A legal dispute between podcaster John Dehlin and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has intensified over the use of the word “Mormon.” The church filed a lawsuit in April in federal court in Utah, alleging that Dehlin’s “Mormon Stories” podcast infringes on its trademarks and copyrights, particularly regarding the use of the term “Mormon” in a way that could confuse the public about the podcast’s affiliation with the church.
The LDS Church, which has used the term “Mormon” and related marks for nearly two centuries, holds several trademarks that cover certain uses of the word in connection with educational and organizational branding. Church officials maintain they are not targeting Dehlin’s critical content but are seeking to prevent confusion about the podcast’s relationship to the church. The lawsuit notes that the public commonly associates “Mormon” with the LDS Church, which has registered the term for specific uses.
Dehlin, who founded “Mormon Stories” in 2005 and uses the platform to discuss personal experiences and controversies within Mormonism, has pushed back in court filings. His legal team argues that “Mormon” is a broad and multifaceted term used by millions to describe a variety of religious, cultural, and genealogical identities, many of which are unrelated to the church itself. They contend no single entity, including the church, has exclusive rights over the word.
Moreover, Dehlin’s filings highlight what they call a contradiction in the church’s stance. Since 2018, the LDS Church has publicly distanced itself from the term “Mormon,” emphasizing that it is not their preferred identifier and encouraging members and the public to use the church’s full name instead. For example, the church renamed the “Mormon Tabernacle Choir” to the “Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.” Despite this shift, the church has maintained trademark registrations on the term, which Dehlin’s lawyers describe as a selective and confusing approach.
The case has drawn attention due to its context within ongoing tensions between Dehlin and the church. The podcast has exposed allegations of child sex abuse and institutional cover-ups, including an episode featuring Edward Nachel, who revealed the church’s handling of misconduct by Wade Christofferson, a former congregation leader in Illinois and brother to a senior church apostle, D. Todd Christofferson. Prosecutors in Ohio have since charged Wade Christofferson with further abuse, and the senior Christofferson has acknowledged knowledge of allegations without reporting them to authorities.
Dehlin’s lawyers assert that the lawsuit may be an attempt by the church—an organization with substantial resources—to silence dissent and critical voices through legal pressure. They claim the church has known about “Mormon Stories” for nearly two decades and that the podcast has not caused confusion regarding its affiliation with the church.
Church officials have not publicly addressed the role, if any, of D. Todd Christofferson in pursuing the litigation. The dispute raises broader questions about trademark law, religious identity, and the limits of free speech in contentious cultural and religious debates. The court has yet to rule on motions filed by Dehlin seeking dismissal of parts of the lawsuit on grounds including free speech and delayed enforcement by the church.