Mormon Stories 1423: Giving up Major League Baseball for Mormonism - Marc Oslund Pt. 1

Join us today as we kick off our three-part interview with former baseball player and LDS seminary teacher, Marc Oslund. Fascinating for so many reasons, I believe this is one of the most important Mormon Stories Podcast episodes I've ever released.

- Marc was a heavily recruited high school baseball and football player in the L.A., California area.
- He converted to the Mormon church as a teen.
- He was drafted to the baseball Major Leagues three different times, and turned down those offers to go on an LDS mission and to BYU.
- He was an all-American baseball player at BYU.
- He served an LDS mission where he was often racked with guilt and shame - almost sent home for it.
- When his baseball career ended (due to post-mission injuries), he became a Mormon CES seminary teacher, and served from around 2013 to 2019 - while the Mormon church was trying to become more open/honest about its history, and deal with public activists like Kate Kelly, myself, Sam Young, Jeremy Runnells, etc.
- Even though he constantly had doubts/questions/concerns, his position as a seminary teacher caused major rifts in his marriage when his wife expressed occasional doubts, specifically about the Mormon temple ceremony.
- Marc became a liberal/progressive/Givens Mormon while a seminary teacher - but was punished by CES for his progressive stances.
- Marc ultimately lost his orthodox Mormon faith as a seminary teacher, and was pressured to quit his job.

In part 1 of this incredible story, Marc talks about his upbringing in LA, his conversion to Mormonism, and why he gave up multiple opportunities to play major-league baseball in order to pursue a career in the Church Education System.

This is a long one...probably deserves its own podcast...but it's really, really important. I hope you enjoy.

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Timestamps:
00:00:44 – Introduction
00:05:38 – Growing up in LA
00:09:59 – Athletics & playing division 1 Baseball
00:14:55 – Parent’s support & sacrifice for Marc’s athletics
00:19:09 – High School & trying to fit in
00:24:25 – Football injury & introduction to marijuana
00:26:58 – Marc is introduced to Mormonism
00:35:15 – Being recruited for Football & Baseball
00:44:02 – BYU baseball scholarship
00:46:18 – Mormon spiritual experience
00:49:23 – Missionary discussions & restoration video
01:04:58 – Prop 8
01:13:17 – Feeling isolated as the only Mormon in his family
01:20:25 – Drafted by Kansas City Royals, but declines to go on a Mission and attend BYU
01:22:38 – Marc decides to attend BYU
01:25:00 – Internalized shame & struggle to fit in at BYU
01:38:24 – The costs of Marc being “all-in” on Mormonism
01:41:13 – Marc is called on a mission
01:44:46 – Temple experience
02:05:50 – Questions as a missionary
02:07:05 – Confessions & Repentance as a missionary
02:18:09 – The “hamster wheel” of worthiness
02:21:41 – Marc’s brother & dad start attending church
02:26:37 – Marc begins dating his wife
02:36:24 – Marc’s non-member Mother is not permitted at their wedding
02:41:28 – Strained family relationships due to Mormonism
02:45:12 – Rachel not reading Book of Mormon
02:54:22 – Rachel’s temple experience
03:01:41 – Sexual intimacy
03:10:00 - Elbow injury & surgery
03:21:35 - Part 1 conclusion

#LDS #Mormon #CES #Baseball #MLB #Seminary #Convert #ChurchEducationSystem #FaithCrisis #PostMormon

Видео Mormon Stories 1423: Giving up Major League Baseball for Mormonism - Marc Oslund Pt. 1 канала Mormon Stories Podcast