Source: LDS Church sues ‘Mormon Stories’ podcast, alleges trademark infringement Publisher: ABC4 Utah | Author: Amelia Hobson Published: April 21, 2026 | Archived: April 26, 2026

Editor’s Note: A lawsuit only portrays one side of a story.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has filed a lawsuit against the ‘Mormon Stories’ Podcast and its creator, alleging that it unlawfully uses the Church’s trademarked and copyrighted material.

On April 17, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints filed a lawsuit against Open Stories Foundation and John P. Dehlin, who operates the podcast ‘Mormon Stories’. The Church argues that they have used the name Mormon since its founding nearly 200 years ago and that Dehlin’s branding will cause some people to believe ‘Mormon Stories’ is associated with or endorsed by the Church.

“Defendants adopted a blue MORMON STORIES logo with a light-rays design prominently used
by the Church, showing Defendants’ intent to capitalize on and increase confusion,” the lawsuit states. “Defendants’ logo was calculated to imitate the Church’s logos by using confusingly similar color, font, and other design elements.”

The Mormon Stories logo next to official Church logos, taken from the lawsuit.

The Church also alleges that they approached Dehlin and Open Stories Foundation about the supposed infringement and that the defendants agreed to make some changes. They argue that the defendants refused to include statements in podcast episodes to mention that they are not affiliated with the Church.

Notably, the Church announced that it was moving away from the name ‘Mormon’ in 2018 and asked to be referred by its official name as “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”. However, they state in the lawsuit that the public continues to associate the word and branding of ‘Mormon’ with the Church.

Additionally, they state that they have used specific Light-Rays Design Marks in all official communications and should thus have common law rights to those symbols. They also have trademark registrations for many of their branding materials, including the ‘Mormon’ mark.

In the lawsuit, the Church alleges that Mormon Stories has created their content by reproducing copyrighted materials from the Church for their own content, including images.

Mormon Stories Podcasts’ alleged use of trademarked images, taken from the lawsuit

They also allege Mormon Stories has used design motifs from the Church, including the “Light-Rays Design Marks.”

Reportedly, on Mormon Stories’ social media accounts, social media users associated the Mormon Stories logo with official Church logos. One comment said, “It’s giving LDS logo vibes” and another said the logo is “more like the Book of Mormon.”

Comments from the Mormon Stories Podcast’s social media, taken from the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, other comments on the Mormon Stories Facebook and YouTube pages reportedly stated that they believed the Mormon Stories podcast was for the LDS community, before realizing it was ‘anti-LDS”.

“I also thought it was an LDS podcast because of their branding. It only took one episode to know it was absolutely not friendly toward the church,” one comment said.

Another comment read, “I stumbled upon the Mormon Stories podcast, thinking it was church
affiliated. It was quickly evident how anti it was.”

The Church argues that the Mormon Stories’ current branding intentionally draws on trademark Church materials to draw people in and to cause confusion.

“Such confusion, mistake, and deception constrain the Church’s ability as a religious organization to ensure its members and others seeking information about the Church can identify, recognize, and trust that materials and services they receive are the Church’s legitimate and authorized materials and services, and distinguish Church materials from those provided by Mormon Stories,” The lawsuit reads.

The Church is asking that the court prevent John Dehlin and Open Stories Foundation from using any of the Church’s material or content that is “confusingly similar” to the Church’s material.

‘Mormon Stories’ responds

After this lawsuit was filed, ‘Mormon Stories Podcast’ posted on social media and Dehlin spoke on the litigation.

John Dehlin argued that he has been using the name ‘Mormon Stories’ for over 20 years and that the Church has been taking effort to distance itself from the name, through branding and marketing and messages from the Church’s top leaders.

In an online statement, Dehlin stated, “In fact, over the past several years I have been constantly reminded by LDS Church members that any usage of the word Mormon is “a victory for Satan.”

Dehlin also argued that, after the Church reached out to them, they made significant changes to their logo and social medias.

“Among other things, we changed the color and style of our logo, removed three years’ worth of images from our homepages and thumbnails…We have been cooperative at every turn,” Dehlin stated.

While the Church alleges that the podcast did not include a brief disclaimer that they are not affiliated with the Church, Dehlin argues that they do have those descriptions on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube, where they stream the podcast.

He also confirmed to ABC4.com that they intend to contest the lawsuit and allegations.

Dehlin and the Mormon Stories Podcast stated on their online platform, “We feel very confident in our standing in this case. We also feel as though the church is mischaracterizing what happened in mediation in a way that is misleading, untrue, and damaging.”