This Global Latter-day Life

In this episode, Claremont Graduate University student, Natalie Nelson and Dr. Caroline Kline discuss Kaya’s story, a young adult from a Zulu tribe. Although raised in the church, Kaya only heard of the black Priesthood-Temple ban during an institute class. Despite the shock, Kaya decided to not leave the church, but research the history independently. Nelson and Kline discuss Kaya’s extraordinary ability to navigate difficult history as well as cultural clashes between the church and her tribal traditions, including the practice of lobola.   

In this episode, PhD students Joseph DuWors and Vinna Chowriamah discuss the impact of colonialism and racism on church members in Mauritius. Reviewing an interview with “Jacques,” a Mauritian of European descent, they explore how race and “otherness” can effect church experience. Vinna, also a Mauritian, explains how, despite the multi-ethnic composition of church units in Mauritius, racism is often hidden from plain sight.

This episode features the experiences and perspectives of Ruth, a Zimbabwean convert who is studying at BYU-Idaho. Comparing her expectations of living in an LDS community and the reality, Ruth believes American members do not yet fully understand or embrace the dynamics and implications of a global church. Claremont PhD student and Rexburg resident Elizabeth Mawlam discusses Ruth’s story with BYU-Idaho professor of history, Andrea Radke-Moss. Together they explore how international students are slowly changing one of the most densely LDS communities.
 

Welcome to season 2! We have switched podcast platforms, so please resubscribe wherever you get your podcasts in order to access season 2. RSS feed is https://www.globallatterday.org/feed.xml 
Like the first season, the podcast will share the stories and voices of Latter-day Saints from around the world as they discuss their hopes and fears, their sorrows and joys, and the way their faith informs their daily lives. Again, we’ll be joined by scholars and other community members who offer insight and explore questions that arise along the way.
This season, however, is different from the first because this seasons’ episodes are hosted by graduate students from Claremont Graduate University. These students each researched, wrote, and edited an episode, which means that every episode has a different flavor, focus, and energy. I think the stories they highlight—most of which were contributed to CGU’s oral history collections—are fascinating, as are the insightful conversations the hosts have with scholars as they together unpack the themes that arose in each of the interviews. I hope you’ll join us for this second season. Subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. 

This episode features the story of Sarah, a Navajo church member, who has experienced some dislocation from her Navajo culture of origin. She discusses her family’s history with the church and on the reservation and her search for stability in her life. Farina King joins Caroline to discuss the Sarah’s oral history, along with the […]

This episode features the story of Kalani, who navigated membership in the church during times when interracial marriage was discouraged. She discusses the difficulties those teachings brought into her life, as well as the challenges of her years as a single mother. Kalani Tonga joins Caroline in a discussion about Kalani’s own oral history, focusing […]

This episode features the story of Thabisa, who navigated the brutal injustice of apartheid South Africa, and who ultimately found a sense of peace when she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kalani Tonga joins Caroline in a discussion about Thabisa’s oral history, focusing on issues of race within the church and […]

This episode tells the story of Beth from the Caribbean, who experienced abuse at the hands of her husband. She escaped and built a life for herself in the United States, ultimately becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sarah Bonilla joins Caroline in a discussion about Latter-day Saint discourse […]

This episode features the oral history of Ana from Mexico, who found herself in an abusive Latter-day Saint marriage. Eventually Ana, with the help of friends and family, took steps to end the abuse and to push against prevailing norms that lead women to keep silent about the problem. Sarah Bonilla joins Caroline in a […]

This episode explores the oral life history of Naomi, a convert from Botswana, who navigates the challenges of Latter-day Saint single life in a context where societal norms and parental expectations sometimes conflict with church chastity standards. Taunalyn Ford joins Caroline in a discussion about Naomi’s oral history, sexuality norms, and single Latter-day Saint women. […]