MHH88: Becoming an EX ExMormon: Valerie’s Story

Up next in my series all about leaving Mormonism AND ExMormonism, I chat with my childhood friend Valerie all about her experiences growing up Mormon, Ricks College (yes, before it was BYU-I), converting and marrying her husband, and falling down the rabbit hole and leaving Mormonism. It’s a crash course, with some great wisdom at the end of the conversation. Please don’t miss all the photos I posted of our favorite childhood moments, can you believe I found photos to go along with the things Valerie brought up? Writing the names of all the guys we’ve kissed on the wall at girls camp? Check! The deer head someone used to terrorize us? Check! Attempting to dye our hair with kool-aid? You know it! Girls camp was where the memories were made! If you’d like to watch Val and I catch up on Growing Up Mormon, head on over to Patreon for the full video of this conversation! 

 

 

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MHH87: Becoming an EX-ExMormon: Jessica’s Story

There comes a time for many of us who have moved on from Mormonism that we REALLY want to move on and not stay in the community that validated us when we left Mormonism. We are done with the triggers, the constant repeating drama, the never-changing harm that pours out of the LDS Church. We are ready to embrace joy, happiness, and filling our lives with other interests! First up, to share her own journey out of Mormonism, and out of ExMormonism, and what she has done to fill up her life. She’s a novelist, with a alter ego pen name Delaney Darco. She is thriving in a mixed-faith marriage that is full of love, respect, and deep conversations.

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MHH86: Post Mormon Confessions

Today I have some Post Mormon Confessions for you, things I am still carrying around with me that I’d like to work through and let go. First up, I still carry my temple recommend in my wallet, 7 years later. Why the heck do I do this?? Second, boobs. Yep, I’m gonna talk about growing up as a Mormon girl with boobs and how that wrecked me. That pic right there is me in 6th grade sporting my mom approved no cleavage Speedo. I’m the one holding my breath like I can’t smile underwater. Do you have some Post Mormon Confessions as well? I’d love to hear what yours are, and what they mean to you in your life. Also, don’t miss the upcoming topics, reach out and tell me about what they mean to you so I can include you in the next episode!

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MHH84: I Just Need to MFing Love Myself

Do you love yourself? Do you really? What would it feel like to have a raw, unconditional love for yourself, every part of what makes you who you are? I’m on a mission to answer that question. Come with me and dive into vulnerability, authenticity, self-love, mindfulness and real exponential growth. I have begun a new chapter in my life, and I’m going in with a plan. Today I’m sharing with you a few things that really resonated with me on a recent retreat Escape with Joy with Elena Thurston and some amazing insight from my good friend and Faith Transition Life Coach Claudine Gallagher. I can’t wait to hear your feedback and what your own self-love is looking like!

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MHH80: McKenna-geddon, The Heated Aftermath Pt 2

THIS IS PART 2 of a panel discussion.

Recently, Mike Norton aka NewNameNoah presented an expansion of information that was previously presented regarding McKenna Denson when she came forward with allegations of rape at the hands of the Missionary Training Center president in the 80’s, Joseph Bishop. This further information, and the manner in which Norton presented it has erupted a firestorm of controversy in both the ExMormon and the Mormon communities as people grapple with feelings of betrayal, rage, anger, and disgust. Neither one of these players is getting a free pass. Lesley Butterfield, Bryce Blankenagel, and our fresh panelist Janelle Brinton and I all create a diverse panel with differing opinions on how to digest this controversy, whether rage or compassion is appropriate, and how this could have been handled differently. If you’d like to watch rather than listen, head on over to Patreon for the video of this panel, where it was early released!

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MHH79: McKenna-geddon, The Heated Aftermath Pt 1

Recently, Mike Norton aka NewNameNoah presented an expansion of information that was previously presented regarding McKenna Denson when she came forward with allegations of rape at the hands of the Missionary Training Center president in the 80’s, Joseph Bishop. This further information, and the manner in which Norton presented it has erupted a firestorm of controversy in both the ExMormon and the Mormon communities as people grapple with feelings of betrayal, rage, anger, and disgust. Neither one of these players is getting a free pass. Lesley Butterfield, Bryce Blankenagel, and our fresh panelist Janelle Brinton and I all create a diverse panel with differing opinions on how to digest this controversy, whether rage or compassion is appropriate, and how this could have been handled differently. Don’t miss Part TWO of this discussion in Ep80, linked in the show notes. If you’d like to watch rather than listen, head on over to Patreon for the video of this panel, where it was early released!

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MHH73: Part 1 Call to Elder Dyches of the Strengthening Church Members Committee

Today, 3 Mormons are back to call the Strengthening Church Members Committee. This Committee serves the church leadership as an Orwellian group of dutiful spies who track down the activities of members who have been deemed apostate. These files contain screenshots of online activities and other evidence of apostasy. Once a member gains the level of public attention that is deemed problematic to the LDS highest authority, the member’s local leaders, Bishops and Stake Presidents, are given the go-ahead to begin disciplinary action. As you may remember from MHH Ep57, myself, Lesley Butterfield and Bryce Blankenagel are still members of record and have not yet resigned for unique reasons. So we decided to call Elder Dyches this morning to obtain what information was found in our prospective SCMC member files. Listen in to see how it went and what new information we gained! Lesley asks specifically about what recourse members have who are abused by the very local ecclesiastical leaders that Church HQ refers us back to when we raise concern. Don’t miss Part 2 where we discuss this call and all the new information and its significance later today.

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MHH72: Crystal’s Silent Walking Protest at Conference

Crystal Legionnaires made waves one year ago when she stood and shouted “Stop Protecting Sexual Predators” in the Conference Center during a live session of conference. This year, she carefully chose a new demonstration to promote a message of importance for the quality of life of all LGBTQ individuals who are harmed by the policies and doctrine enforced by LDS Leadership. She shares with us the thought and planning before the day, the response during the walk, and what she has heard in the aftermath. Crystal includes a tender story of a woman who stopped to help her feet during the walk. If you’d like to watch the video of Crystal’s chat, head to Mormon Happy Hour on Patreon!

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MHH71: The 420 Cannabis Special Part 2

Part 2 brings 3 guests all with extensive experience and expertise, all unique and fascinating, with Cannabis! First up, learn all the benefits it can bring to your mental health, backed by scientific research! Best of all, learn what it can do to conquer an upbringing in Mormon sex shaming and unlock mind-blowing orgasms! Who doesn’t want amazing sex? Next, listen as Chelsea tells us what she has learned through decades of use and from being closely engaged in a local grower of cannabis in WA State. And last of all, a special friend I’ll call Candy because of her skills making the KanniKandi in her very own kitchen! If you missed the videos of my exploration with cannabis, head over to Patreon to check those out!

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MHH70: The 420 Cannabis Special Part 1

It’s here! The Mormon Happy Hour Celebration of 420! Leaving a high demand, conservative religion such as Mormonism, complete with a code for what to put in your body called the Word of Wisdom, you have some deep seeded caution, fear and apprehension about a substance designated as a “drug.” Join me as I take you on my own exploration with this natural plant, and what it can bring to our lives. In Part 1, I am joined by my sister-in-law Valerie, who brings a show and tell, with refreshments, and answers all the listener submitted questions we received. Don’t miss the after-effects video of Val and I discussing what it felt like to “taste-test” the products she brought, on Patreon now! And come back for Part 2, where I bring on a grow enthusiast, a cannabis candy maker, and a professional who all discuss their avid use of Cannabis and what it has brought to their life!

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