Suing Marriott Hotel for Racist Book of Mormon in the U.K. - Amanda Barnett | Ep. 2207

Mormon Stories Podcast episode 2207 features Amanda Barnett, a British ex-Mormon who never believed in the LDS Church despite growing up in a devout family. The episode is structured in two distinct halves. In the first half, Amanda recounts her personal journey: growing up as the only Mormon in her 1960s-70s Plymouth school, being sealed to her parents in the London Temple at age 14, witnessing racial discrimination within her ward (the "mark of Cain" doctrine preventing a Black member from participating in youth activities), and her decisive break from the church at 16. She describes the emotional complexity of being a non-believer in a religious family, including her mother's death from a brain tumor and the lack of church support during that crisis, contrasted with help from secular charities and hospice services. The second half pivots to Amanda's legal action: she filed a claim in English courts against the Leicester Marriott franchisee for racial harassment and indirect discrimination under the UK Equality Act. Her complaint centers on finding a Book of Mormon in her hotel room drawer containing racist language in 2 Nephi 5:21. Rather than seeking damages, she requests only that the hotel remove the books or adopt an "ask at reception" card system already used in other Marriott locations. Amanda frames this as a civil rights issue, not a religious one, noting her mixed-race grandchildren make the racist scriptural content personally significant. The episode concludes with Amanda's message to the LDS Church and her family, urging them to reconsider whether such verses belong in modern scripture. The recording took place September 22, 2026, with her case management hearing scheduled for October 12, 2026. Host John Dehlin facilitates the conversation, and the episode acknowledges support from the Post-Mormon Cruise community.

Verdict: A compelling personal narrative paired with a timely civil rights case that delivers on its title and offers substance for listeners interested in religious doubt, institutional accountability, and race issues within Mormonism.

Religion & Spirituality rubric

• Depth of teaching 3/5 20%

  Personal narrative is detailed and emotionally grounded, but the episode is primarily biographical storytelling rather than theological or philosophical teaching; limited exploration of broader implications.

• Respect and openness 3/5 20%

  Amanda presents her perspective clearly and invites reflection ("ask whether they still belong"), but the framing is decidedly critical of the LDS Church with limited space for counterarguments or nuanced church perspectives.

• Applicable to life 4/5 15%

  The episode addresses concrete issues: religious doubt, family conflict, racial justice, and legal remedies; listeners gain practical insight into navigating faith crises and institutional accountability.

• Substance 4/5 15%

  Rich personal history, specific anecdotes, and detailed explanation of the legal case provide substantial content; minimal filler evident in the show notes, though actual pacing cannot be fully assessed.

• Delivers on its title 5/5 15%

  Title promises explanation of why Amanda sued Marriott over the Book of Mormon; episode delivers exactly that, with both personal context and legal details.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  At 1 hour 56 minutes, the episode covers significant ground, but without access to the full audio, pacing cannot be fully evaluated; show notes suggest reasonable structure with two clear sections.

How we score Religion & Spirituality

Worth it if you're interested in ex-Mormon perspectives, religious faith crises, institutional racism, or the intersection of civil rights law and religious practice.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.