Latter Day Bridge Builders

What does it look like to stop believing in the Church but still show up every Sunday? In this episode, we sit down with Colton Scott. A born-and-raised Utah Mormon, returned missionary (Scotland & Ireland), and BYU grad who describes himself as a product of "the Utah factory." Colton shares the story of how his sister's faith transition in 2023 sent him down a rabbit hole of investigation that ultimately broke his shelf, and how he's navigated life as a PIMO (Physically In, Mentally Out) ever since.In this episode, we discuss:- Colton's background: mission, LDS Business College, BYU, and growing up in a deeply devout family- How his sister's faith transition triggered his own investigation (CES Letter, LDS Discussions, and more)- The things that had been on his shelf for years: the Book of Mormon, the SEC's $5M penalty against the Church, Brigham Young, and LGBTQ issues- What it was like to tell his bishopric (in two different wards) that he no longer believes, and why both experiences went better than expected- The tension of being PIMO: staying for community, family, and the 80% he still agrees with- Baptizing his son while no longer believing, and the harder questions ahead (temple recommends, weddings, priesthood circles)- Whether attending church as a non-believer means "feeding the beast" and how each person has to find their own tolerance level- The Church's culture of "all in or all out," and whether that's changing- How Colton's moral compass and standards have stayed intact through his deconstruction- The autonomic nervous system response to leaving behind lifelong religious habits - Brian McLaren's four stages of faith: simplicity, complexity, perplexity, and harmony- A discussion of Jeff Strong's book Torn and Elder Holland's circle momentIf this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and consider supporting the podcast financially — links are below.You're not alone out there. 🌉🌐 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👕 Merch Store:https://ldbb-shop.fourthwall.com

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...

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...

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

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

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

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

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 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 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 truthThis 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

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.

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 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.phpYou can also find the audiobook version of Closeted on most major audiobook apps, including Spotify and Audible.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/latter-day-bridge-builders/donations