TikTok Historian and Australian @Tanicaesar Leaves The Mormon Church | Ep. 1695

Tani Berlo was raised in Australia as a biracial Mormon of Maori descent. Showing an early love for history, Tani asked many questions of her LDS seminary teacher regarding science and history that caused concern. This included questioning the validity of the "Lamanite" identity (from the Book of Mormon) handed to her as a descendent of the Maori people.

Later in Tani's teenage years she was shamed by her LDS church leaders for normative sexual exploration, and was ultimately summoned to a disciplinary council where she was asked sexually explicit questions by multiple men, and was disfellowshipped by the church. This led to significant sexual shame as a temple married Latter-day saint. After having children, Tani experienced significant post-partum depression and an opiate addiction, which when combined with her questioning of Mormon truth claims, led to a full-on faith crisis.

Today Tani hosts a TikTok channel on history with over 1.1 million followers.

https://www.tiktok.com/@taniberlo
https://www.youtube.com/c/Taniberlo/videos
https://www.patreon.com/taniberlo

Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:08:10 Parents convert in 1993 and childhood upbringing
00:22:00 Early Mormon adolescence, modesty & purity culture, gender roles
01:05:00 Shamed for homophobia working for Apple
01:08:30 Getting into a toxic relationship
01:09:45 Asked sexually graphic questions during Disciplinary Council & disfellowshipment
01:28:00 The dark side of Mormon dating/marriage culture
01:34:30 Tani’s Mormon temple experience(s), & marriage
01:38:30 Early marital sexual shame & dysfunction
01:45:00 Toxic teachings and young motherhood
01:51:45 Suicidal ideation & opiate addiction
02:03:45 Teaching Gospel Doctrine...in slacks!
02:10:00 Troubling things she learned studying LDS church history
02:20:00 Racist BOM teachings replacing Maori culture
02:23:30 Grieving over the loss of faith
02:28:00 Struggles with substances
02:29:00 Faith Crisis effect on husband & marriage
02:34:00 Extended family reactions
02:41:00 Tani’s health and happiness after losing her Mormon faith
02:47:00 Resentment at opportunities lost
02:52:00 Becoming a social media content creator
03:09:00 Deprogramming from toxic purity culture, anti-perfectionism
03:17:10 Plans/Hopes/Dreams for the Future
03:20:00 What Mormon Stories has meant to her

Episode Show Notes:
https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/maori-leaving-the-mormon-church-tani-berlo/

International Mormon Stories:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxq5opj6GqOCxLRrgFTEpSC7QyH6v5Sub

ABOUT US:
Mormon Stories Podcast is the longest-running and most successful podcast in Mormonism - hosted by Dr. John Dehlin. At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We also occasionally interview scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1) Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology, 2) Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis, and 3) Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions.

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