Source: Salt Lake Church Hauls ‘Mormon Stories’ Host Into Federal Court Publisher: Hoodline | Author: Piper Shaw Published: April 19, 2026 | Archived: April 26, 2026

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken its long-simmering frustrations with a prominent critic into federal court, filing a trademark lawsuit against podcaster John Dehlin and the Open Stories Foundation, the nonprofit behind the Mormon Stories podcast. The complaint accuses them of trademark infringement and argues that the podcast’s name and branding could lead listeners to assume the show is officially tied to the Church.

As reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, the plaintiffs include Intellectual Reserve, Inc., the Church-owned entity that oversees its copyrights and trademarks. The filing points to similarities in logos, color schemes, and the shared use of the word “Mormon” as allegedly creating a likelihood of confusion. The Tribune also notes that Church lawyers have, in recent months, pressed at least three other podcasts to drop the “Mormon” label, and that the case has been lodged in federal court in Utah.

Dehlin launched Mormon Stories in 2005 as a forum for faith transitions, interviews, and critical conversations about the Church. The podcast has since become a prominent outlet for former members and scholars for more than a decade. The Mormon Stories site includes a clear disclaimer, stating, “Mormon Stories is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” and the show continues to release new episodes and maintain its archives online.

Church trademark enforcement history

The Church has a documented history of registering marks that use the word “Mormon” and of policing how third parties deploy that term, according to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board filings and registration records. Intellectual Reserve and the Church have pursued oppositions at the TTAB and hold registrations tied to MORMON-branded terms in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database, public filings, and trademark records show.

Legal questions the suit will test

Trademark disputes often hinge on whether a mark remains legally protectable and whether the defendant’s use is likely to confuse consumers. Owners also have to show they have not effectively given up a mark by no longer using it. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office explains that long periods of nonuse, or behavior that looks like abandonment, can weaken or undermine a registration, and that owners are expected to actively police their marks if they want to preserve their rights.

What to watch next

The lawsuit adds a legal twist to a long-running tension between Church leaders and independent creators who lean on Mormon-related language and imagery for their podcasts, books, and websites. Court filings and future rulings will determine whether the Church secures an injunction or other relief, and how far it can go in enforcing its trademarks against long-established independent platforms like Mormon Stories.