Thank you Stephen and Ashley, I am a baby boomer and have not yet had a faith crisis, I think my wife and I have been given the gift of faith and belief (but we have had plenty of trials that have brought us to our knees seeking reassurance). Having said that, our daughters are your age (millennials), they have both left the church, at first this absolutely crushed me, but as I see and hear more of these "come back stories" it gives me great hope not just for the possibility of them returning to the church, but a deeper and firmer belief in the whole of the Plan of Salvation. Knowing that the Plan will at some point give all, even the hardened unbelievers a solid chance at accepting Christ and the "Great Plan of Happiness" Keep up the great work, both of you!

Thanks for having me on Ashley, apologies the audio wasnt great on my end. It seemed like my mic wasnt capturing everyhtjng i was saying.

Growing up in a small midwestern college town The Godmakers came to our city. I was still young… junior high age. There were new converts in our small branch who were college students and they decided to go to correct them. I asked how it went and this sweet young convert said she felt complete darkness there and her tongue was held. She finally just had to leave. I knew at a young age that the adversary is working overtime to destroy testimonies. I’m so grateful for your podcast… and many others that have brought all these false arguments out and in the open. Your guests have been through such difficult dark times to find their way back. It’s incredibly inspiring.

Totally love this. I served in N Ireland in 82-83. During the midst of the Troubles. Cave Hill, Rosetta and Portadown. Hardest time of my life, but most rewarding. Traveling with my wife and we went to church in Portadown May ‘23. When I walked into that chapel the spirit was there as strong as I have ever felt, and it hit me like a load of bricks and reaffirmed to me the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’ve been blessed by this gospel. ❤❤❤

Stephen’s experience is similar to my own. Love his channel!

Love Stephen. He was my son’s mission comp. I love that he came back to the fold, and that he is sharing his experiences with other’s.

Thank you for doing these podcasts. I find them informative and strengthening.

I appreciate Elder Holland's statement about if we leave we have to deal with the origin and quality of the Book of Mormon. Only recently I have thought of the reality that Joseph Smith recited it rather than wrote it. No mortal could have recited it without referring to the previous text. How could he have been confident to fool eleven men or have them lie for him. Even Chiasmus is a miracle. I studied the New Testament with such fervor and intent as a missionary that intellectually I knew that the Blue Print of all the doctrines of the restoration are so well laid out there that the church was true. The spiritual testimony was strong but the intellectual was so valuable. As much as I love Murph it is sad that he didn't study the Bible with the zeal he gave history. What do you do with Isaiah 29, Ezekiel 27, Amos 8 11-12, the dozens of apostasy and restoration scriptures, Acts 2, Ephesians 4, Daniel 2. The dozens of Bible scriptures that are ironclad about a physical resurrection, spirit world, nature of God, plan of salvation. etc. David Alexander I believe saw power of the sister missionaries but the doctrine of the restoration he knew from the Bible. What do you do with the Elijah prophecy at the end of the old Testament Murph?

We all have to fight and struggle for a testimony. It wouldn’t be worth much if we didn’t have to. I found it interesting that your guest turned to the D&C and found solace, comfort and answers to his questions there, since those words came from God but through a prophet that he wasn’t fully accepting as a prophet. I also appreciated his comments about how those who criticize the BoM don’t hold the Bible to the same criticism. Iv’e often thought the same thing as I read from the Bible. It’s a shame that so many of us waste so much time in losing and regaining a testimony when we could be spending that time discovering the depths of Christ’s teachings. But I get it. We all have to start where we are. Often, those who go through the most painful turmoil come out the strongest. Thank you for sharing these stories. Heaven knows there are plenty of stories of people who have left the church. I find comfort in knowing that so many return.

Thank you. Loved this story. Regardless of what we have said, or done, or where we’ve been, God will always be there to accept us back into his arms and fellowship.

Stephen has always struck me as an honest seeker of truth. Regarding the supposed 'unpardonable sin' of 'succumbing' to one's emotions: It's ironic that Stephen's was most in danger of commiting said sin when he DIDN'T want the Church to be true; he received answers that satisfied his intellectual standards @45:00, but he didn't WANT to give up his current paradigm/lifestyle.

Another awesome interview. My favorite of all of the insights was when Stephen said "I left with integrity, and I came back with integrity." It is, I think, far more often the case than we think, that our friends and family members leave the church "with integrity". If/since this is the case, it is important for us to treat them and their decision with integrity as well. Accepting them for who they are at the point that they leave can then be done in an absence of fear and anger, and in the presence of mutual respect. Many, if not most, who leave with integrity will come back eventually with integrity. If we treat them with integrity while they are away, that gives them a much safer space to begin mounting their integrous comeback.

I love both of your channels. Thank you for sharing your experience. I love the simplicity one finds on the other side of complexity after overcoming a faith crisis.

OUR FAITH WILL ALWAYS BE TESTED AS JOB HAD! ❤❤❤

I loved this podcast. I can relate to questioning your faith, Steven. I also think having an open mind is a good thing!! Just remember when questioning, that it’s better on your spirit to question with the attitude of proving the church RIGHT, rather than proving it wrong. The Spirit will guide you!! Keep the Faith👍🏻👍🏻. The WHOLE THING is based upon FAITH❣️ Listening to Hello Saints has actually strengthened my testimony sooo much👍🏻. May you continue to find the TRUTH, it is absolute.

I love Murph, and his testimony! Thank you!❤️☀️

I think the "anti-Mormon" label gets applied to readily to anything critical of Mormonism. I left the LDS church and am now mainstream Christian. I am critical of some theological and historical claims, but am proud of my Mormon upbringing and heritage and culture. In some way, I am pro-Mormon, and always tell people what good people Mormons are, and tell them to be nice when the missionaries come around.

Glad you interviewed Stephen. He is awesome, and I love his youtube channel :)

This was a more complete story from Murph than I have heard before. Totally enjoyed it all.

Another soldier for the cause of truth. Thanks for your example and your encouragement!

I love that you were shy and now you’re talking to anyone in the world who will listen!

Thank you for taking the time to do this video. It is awesome to hear the stories of those who have strayed and made their way back to the gospel. They are again able to join with their brothers and sisters! Hopefully, with eyes wide open to better see the beauty, the kindness and the hope, as well as keeping their eyes half closed to reduce the affect of each individual ‘s imperfections and shortcomings. Fortunately, the Lord is willing to work through each one of us, despite our faults and defects! Thanks again,! I pray God is with you both, and His spirit touches the hearts of your listeners to strengthen their testimonies :-)

As an Irish Catholic convert, and one who had to come to grips with his own faith crisis, and left the church he grew up in, (all my friends were Catholic, and I went to Catholic school all growing up etc), I have really come to see that the quality of brutal self-honesty is so powerful and important, so essential for personal progression... and it's obvious that Stephen has that, thank you for this wonderful interview!

Minute 43 “it felt so direct”……amen. I know what you mean

Stephen, thank you for sharing your story and for your authentic approach.

Like many people who make videos online, I’ve gotten mad at Murph a few times commenting on his videos. I loved this interview though, Murph is honestly one of the most sincere voices in defense of the restored gospel right now. In one of his videos he left the door open to leaving again, but I think he’s going to be a strong voice for a while. Thank you both!!

I so love this podcast. It fills me with hope to know there's always a way back to the covenant path. Loved hearing the Murph's story. So awesome!

Great story and testimony!

Loved this story!

wow wow WOW! THIS!!! Ok so one of my favorite things is to articulate my faith, but listening to you articulate your experience helped me understand my faith on a whole other level! You put things into words I've not yet attempted and all I could do was laugh!!! The only way I could convey the joy it was to listen to you haha, thank you so much for sharing your story

The Murph is awesome

So Inspiring!!!!!!

Great interview

Thanks!

Stephen it’s clear God wants you in His kingdom. What an amazing experience.

LOVING YOUR GUESTS!

Sweet, my mission was in Alberta, Canada. Awesome. Canada was fun.

Like David Alexander God had Stephen’s gift in hand all along. If a person stays committed to being honest, something many church critics are not, then they can’t go too far away. Love the honesty and clarity of Stephen…he could write a book that would help many. One mistake that seems plain to me is to confuse questions with answers. If we don’t have all the facts to answer an historical question then making a dogmatic judgement is running to a conclusion. This goes both ways. Adam God theory is a question while the Spiritual witnesses I’ve been given are facts to me.

I wish you had asked Stephen about his experience of returning back and what his spiritual impressions were.

Those enemies of the truth are just that enemies. I have so many friends returning to church because God has told them by the holy Ghost. They realize that all that looking into people's lives is fruitless. the church is a hospital of sinners not a window of prefect people. All the prophets and apostles were and continue to be human weather in the time of Christ or now. Even though people tell you not to pray and not to read they are just ultimately trying to destroy your faith because ultimately all that persuades you to do evil comes from evil.

Murph is a true disciple of Christ.

Hey Murph, did/ do you know Shamus Kelly?

What was the byu talk he listened to?

Could you do a video on the second anointing?

Explain to me why my patriotical blessing says I will be a mother and raise my children and I'm 43 no children my husband is 49 and we've been trying for years WTF?

Can you reveal any gospel teachings in the Book of Mormon that are not found in the Bible???

I wonder why the need to read anti Mormon docs when we have sooooooo much Church resources to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ that are so uplifting.

❤

I don't know what the ces letter is.

He didn't have the CES letter memorized. He uses hyperbole and bad arguments like a lot of apologists

Finding out about the lies coverups and fraud of the LDS church was shocking …leaving was the greatest experience…don’t even want to glimpse it in the rear view mirror…👍🏽👍🏽.

Ok he mentioned every single problematic topic of Church History. 😂😂😂

🤍

Can I debate any LDS member ?

"After much studying & research," I reached the opposite conclusion that Stephen did. His conclusion was based on a subjective "spiritual" confirmation. Mine was reached on abductive reasoning (most likely explanation based on the information). Thomas Edison: "To those searching for truth--not the truth of dogma and darkness but the truth brought by reason, search, examination, and inquiry, discipline is required. For faith, as well intentioned as it may be, must be built on facts, not fiction--faith in fiction is a damnable false hope."

The target audience for these videos doesn't actually seem to be for people who have left. The target audience seems to be for believing members to give them unrealistic hope that their loved ones that left will one day return. I know countless people who after examining the troubling issues of the church left. I don't know a single one that regained their belief. To be fair, I do know one guy that went back because his new wife is a believer, but he just fakes it for her.

Truth is often mislabeled as 'anti' this or that, while mormons desecrate Jesus after every Sunday service when the left over 'blessed and sanctified' bread and water is thrown out like common trash.

I am astonished that the CES thing would have any influence on anybody. There is nothing convincing in it at all.

Going to Disney World “feels good”. That doesn’t make it true.

Interesting you saw n.d.e stories. Have you seen the ones where people saw Joseph Smith in Hell and many Mormons? The latest one his name is Blood bought. He saw Joseph didn't know who he was until a couple years later when he told his father in law . He showed him Joseph's picture( he said the nose is a bit different from the picture) and he saw the mantion house in navoo. What baffles me is that after seeing all the proof of how Joseph did it you still chose to stay? . To me it's like going to a very fancy restaurant and seeing how nasty the kitchen is, filled with mice,rats and cockroaches . After seeing that I would never go back to that restaurant. I left the church. And asked for JESUS to prove to me I was on the right path and to show me in anyway he chooses to tell me. This was around 3 pm I cried and prayed until 5 then I left it in his hands and said even if you don't want to show me right now I'll wait until you see that I'm ready. My uncle from Brazil called me which never happens after 5 pm because it's a 4 he difference. I asked him why did he decided to calm at that moment? He said I thought of you and hadn't spoken to you in a long time, I miss you my daughter. He calls me his first baby his daughter. I was amazed how fast JESUS answered my prayer. JESUS proved to me by actions that I'm on the right path and that he loves me. Joseph was never. Real prophet and it's easy to prove . Any of his prophecies that didn't come true according to the Bible only one wrong prophecy is enough to tell that man is a false prophet. He said the name of God is Elohim in which in Hebrew it means Lord or person from the spirit realm, it can also mean demons. Joseph didn't know Gods name. How could he be prophet? He said there are people on the moon that dress like Quakers. And don't even get me started on his translation of the Bible he added 13 verses to Genesis 50 found no where else but in his Bible . And it talks about him. And you still don't get it? . The book of Abraham has been proven a fraud and you still believe? . I'm sorry but I can understand ignorance or lack of knowledge on a subject, but to learn the truth by many sources saying the same things about Joseph and you deny it? What does that make you? It inst a wise person. The wise see this and leave because they love the truth and hate lies. How can you even consider going back knowing all of that? You're ok with Nelson being part of Skull and Bones s secret society?

What do you do with the donkey talking in the bible and the blind receiving sight did you forget all things are possible with God the best way to know if it's true is ask God

Some people like Stephen who know the serious issues with the Church's truth claims, use the Church as a UTILITY. Others cannot return after learning about Joseph Smith polygamy and Book of Abraham not being historical, etc. BECAUSE Mormonism has to be TRUE and HISTORICAL. As long as Stephen can do the mental gymnastics and use the Church for the utility.