Mormon History Podcast – Gospel Tangents – Mormon History Podcast

Why are people really leaving the LDS Church? In Part 2 of our deep dive into LDS disaffiliation, we continue our conversation with Jeff Strong, author of the groundbreaking book “Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them.” This episode moves beyond the statistics to explore the complex, personal “waves” of modern faith loss.

Don’t miss our other conversations Jeff: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jeff-strong

Copyright © 2026

Gospel Tangents

All Rights Reserved

Key topics covered in this episode include:
* The Church History Bomb...

Is the LDS Church actually shrinking? We’re talking about LDS disaffiliation with  Jeff Strong, author of the new book Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them. While official membership records show steady growth, the reality of active participation tells a much more complex story. In this episode, I’ll sit down with Jeff to break down the startling data behind modern disaffiliation.

Don’t miss our other conversations Jeff: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jeff-strong

Copyright © 2026

Gospel Tangents

All Right...

I invited Dr. Patrick Mason on to discuss reframing faith in the complex history of religion. He iis a historian and theologian at Utah State University, and discusses the evolution of his career from academic research to pastoral writing aimed at those navigating faith crises. He reflects on the limitations of a transactional approach to religion, suggesting instead that individuals must take personal accountability for their spiritual lives while remaining part of a community. Mason addresses difficult historical and moral issues, such as slavery and the priesthood ban, by arguing that past leaders were fallible and that modern believers shou...

Dr Ugo Perego tests the most pressing Mormon DNA claims. Did Joseph Smith have secret children from his plural marriages? What really triggered the Mountain Meadows Massacre? And does Native American DNA align with the Book of Mormon? https://youtu.be/ni5d6D90VoU Don’t miss our other conversations with Ugo! https://gospeltangents.com/people/ugo-perego/

Copyright © 2026

Gospel Tangents

All Rights Reserved

In the final installment Nancy Ross and Jessica Finnigan discuss their Mormon garment research, co-authors of Mormon Garments, Sacred and Secret explore the sociological themes of their book, the shifting historical meanings behind garments, and how their taboo-breaking research has been received by the community.

Sacred vs. Secret: A Matter of Belief

The authors break down the sociological framework of their book, organizing their findings around paired themes like “secrecy and sacredness,” “shame and worthiness,” and “obedience and control.” They argue that practically, the concepts of “secret” and “sacred” operate in the exact same way regarding garments...

Institutional Control and Double Standards: Garment History

Historically, members had the freedom to make their own garments from approved patterns or mark their own store-bought underwear. Over time, the patriarchal institution tightened its control, eventually establishing Beehive Clothing as the sole approved manufacturer and cutting off personal production avenues.

Nancy Ross & Jessica Finnigan shared their survey findings with the LDS Church’s correlation research division, whose researchers were shocked by several revelations. Most notably, they were surprised to learn that the physical toll of wearing garments was the primary reason some women left the Church, co...

Are you or someone you love navigating a faith crisis? You are not alone. Jeff Strong says 40% are leaving the Church.

40% are Leaving?

A historic shift is transforming the religious landscape. According to Jeff Strong’s new book Torn, nearly 40% of members are stepping away from their faith communities. But why is this happening, and how can we better understand and support those we love who leave? In this video, we unpack the insights from four groundbreaking books: Torn, Goodbye Religion, Bridges, and The Next Mormons. We are tackling the tough questions and busting the ha...