Raised in the Two by Twos Cult (2x2, The Truth) - Kari and Kyle Hanks Pt. 1 | Ep. 2008

 Apr 09 2025 Kari & Kyle Hanks share their journey of leaving the secretive 2x2 church, a religious group with no official name, written doctrine, or corporate structure. They discuss their upbringings, struggles with faith, the exclusivity of the religion, and the trauma they endured. From discovering the church’s hidden history to creating a support group for ex-members, they expose abuse scandals, strict doctrines on women, and emotional suppression within the group. Their deconstruction was influenced by the Mormon Stories Podcast, COVID-19, and personal revelations about belief, identity, and autonomy. Now, they advocate for informed consent and support those leaving high-control religions.Show NotesYouTube00:00:00 Introduction00:02:40 Kari & Kyle introduce themselves and the Two by Twos group00:14:04 They do not have a written doctrine, it is all word of mouth00:21:59 The founding of Two by Two - founded by William Irving00:28:28 It wasn’t until 1905 that the group started preaching exclusivity00:37:52 Irving is kicked out of the church, although some still stay loyal to him. Another splinter group.00:49:50 Three meetings a week01:00:46 Background of their theology/doctrine01:09:02 Discussion of Heaven & Hell01:17:04 Kari’s background in the church01:23:17 Growing up as a 2x2 girl01:30:30 How does the group refer to themselves?01:38:43 Never having the language to describe her feelings or sexuality01:42:09 Higher education was discouraged for many, especially women01:54:17 Emotional manipulation in high demand religions02:24:47 2x2s very politically conservative, but are not typically involved politically02:27:08 When did she start to think she was in a cult?Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:One-time or recurring donation through DonorboxSupport us on PatreonPayPalVenmoOur Platforms:YouTubePatreonSpotifyApple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media:Insta: @mormstoriesTikTok: @mormonstoriespodcastJoin the Discord
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Founded in 2005, Mormon Stories podcast is the longest running and most popular Mormon-themed podcast. Hosted by Dr. John Dehlin (Clinical/Counseling Psychology), Mormon Stories podcast seeks to understand, explore, challenge, and improve the Mormon experience through stories. Some of the primary objectives of Mormon Stories podcast include: Providing support to Mormons who are transitioning away from either orthodox Mormonism, or from Mormonism altogether, with a particular emphasis on: Minimizing the anxiety, depression, and occasional suicidality that can accompany a transition away from religious orthodoxy. Reducing the number of unnecessary divorces attributable to Mormon faith crises. Creating a community of support for liberal/progressive and post-Mormons. Building greater awareness regarding accurate LDS/Mormon church history, doctrine, and theology – so that both active, believing Mormons and investigators of the church can make informed decisions regarding their investment in, and engagement with the church. Identifying opportunities for growth/improvement within the LDS church, and within broader Mormon culture. Mormon Stories podcast operates in partnership with the Open Stories Foundation (a 501c3 non-profit), and obtained over 7.6 million podcast downloads and Facebook/Youtube views in 2019. The work of Mormon Stories podcast has been featured in the New York Times, National Public Radio, Good Morning America, the Wall Street Journal, VH1, the Huffington Post, VICE NEWS, etc If you are new to Mormon Stories podcast, a fantastic way to begin exploring the podcast is to begin with our Top 25 most important/popular episodes of all time. Your feedback is important to us. Please let us know: What you love about Mormon Stories podcast. What topics you would like to see us cover. What types of guests you would like to see us bring on to Mormon Stories, and What we can do to help make Mormon Stories better. Please email us at MormonStories@gmail.com for your feedback.