than doubled from 2020 to 2021.¹²

While the “nonprofit” label implies that no one personally profits from donations or proceeds, the board of directors of such an entity may grant the CEO salary increases at their discretion. In 2022, the CEO of Mormon Stories received a salary of $228,674,¹³ about 31 percent of its overall revenue. This was not a part-time endeavor; he dedicated himself full-time to this role.¹⁴ Over the past eight years, he has received an average salary increase of 13.6 percent, but as high as an 84.5 percent increase from 2017 to 2018. Using the average of 13.6 percent, we can project his 2023 salary at $259,775—providing a strong financial incentive to continue doing the same work.

The article also discusses their merchandise sales, "including hats, mugs, and t-shirts—that mock our views on God and Jesus Christ, or denigrates the sacred temple ceremony, including the tokens of the Holy Priesthood".

And the article notes, "It is evident... that prominent critics are profiting in multiple ways from the doubt and lost faith of Church members. Indeed, the more faith they shake, the more money they make."

[Navidad]

19 hours ago, Pyreaux said:

The result is not informed consent, but directional persuasion.

Your opening or original post is a bit too angrily screedish (notice the embedded word!) for me. It seems to me that your phrase I have quoted is pivotal. Many organizations and individuals, including groups with large missionary contingents, may be guilty of what you have stated in this insightful phrase. Having said all that, I have never watched Mormon Stories. So I can't opine at all on them. I can opine, however, on the art of directional persuasion as taught by many groups.

[Pyreaux]

3 hours ago, Navidad said:

Your opening or original post is a bit too angrily screedish (notice the embedded word!) for me. It seems to me that your phrase I have quoted is pivotal. Many organizations and individuals, including groups with large missionary contingents, may be guilty of what you have stated in this insightful phrase. Having said all that, I have never watched Mormon Stories. So I can't opine at all on them. I can opine, however, on the art of directional persuasion as taught by many groups.

I appreciate your response, and I think you’re actually circling the same distinction I’m trying to make. Because persuasion itself isn’t inherently wrong. As you noted, many religious and non-religious groups openly persuade, including missionary movements. The difference I’m pointing to is the declared purpose. When an organization presents itself as neutral, arguing for "informed consent," while consistently guiding people toward a particular conclusion, that is not persuasion by consent, like consulting a missionary is, it is directional persuasion without disclosure.

I’m not claiming they have a malicious intent. I don’t believe most people think they’re doing harm. I’m not suggesting guests are being coerced to leave the church. But responsibility for the outcomes is what they will disavow. My criticism isn’t about persuading people to leave; it’s about presenting as neutral and then denying any responsibility for the outcome.

[ZealouslyStriving]

Made up title for the recalcitrant:

"The Christmas Truce of 2025"

http://youtube.com/post/UgkxBhca55UMO1e2LilGZPWUMaXR6XaG-ppQ?si=biyMBnd7RgWegYhi

*" Thought it related to the topic **

Edited December 21, 2025 by ZealouslyStriving

[Calm]

1 minute ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

http://youtube.com/post/UgkxBhca55UMO1e2LilGZPWUMaXR6XaG-ppQ?si=biyMBnd7RgWegYhi

*" Thought it related to the topic **

A title perhaps?  I dislike semiblindly clicking on videos even when recommended.

[ZealouslyStriving]

20 minutes ago, Calm said:

A title perhaps?  I dislike semiblindly clicking on videos even when recommended.

How about "The Christmas Truce of 2025"?

[ZealouslyStriving]

23 minutes ago, Calm said:

A title perhaps?  I dislike semiblindly clicking on videos even when recommended.

Because I'm known for sending people to things that will harm their psyche or computer?

🤨

[Calm]

51 minutes ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

Because I'm known for sending people to things that will harm their psyche or computer?

🤨

Well, you do post Ward Radio videos, correct?

[sunstoned]

Reality check: There are many more ex-Mormons than there are active Mormons in the world.  This is the reason that John Delin and others like RFM, who support a transparent view of Mormonism, are extremely popular.  People who come from an LDS background and identify as cultural Mormons need an online community. 

[Calm]

1 hour ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

How about "The Christmas Truce of 2025"?

Sweet of Thoughful (can’t remember his name).

It’s not something I could do yet.  It’s easier for me to forgive people who have hurt me than people who have hurt my friends and family, especially if intentional.

Edited December 21, 2025 by Calm

[Calm]

33 minutes ago, sunstoned said:

This is the reason that John Delin and others like RFM, who support a transparent view of Mormonism

I don’t know about RFM, but I think it’s more accurate to state for Dehlin he claims he supports such a view.  Knowing quite a bit of online history of his, I have strong doubts of his actual commitment to transparency, including things to do with the Church. (See, evidence I haven’t forgiven yet)

Quote

People who come from an LDS background and identify as cultural Mormons need an online community. 

I agree with this.  Many who have grown up in the Church are used to strong social connections and these are often in the context of church callings and activities, especially if living in LDS dense areas.  Hard to replace for many once one steps away from engagement with the Church community.

Edited December 21, 2025 by Calm

[ZealouslyStriving]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

Sweet of Thoughful (can’t remember his name).

The dreaded Jacob Hansen.

[ZealouslyStriving]

3 hours ago, Calm said:

Well, you do post Ward Radio videos, correct?

I didn't realize Ward Radio contained p*rn, gratuitous violence, or computer viruses. 

Also, the videos embed themselves, so you get a preview before you opt to either watch or don't watch.

I'll make sure to asterisk trigger warnings for the sensitive types from now on. 🙄

[sunstoned]

3 hours ago, Calm said:

I don’t know about RFM, but I think it’s more accurate to state for Dehlin he claims he supports such a view.  Knowing quite a bit of online history of his, I have strong doubts of his actual commitment to transparency, including things to do with the Church. (See, evidence I haven’t forgiven yet)

I agree with this.  Many who have grown up in the Church are used to strong social connections and these are often in the context of church callings and activities, especially if living in LDS dense areas.  Hard to replace for many once one steps away from engagement with the Church community.

It has been several years since I listened to a Mormon stories or RFM podcast, so things might have changed a bit.  Folks tell me that RFM has become more cynical.  He used to post here, but again, that was a while ago.

Edited December 22, 2025 by sunstoned

[Calm]

13 hours ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

I didn't realize Ward Radio contained p*rn, gratuitous violence, or computer viruses. 

I never said that.  Why did you go there? 

It just seems common politeness to tell people a little of what they are going to see so they know if they want to or not.

I don’t like Ward Radio.  I don’t want to watch it.  It is their style.  I don’t do “loud”.

But it’s not an obligation, only a kindness.  I have a very easy solution if you don’t want to bother.  I won’t click on the link.

added:  I didn’t register the fact you thought the link was embedded at first.  You may be able to see a preview but it’s just a link with numbers, no info on content attached for me.

Edited December 22, 2025 by Calm

[Calm]

1 hour ago, sunstoned said:

It has been several years since I listened to a Mormon stories or RFM podcast, so things might have changed a bit.  Folks tell me that RFM has become more cynical.  He used to post here, but again, that was a while ago.

You can be cynical and still be pro transparency (if you were referring to my reservation about Dehlin and thinking I was wondering about his sincerity as well).  I don’t usually hold being cynical against someone unless that means they close their mind, refuse to allow that other perspectives have value and may even be more informed, etc.  It’s not much fun to engage with anyone who’s close minded.  I like seeing people’s gears in motion.

Edited December 22, 2025 by Calm

[Navidad]

12 hours ago, sunstoned said:

Reality check: There are many more ex-Mormons than there are active Mormons in the world.  This is the reason that John Delin and others like RFM, who support a transparent view of Mormonism, are extremely popular.  People who come from an LDS background and identify as cultural Mormons need an online community. 

Fascinating. . . Is it a fact that there are "many more ex-Mormons than there are active Mormons in the world"? If so, then it is about time that the Saints back off on we non-Mormons and focus on their internal losses and divisions! Oh, and I would say the same thing to non-LDS Christianity in relation to its own splits and losses. Any data on how many ex-Mormons exist?

[ZealouslyStriving]

2 hours ago, Navidad said:

Fascinating. . . Is it a fact that there are "many more ex-Mormons than there are active Mormons in the world"? If so, then it is about time that the Saints back off on we non-Mormons and focus on their internal losses and divisions! Oh, and I would say the same thing to non-LDS Christianity in relation to its own splits and losses. Any data on how many ex-Mormons exist?

Your suggestion flies in the face of two of the Master's parables:

1) Wheat & Tares

2) Fishermen

[Navidad]

1 hour ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

Your suggestion flies in the face of two of the Master's parables:

1) Wheat & Tares

2) Fishermen

Good morning: Methinks neither parable has to do with Christians proselytizing or criticizing other Christians. A movement from being a non-LDS Christian to an LDS Christian is a migration within the same tribe, not a conversion. Ditto for the reverse. Ditto also for criticism either way. Of course I fully acknowledge this is my perspective and belief, and hence, my truth. I don't expect it to be yours. Have a good day, Navidad

[Senator]

5 minutes ago, Navidad said:

Good morning: Methinks neither parable has to do with Christians proselytizing or criticizing other Christians. A movement from being a non-LDS Christian to an LDS Christian is a migration within the same tribe, not a conversion. Ditto for the reverse. Ditto also for criticism either way. Of course I fully acknowledge this is my perspective and belief, and hence, my truth. I don't expect it to be yours. Have a good day, Navidad

I don’t think many LDS would view it that way. At least not the more old-school variety. They would tend to think those in Christianity would be coming out of the apostasy, and into the restored gospel. But hey, the church is a changin so who knows where one might stand these days?

[JVW]

On 12/20/2025 at 5:03 PM, Pyreaux said:

Hi everyone. In the spirit of uplifting this season, I wanted to start a thread examining a trend we’re seeing with the Mormon Stories podcast and what it may mean for faithful Latter-day Saints everywhere.

What Mormon Stories (Really) Is

First for context (never assuming everyone on the forum knows), Mormon Stories Podcast was started in 2005 by John Dehlin and has been one of the most prominent independent podcast platforms discussing LDS topics with a claim to focus on interviews with a wide variety of perspectives, including critics of the Church. Their official mission statement (from their own website) frames their work as facilitating informed consent, supporting those in faith crisis, and building community, reflecting their self-identified purpose rather than the claims of critics or promoters.

This is all deception. Not only is Mormon Stories not an LDS platform., its an Ex-LDS platform. It is run entirely by former members, many of whom are openly hostile to the Church. The name and icons strongly implies it is a faithful LDS or objective organization, which misleads both members and non-members searching for legitimate LDS information.

They are the top search result for the term "Mormon". This branding strategy allows the platform to intercept people at moments of vulnerability, like LDS investigators, questioning LDS members, and those in faith crisis. The result is not informed consent, but directional persuasion.

Who the Main Audience (Really) Is

While Mormon Stories claims to serve people navigating faith transitions (in one direction only), its core audience increasingly appears to be Never-LDS who enjoy exaggerated narratives of "cult escape", abuse amplification, large institutional villainization, shock-value storytelling about LDS culture. This mirrors trends seen in other anti-religious media spaces, where outrage and trauma-p0rn outperform nuance. Faithful discussion, context, and spiritual outcomes are not the product being sold, the conflict is.

Supported by a viewership of never-LDS and donation from ex-LDS and anti-LDS. Mormon Stories functions less like a support group and more like a deconstruction factory. Guests are guided, sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly, toward predetermined conclusions. The same accusations are recycled with new faces. For this they get donations. This is pure commercialized deconversion, not pastoral care.

Hypocrisy

A recurring theme on Mormon Stories is criticism of how the Church handles money. Yet Mormon Stories itself operates under a structure where the brand is inseparable from its founder. All revenue and donations overwhelmingly benefit their central figure. Compensation transparency is minimal compared to the moral scrutiny applied to the Church. At minimum, this represents a double standard. At worst, it suggests projection.

I’m not saying Mormon Stories is a cult the way others overbroadly use it, but it’s worth asking why it increasingly resembles the very systems it claims to oppose. There is a central charismatic authority, he has narrative control, people are emotional dependent on him. He uses moral absolutism, he is financial reliant on followers. His followers do identity reconstruction ("before" vs "after" self).

If we applied criteria for identifying ‘cult behavior’ to Mormon Stories itself, would it pass? If those patterns are troubling inside churches, they should be troubling in non-churches.

The platform only survives if people keep leaving and keep paying. Guests rarely leave more independent. Any later reconciliation to the church is bad for business. Any peace or resolution ends engagement. Therefore, only continued anger sustains it. There will never be a solution.

Declining Influence

Growth momentum appears to have slowed. Engagement fatigue is visible even among its former supporters. Long-time listeners describe content as repetitive and ideologically rigid. These two consecutive years of reduced growth is not a fluke, it is a trend.

Over a two-year span, both viewership growth and audience momentum slowed noticeably. This matters because Mormon Stories’ model depends on sustained emotional engagement. Specifically anger, grievance, and disillusionment. That kind of content performs well in bursts, but it does not age well. Anger is exhausting, repetition dulls outrage, and audiences eventually move on when every story resolves the same way. Platforms built on permanent resentment face an unavoidable problem. Once the emotional payoff diminishes, so does the audience. The decline was already underway because grievance is not a renewable resource.

The actual growth rates over recent years are not publicly broken down month-by-month on Social Blade without paid access, so I can't verify claims like 2023 had 117,000 new subscribers vs 57,000 in 2024 and 28,000 in 2025. If anyone has access to month-by-month analytics, that would be great to share.

When Weak, a Forced Rebrand is a Direct Hit to their Deception Model

The Church’s request that Mormon Stories stop using branding that implies official or representative LDS status strikes at the heart of the platform’s growth strategy. The name itself functions as a search engine funnel. Capturing members, investigators, and outsiders searching for authentic LDS perspectives, then redirecting them into adversarial content. Removing that ambiguity disrupts discoverability, weakens first impressions, and forces the platform to operate honestly as what it is: an ex-LDS commentary channel.

The Church has every legal and ethical right to protect its identity and its members from confusion. Coming amid an existing decline, rebranding is not a inconvenience, it is a compounding blow. When growth is already slowing, losing a misleading point of entry can accelerate irrelevance.

Organizations like Mormon Stories are far more fragile than they appear. They are not a lean volunteer group; they are bulky operations with fixed costs, salaries, production expenses, contractors, studio infrastructure, and brand maintenance. All funded almost entirely by ongoing donations and attention. Even a modest, sustained decline in views, engagement, or donor enthusiasm can have outsized effects. When revenue dips below operating expectations, there is little cushion, and pressure compounds quickly.

Happy Holidays

Unlike the LDS Church, which is diversified, geared for the long-term, and not dependent on outrage, Mormon Stories must constantly replace disengaging donors with newly disaffected members. As that pool shrinks and fatigue sets in, the math turns unforgiving. For faithful Latter-day Saints this represents a quiet but meaningful shift. Fewer resources fueling anger, fewer incentives to sensationalize faith crises, and fewer members being monetized at moments of vulnerability. If trends continue, from a faithful LDS perspective, this season truly may be a Merry Christmas for those who care that truth and faith outlasted a grievance-driven enterprise.

May we look toward to the new year and hope for fewer fires. Fires of contention and outrage, and fewer literal fires as well. Attacks on churches, vandalism, and arson against houses of worship are never acceptable, no matter the ideology. When rhetoric cools and grievance-driven platforms lose influence, the real-world temperature often lowers too. A calmer media environment makes room for safer congregations, healthier dialogue, and faith practiced without fear. That is a hope worth carrying into the new year.

Discussions

Have you noticed fewer people recommending Mormon Stories lately?

Do you think the name is intentionally misleading?

What platforms do you see filling the gap?

What trends have you noticed in Mormon Stories’ influence, for yourself or others?

Have you noticed increased engagement with faithful LDS channels since 2023?

Do you think metrics like subscriber counts has told us anything meaningful?
Again, Mormon Stories is produced by the Open Stories Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Reliable revenue data needs the IRS Form 990. If you can access the latest filings, please post them!

Merry Christmas Pyreaux. I hope you have a wonderful Christmastime with your loved ones!

[JVW]

17 hours ago, sunstoned said:

Reality check: There are many more ex-Mormons than there are active Mormons in the world.  This is the reason that John Delin and others like RFM, who support a transparent view of Mormonism, are extremely popular.  People who come from an LDS background and identify as cultural Mormons need an online community. 

CFR please