In this episode of Latter Day Bridge Builders, Mitch sits down with James Linton, an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to talk about the uncomfortable space between belief and disbelief; and why so many relationships get stuck there.

Instead of debating doctrine, this conversation digs into how members and ex-members see each other, why fear and silence creep into friendships, and what actually helps bridge the gap.

They explore ideas like:

- Why religious identity feels so personal, and so fragile

- How institutions struggle with nuance (and people don’t have to)

- Alcohol, social spaces, and unspoken rules

- Why “no strings attached” time might be the most radical act of bridge-building

- The danger of believing you possess all the truth

This episode isn’t about changing minds. It’s about remembering the humanity on the other side—and learning how to stay connected without preaching, fixing, or disappearing.

🎧 If you’ve ever felt like you’re walking on eggshells with believing or former-believing family and friends, this one’s for you.

📩 Reach James: @JimmerLinton (socials) | LinkedIn: James Linton🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders ☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

Serving a Mormon mission in Cape Verde, Africa completely changed my life. It made me more serious, more committed, and opened my eyes to a culture totally different from the white Utah bubble I grew up in. It also pushed me to my limits, exposed me to the church’s messy racial history, and left me with questions I couldn’t ignore.

In this episode, I reminisce about my mission:

- What it was like serving in Cabo Verde on those 10 islands off the coast of West Africa

- Learning Portuguese and Creole and navigating totally different dialects

- The high-demand, rule-heavy culture of LDS missions and how “obedience” shaped us

- The tension between the church’s racist past and teaching Black Africans the restored gospel

- Rapid baptisms, low retention, and whether we were really giving people informed choice

- Why my own exit from the church took 18 months of wrestling while many converts joined in a few weeks

- Going back for the 2022 Cabo Verde Temple dedication as a non-believer and feeling genuinely happy for the members there

Two things can be true at once: my mission was one of the hardest, most beautiful, most confusing things I’ve ever done. I can see harm and still see real good. I can be out of the church and still be grateful for people who loved me and the structure it gave others.

Whether you’re an ex-missionary, a believing Latter-day Saint, or somewhere in between, I hope this episode gives you language for your own “both/and” experience.

👉 Tell me your story:

What did your mission do to you? Do you resonate with anything I share here? Drop a comment and let’s talk about it—respectfully, thoughtfully, like actual bridge builders.

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuilders

This week, I sit down with Jules Miller.Former seminary teacher, lifelong feminist, and someone who knows purity culture from the inside and the outside. We get into the object lessons, the bishop interviews, the shame cycles, the “worthiness” obsession, and how all of it shaped the way so many of us grew up.We pull apart the mixed messages, the contradictions, the fear, and the mental gymnastics… and we talk honestly about how this stuff lands on real people. Especially women.If you’ve ever been told you were chewed gum, a licked cupcake, a walking temptation, or someone else’s spiritual responsibility; this one’s gonna hit.

Follow Jules' Cookie IG Page: https://www.instagram.com/angryfeministcookies/

🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/latterdaybridgebuilders

☕ Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuildersIf this conversation resonated with you, or even challenged you, leave a comment. Let’s disagree without being disagreeable, and keep building bridges together.

In this episode of Latter Day Bridge Builders, Mitch reflects on four real life conversations that reshaped how he sees faith, empathy, and connection.Each of these moments with friends, mentors, and fellow Latter-day Saints revealed something deeper about what it truly means to listen instead of trying to be right.It’s an honest, thoughtful look at how bridge building works in the real world—not in theory, but across dinner tables, text threads, and long drives home.🧠 What you’ll hear:• How four conversations taught the “art of listening”• Why being open-minded matters more than being right• The role of nuance and empathy in faith discussions• Finding balance between belief, doubt, and respect🎙️ The Art of Listening is about humility, curiosity, and learning from people who see the world differently—and that’s what bridge building is all about.🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuil...📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders🎥 TikTok: / latterdaybridgebuilders 📺 Subscribe for weekly episodes: ‪@latterdaybridgebuilders‬ ☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuildersIf this conversation resonated with you, or even challenged you, leave a comment. Let’s disagree without being disagreeable, and keep building bridges together.

Aftershocks in Zion | Latter Day Bridge Builders PodcastUtah has been through a lot lately — tragedy, transition, and questions about who we are as a community. In this episode, we reflect on three recent events that shook the Latter-day Saint world:• The shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah Valley• The passing of President Russell M. Nelson and the rise of President Dallin H. Oaks• A devastating attack on a Latter-day Saint congregation in Michigan.Rather than react with outrage or division, we explore what it means to respond with empathy, faith, and understanding — to build bridges even when the ground feels unstable. Along the way, we share thoughts on belief, belonging, and the vision that sparked Latter Day Bridge Builders: a community where active members and former members can still meet at the same table.✨ Topics include:– Grieving without politicizing tragedy– How “tribes” shape our sense of belonging– Empathy for those who see the world differently– Remembering President Nelson’s call to “build bridges of understanding”🌐 More episodes & links: https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders📸 Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/latterdaybridgebuilders🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latterdaybridgebuilders📺 Subscribe for weekly episodes: @latterdaybridgebuilders ☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/LDSBridgebuildersIf this conversation resonated with you, or even challenged you, leave a comment. Let’s disagree without being disagreeable, and keep building bridges together.

It’s been a while. In this re-introduction, I share what’s happened since the last time you heard from me; why the podcast went quiet, what’s changed in my life and faith, and why I felt it was time to come back.A lot has happened since I first started Latter Day Bridge Builders. I talk about officially stepping away from the Church, what that process looked like for me, and how I’m learning to rebuild connection and meaning on my own terms. But more than anything, this episode is about coming back to what matters: empathy, nuance, and honest conversation between those who believe and those who no longer do.If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since the beginning, thank you for sticking around. Let’s start this again!

Links Mentioned:

My interview on Why I Stay Podcast →

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uESfe5mwyw

All my links, socials, and support options → https://linktr.ee/latterdaybridgebuilders