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Episode 15 of Apostates explores three prominent LDS activists who challenged Church policies: Sonia Johnson (Equal Rights Amendment), Kate Kelly (women's ordination), and Sam Young (child protection). We examine their motivations, methods, and the institutional responses they faced, including excommunication. Through these stories, we analyze patterns of dissent, authority, and change within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, offering insights into the tension between individual conscience and institutional loyalty for modern members.

Sources

• Essay_3 Decades of ERA_BYU RSC
• News_An Excomm & Future of the Church_WBUR
• News_I was Exxed for Asking for Equal Rights_Guardian
• News_Push to Ordain Women Leads to Excomm_BBC
• Video_After Excomm_624_MS
• Video_Sam Young Excomm_973_MS
• Video_Sam Young Protect Children_962-963_MS
• Video_Sonia Johnson_1001-1005_Gospel Tangents

AI Prompt

Explore how and why the Church disciplines activists - specifically Sonia Johnson, Kate Kelly, and Sam Young. Review each of their stories separately. What do their experiences reveal about the values of the Latter-day Saint Church and apostacy within the faith? What does this reveal about freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and other civil rights? What does it revel about how change happens within the LDS Church? What key takeaways for Church members?

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1. Truth | 2. Beginnings | 3. First Vision | 4. Priesthood | 5. The Gold Plates | 6. The BoM | 7. The BoA | 8. Polygamy | 9. Changes | 10. Challenges | ...