Oh, Sister!

Ally Finlinson Christiansen
  • 5.0 (5)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Ten years ago I was called to serve as a Mormon Sister Missionary. I diligently wrote my daily experiences in my journal. Now, as an Exmormon, I've decided it's time to read through those journals and unpack the impact my mission had on my development. Have you ever seen a pair of Mormon Sister Missionaries wandering around and wondered what their daily life is like? Are you curious how the missionary experience impacts their developing psyche? Was that missionary, by chance, you? Whether you're a previous missionary or simply a curious bystander, tune in every Monday morning to find out.

  1. The Curse On Their Skin

    MAR 9

    The Curse On Their Skin

    cw: discussion of theological arguments for racism It’s season 3! I’ve wanted to discuss the LDS Church’s theological relationship with race, with regards to Black people in particular. Today, I finally decided how to start this topic—by reading from the Book of Mormon.  In week forty-five my journal entries include picking up and moving to my third area, saying goodbye to my old trainee and meeting my new one, and thanking the Lord for His tender mercies when I discover a local sunflower field. Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you! LDS Gospel Topics Essays: Race and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Learn More:  The Black Menaces: https://www.theblackmenaces.org/home  Mormon Stories: Channel Achenbach Wikipedia: Black people and Mormonism Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen. Music credits: Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 mandolin sample from porch.wav by Jackie-makes-noiz -- https://freesound.org/s/545744/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 #sistermissionary #sdrcm #southdakotarapidcitymission #NdbM #northdakotabismarckmission #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister #mormonmissionary #deconstruction

    1h 49m
  2. Those Who Mourn

    MAR 2

    Those Who Mourn

    cw: mention of diet culture/restrictive eating, mention of food insecurity I don’t know if you’ve noticed but whenever I’m writing about something sad in my journal as a missionary, there’s always some sort of faithful spin, some positive element, some way to see God’s hand in it all. This was a learned, cultural response. I didn’t just make this up on my own—I knew that part of being a valiant example of Christ, a light on the hill, was showing my faith through my absolute belief in God’s plan and will and timing. Today I’m starting things off with a reflection on the Mormon tendency to avoid feeling grief and loss, from regular daily life to the big moments like funerals. In week forty-four my journal entries include reprimanding myself for putting off God’s instructions for our area, blaming myself for being too negative, and reminding myself to be diligent—aka, obedient and positive—every single day. Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you! LDS General Handbook: 29.5 Funeral Services (Where Customary) Alyssa Grenfell: The Dark World of Mormon Funerals Learn More:  Heidi Priebe: What to do About Heartbreak (Grief) Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen. Music credits: Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 mandolin sample from porch.wav by Jackie-makes-noiz -- https://freesound.org/s/545744/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 #sistermissionary #sdrcm #southdakotarapidcitymission #NdbM #northdakotabismarckmission #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister #mormonmissionary #deconstruction

    1h 33m

  3. FEB 16

    Let Us (Only) Speak Kind Words

    cw: mention of pornography We open today with a discussion on the strong culture for “kindness” and against contention. From the hymns we sing in Sunday services to missionary guidelines on living like Christ, it’s no wonder that I struggled with honest communication on my mission! I believe that this cultural refusal to tolerate conflict ruins true relational authenticity at best, and in worst case scenarios is a key element of the social leniency towards perpetrators of abuse. In week forty-three my journal entries include finally going on a fun group P-day activity, helping a tragically overwhelmed Young Women’s leader prepare for Girl’s Camp, and experiencing one of God’s greatest miracles—finding my lost wallet! Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you! LDS Hymnal #232: Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words Current Missionary Preach My Gospel Manual: Chapter 6, Patience Heidi Priebe: How People Pleasing Kills Intimacy (And Honest Conflict Builds It) Alyssa Grenfell’s interview of Heather Gay: Discussing “Surviving Mormonism” Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen. Music credits: Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 mandolin sample from porch.wav by Jackie-makes-noiz -- https://freesound.org/s/545744/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 #sistermissionary #sdrcm #southdakotarapidcitymission #NdbM #northdakotabismarckmission #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister #mormonmissionary #deconstruction

    1h 28m

  4. FEB 9

    The Mission President’s Handbook

    cw: discussion of stalking, discussion of ableism/exploitation of disabled people Following last week’s introduction to our new mission president, this week I open with a brief introduction to the leaked 2006 official Mission President’s Handbook. There were too many wild topics I couldn’t even cover, so you should definitely go check it out yourself but I do point out the instructions related to missionaries who want to go home early....!!!!! In week forty-two my journal entries include comparing a nicotine addiction to wanting to eat chocolate (face palm), preparing our golden investigator for her baptism, and totally nailing my first official meeting with the new Mission President. Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you! Official LDS Mission President’s Handbook: leaked 2006 edition Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen. Music credits: Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 mandolin sample from porch.wav by Jackie-makes-noiz -- https://freesound.org/s/545744/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 #sistermissionary #sdrcm #southdakotarapidcitymission #NdbM #northdakotabismarckmission #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister #mormonmissionary #deconstruction

    2h 14m

  5. 12/08/2025

    The New Mission President (...and his Wife)

    cw: discussion of homophobia; discussion of stalking; swearing  This week my entire mission experienced all of the upheaval and excitement that came with the cyclical ending of President Allen’s reign, as he finished his time in the presiding chair and passed the baton to his replacement, President Partridge. I open the episode with an analysis of the MTC training for Mission Presidents—the 2015 Seminar for New Mission Presidents. Of course, their wives are in attendance, too... In week forty-one, my journal entries include attending a special Church meeting to hear the Lord’s direction for His Church after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in the U.S., calling out the Elders in our district for participating in romantically treacherous and rule-breaking service projects, and once again dealing with a scary instance of stalking. Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you! Mormon Leaks on WayBack Machine: 2015 Seminar for New Mission Presidents  Lundy Bancroft: Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men Marie and Robert Lund: Ensign, March 2015 The Savior’s Respect for Women  Church Newsroom: Official Church Response to Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage Mormon Dialogue Forum, 12 July 2015: My Sunday: That Meeting About You Know, Marriage Things? Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen. Music credits: Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 mandolin sample from porch.wav by Jackie-makes-noiz -- https://freesound.org/s/545744/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 #sistermissionary #sdrcm #southdakotarapidcitymission #NdbM #northdakotabismarckmission #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister #mormonmissionary #deconstruction

    2h 31m

  6. 11/17/2025

    Becoming White & Delightsome

    cw: swearing; mention of sexual assaults, violence, threats of violence; discussion of systemic enslavement and abuse of Indigenous people; discussion of discrimination against and harmful stereotypes of Indigenous people As a Sister Missionary I believed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, MY Church, was an entirely positive force for good in the world, and that included the Church’s relationship with Indigenous Americans. Today I am working on setting the record straight by sharing a small portion of Church history they never taught me—how the Mormon Church harmed Indigenous people in the past, and how it continues to harm people today. I’ll give examples of how contemporary Prophets spoke about Indigenous people, as well as the practices they initiated and endorsed as head of the Church.  I will conclude with an honest account from our own time, sharing the words of an Exmormon Native American woman. In week forty, my journal entries include celebrating the 4th of July with the added miracle of intuiting God’s ban on missionaries attending the rodeo, receiving the sweetest praise for my Christlike example of “loving others more than I love myself” and “never stopping to care for myself,” and finally, missing a much-yearned for temple Endowment session but, through the grace of God, getting a chance to learn a big spiritual lesson and have things work out for the best anyway. Protect Missing & Murdered Indigenous People: https://www.niwrc.org/donate  Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen (Write in the notes to send this towards today’s featured guest and I will get it to her, and if I can’t get in touch with her I will send the money instead to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center) This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you! Her original post: Reddit, “Exmo Native American here”  1852 Utah Legislative Session, Brigham Young, p. 108-110  1960 General Conference, Spencer W. Kimball, “The Day of the Lamanites”  Wikipedia: LDS Indian Placement Program Wikipedia: Native American People and Mormonism Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen. Music credits: Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 mandolin sample from porch.wav by Jackie-makes-noiz -- https://freesound.org/s/545744/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 #sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister #NoMoreMMIW #NoMoreMMIP #MMIW #MMIP

    2h 19m

  7. 11/10/2025

    Membership Required

    I open today’s episode with a reflection on my loss of community. I wish the rituals around life milestones that I grew up with were for everyone, rather than only for the worthy in-group. One of the devastating realities of losing faith in Mormonism is the included loss of community, due to the church’s essential theological teachings that those who leave the faith are unredeemable and corrupted. In week thirty-nine, my journal entries include reuniting with my trainer as she stops by to say hi on her mission tour, writing a talk for Sacrament Meeting that explains why missionary work is so important, and smiling through the awkward meeting of a fake “fellow Saint” from a different branch of Mormonism. Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you! Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen. Music credits: Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 mandolin sample from porch.wav by Jackie-makes-noiz -- https://freesound.org/s/545744/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 #sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister

    1h 44m

  8. 10/20/2025

    Follow, Follow Me

    cw: discussion of emergency weather (tornadoes, thunder storm) From primary and onwards, LDS Church goers are consistently reminded to obey their church leaders to find safety, happiness, and freedom. I kick things off today with a quick overview of the messaging missionaries get on this topic, and then of course I have to talk about how I think always following your church leaders is a terribly unhealthy practice. In week thirty-eight, my journal entries include celebrating my twentieth birthday, repeatedly gaslighting my companion that things were actually fine and great, and leaving a safe basement during an active tornado warning due to my absolute confidence in my Mission President’s counsel. Support me monthly on patreon:D patreon.com/AllyChristiansen Make a one-time donation on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/allychristiansen This project is very rewarding and very time consuming. Your financial support makes this possible, thank you! Ronald A. Rasband:  Standing with the Leaders of the Church Missionary “White” Handbook: Introduction Preach My Gospel (current edition): Obedience Written, read, edited, & produced by Ally Finlinson Christiansen. Music credits: Clown Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/677166/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 mandolin sample from porch.wav by Jackie-makes-noiz -- https://freesound.org/s/545744/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Church Music by Seth_Makes_Sounds -- https://freesound.org/s/678022/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 #sistermissionary #sdrcm #NdbM #postmormon #exmormon #ohsister

    1h 26m
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Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
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About

Ten years ago I was called to serve as a Mormon Sister Missionary. I diligently wrote my daily experiences in my journal. Now, as an Exmormon, I've decided it's time to read through those journals and unpack the impact my mission had on my development. Have you ever seen a pair of Mormon Sister Missionaries wandering around and wondered what their daily life is like? Are you curious how the missionary experience impacts their developing psyche? Was that missionary, by chance, you? Whether you're a previous missionary or simply a curious bystander, tune in every Monday morning to find out.

Information

  • Creator
    Ally Finlinson Christiansen
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ally Finlinson Christiansen
  • Show Website
    Oh, Sister!