How a former software consultant became a central figure in digital Mormon discourse

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: John Dehlin transitioned from a career in corporate technology to founding the Mormon Stories podcast. His work, which explores faith transitions and LGBTQ advocacy, eventually led to his 2015 excommunication from the LDS Church. Today, he remains a polarizing figure, balancing significant digital influence with ongoing questions regarding his nonprofit's financial management.

John Parkinson Dehlin, an American podcaster with a PhD in clinical and counseling psychology, initially built a career in the software industry. After graduating from Brigham Young University in 1993, he spent years as a consultant for firms like Bain & Company and later worked at Microsoft for seven years. His pivot toward digital media began in the mid-2000s, when he moved to Logan, Utah, to work on OpenCourseWare projects at Utah State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In 2005, Dehlin launched the Mormon Stories podcast, initially intending to provide a space for Latter-day Saints to discuss their faith and find reasons to remain in the church. Over time, the project expanded to cover complex topics including faith crises, mental illness, and LGBTQ rights. Dehlin also held leadership roles at the Sunstone Education Foundation and co-founded other community projects, such as the website Mormons for Marriage. His public advocacy and criticism of church leaders ultimately led to a disciplinary council in 2015, where he was excommunicated for apostasy.

The Open Stories Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Dehlin established in 2011, has faced scrutiny regarding its governance. In 2022, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that former employees filed an IRS complaint alleging that the foundation's board was curated to benefit Dehlin personally. Whistleblowers claimed the organization lacked sufficient oversight, noting that Dehlin's annual compensation increased significantly over the decade. By 2019, his salary of $236,021 accounted for 60% of the foundation's total earnings, a figure that continues to spark debate about the intersection of personal income and nonprofit mission in the digital age.

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