Not sure this story was worth telling because of the excessive weeping by all the family members. If it was an editorial decision to include all of that crying, this listener just found it too distracting.

I listened to most of Season 1. The podcast does not acknowledge the possibility that the killer is simply lying. He tells his friends that he wants to try killing someone and then does. Once caught, his story is that he was suicidal and only shot other people because he happened to have a mental breakdown. So everyone just buys that? Seems to me that he has every incentive to appeal for sympathy. I wouldn’t give him any.

This is really made me stop and think, about my uncle who was murdered on an LDS mission in Ireland and how being so young it affected me. And how I should forgive his killer and how I would like that opportunity. It may be too late for some of my family. But I sure would like to try.

The best podcast i’ve ever listened to. For me, at this time of my life, forgiveness and making peace were powerful messages. I thank you for that and admire the Snarrs and Evette so very very much. Powerful podcast

As a mother, I kept asking myself, what I would do, who I would be, if I ever went through this experience. And it was a tough question to answer. Tough and painful, and I can’t even IMAGINE what’s it’s been like for the subjects. This was a rough and heartbreaking listen, but it was surprisingly beautiful. Stunning, actually. These people, these families, are absolutely amazing. I’m sending so much love and light to them all, and pray they are continuing to heal.

I’ll say it again, WOW! Been waiting on the release of this one. While listening to the 1st Ep., I was pretty sure I knew where this was going, but what I wasn’t prepared for was myself, a grown man from S Alabama, driving down the road to work and slapping tears out of my eyes, listening to the last couple of minutes of the 1st episode. The forgiveness, and love from this mother, who surely, at one time did not even want to wake up so many mornings, was one of the most touching things I’ve ever heard come out of speakers. And something tells me that we’ve only scratched the surface of “goodness” of Zack’s family.

I truly enjoyed this show, season 1 and 2. Still true crime but with depth, I could honestly listen to 10 more seasons.

Forgiveness is overrated. These fools are so concerned with being pious that they’re willing to help a convicted murderer (of a family member, no less) and someone who is obviously a psychopath out of prison, and into another family member’s house? Give me a break. These people are naive fools.

Found this by accident and appreciate the skillful storytelling of the two cases. I don’t completely understand the extent to which the families went but was interested enough to stick with it. Well worth listening.

This podcast has been so interesting to listen to. I have really enjoyed it!! I think the fact that all of the events happened during my life has really made it so interesting & exciting for me!! I always look forward to the next podcast!!

The Letter is a wonderfully told story of grief and forgiveness but additional bonus episodes provide incredible helpful information that will help listeners understand the impact of their own trauma and process of their on grief and forgiveness. Highly recommend giving The Letter a try.

Such a great listen that anyone can benefit from.

Sad, happy , heartbreaking, touching , all the emotions rolled into these episodes.

I’m not one to leave reviews, because… blah blah blah time, blah blah effort, blah blah blah no one really cares. BUT, this podcast warranted a review. I cannot say enough good about it. I’ve been a true-crime podcast junkie since I stumbled on MFM while sitting in my car waiting for my 80-yr-old mom to finish playing her cello in a concert with the Southwest Symphony in Southern Utah. (I know, I know, how do an accomplished musician and a BYU French professor produce a child who is addicted to murder stories?) Anyway, I’ve listen to hundreds of hours of true-crime podcasts. Some are good. Some are great. Some are funny (shout out to My Favorite Murder). Some are too detailed. Some are not detailed enough. Most are grizzly. THIS ONE, though, is in a category all its own. Here is the best way I can explain my experience: New neural pathways form when we encounter a new piece of information or a new thought. I genuinely feel like I experienced neuroplasticity as I listened to this podcast. A huge thank you to everyone who was involved in the making of The Letter. The vulnerability of the families, and their willingness to share something so deeply personal, is valued more than I’m able to express. Side note to ExMos: I’m not LDS (though I was a True Blue Mormon for 48 years), and I tend to avoid Utah-based stuff in an effort to not trigger my own religious trauma. I took a chance clicking on anything KSL-related, and I’m so glad I did! Yes, there are the religious references, and yes, there are serious Relief Society voices, but the honest, vulnerable human side of these families and their tragedy comes through in a way that made those little Mormonism reminders fall to the wayside.

Loved season one!! Season two is so far so good! Thank you for sharing!!

I express my sincere gratitude to Amy and her team for their diligent commitment to this podcast project. Amy displays thoroughness and professionalism and has a keen eye for detail that truly showcases her remarkable talent in creating a beautiful narrative podcast.

Absolutely awe inspiring !! Cried a lot and learnt so much

While the production quality is great. It’s syrupy, overly emotional and VERY hard to believe that people could be so easily manipulated. “He left Catholicism and became a Mormon! He MUST be good now!” 🤦🏻‍♀️

I am a cousin to the Rasmussen’s… at least, I became one when DeAnn married my Uncle Tom. I was 11 years old when the murder happened, so I don’t remember much. I just remember thinking that I was glad the Rasmussen kids could have a new father and Tom is a great man. However, this podcast has opened my eyes to the trauma that they not only experienced, but have endured throughout their lives. It has changed and shaped them in ways I never fully appreciated. And that’s why their decision to forgive is so beautiful. To see hope shine through the darkest of circumstances is so powerful and life changing and it has shaped me as well. Forgiveness heals the person who has been wounded in profound ways. Amy Donaldson and her team have been amazing at researching and sharing this story with great delicacy. This podcast is a master class on trauma, grief, and healing. Well done

I am familiar with this story, but never knew the depth and heartache the actions of one person caused to so many. Amy did an outstanding job telling this story and including so many people that were affected. I think being given the opportunity to share their feelings was possibly therapeutic and helped release some trauma from all these years. The Rasmussen family, and Karla and Norma Booth are an example of true forgiveness and how we as humans should treat others.

This podcast has been strangely healing for me in the wake of my own experiences with both loss and terror. I’ve been struggling to forgive someone and I am awe struck with the transformation each family went through to eventually forgive those who murdered their loved ones. This podcast is incredibly well done, and I’ll always be glad I had the opportunity to listen and learn from them. Thank you again!!

This is a difficult one because I don’t want to tread on the lived experience of the families. The podcast poses the question: Does everyone deserve a second chance? If “second chance” means should they be let out of prison the answer is no for these first two seasons. Especially the second. I was honestly relieved to learn Moore had died in prison. It seemed he was still repeating some of his conspiracies about Log Haven until the end. In the finale for the second season the host asks how he can be sure if someone is sincere and the host admits we can’t be sure. My stance is this: I don’t think we should have gambled any more lives on his “second chance.” On something we know we can’t know. If the victims family wanted to forgive him and that is great. They are wonderful people. I couldn’t do it. But I don’t know how forgiveness become synonymous with helping him get out of prison. Honestly letting him work a print shop job in jail seems generous after a senseless double homicide. IMO the podcast is kind of a “feel good” podcast and because of that I believe it doesn’t do it’s due diligence in exploring the question of sincerity of either killer. Both killers had only one way out. That justifies extreme skepticism. Moore’s seemingly opportunistic conversion to the LDS faith put it over the top for me. Honestly the biggest take away from the second season is how cruel it is to make victims families show up to these parole hearings to make sure the sentences are followed. I honestly worry that this podcast will cause people to develop unhealthy relationships with abusers. Because one of the biggest common denominators among all abusers is manipulative apologies.

The two seasons of The Letter both bring such insights and profound inspiration about many things but especially the thread of human nature that can be easily glossed over especially in times of trauma and loss. The level of personal understanding and forgiveness shared by each person in their own time and own words is inspiring and moving. The strength and power of forgiveness in the midst of tragedy and loss that is shared shows the impact on each and every person involved and how pervasive it can be on all involved.

Such a refreshing and inspiring story! In this world of podcasts, which is typically so dark and depressing, this pod demonstrates what it means to truly live a life elevated by the one who can teach us how to live in a different way. Thank you!

Firstly, I’ve never listened to a podcast with SO much crying EVERY single episode. Secondly, up until Michael Moore’s death, he was a psychopath who managed to manipulate even his two victims’ families to the point that they offered up their forgiveness to him on a silver platter. The host and podcast should continue to do more research before they shed any bit of positive light on this murderer. It took me all but a few key strokes to uncover information about this murderer and his final years in prison. We should all be so relieved he was denied parole and never saw the light of day outside prison.

I was thoroughly immersed in this story even though I did not understand the family’s decision to not only forgive but embrace their son’s killer. However, once the pod went all “Holy Roller” on us, I was done. I don’t want to listen to a podcast to be force fed those ideas. Each person is free to worship as they believe but don’t turn the story into an opportunity to proselytize. Delete.

When I just listened to this podcast, I was in the depths of a deep depression that I was struggling to find my way out of. The incredible acts of the Snarr family really forced me to get out of my own head and reset my mindset to look at the positive in my life instead of focusing on the trials & tribulations. Bless this family and you for this podcast. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned.

Each episode is great! Congratulations on such a great listen!

Both seasons have touched my heart in a positive way. Forgiveness is easy to say we can do but extremely difficult to actually do. These families are true warriors. Thank you for this podcast.

A beautiful, emotional roller coaster. Incredible story and powerful storytelling!

I am an avid podcast listener, and no podcast has moved me like this one has. Absolutely stellar.

This is really powerful. I'm more of a spiritual person rather than religious but these people that were profoundly touched and sent messages from a higher power have really moved me and inspired me to be more open to receiving messages in the universe.

I’m out, not enough content to pay for. Nice try goodbye.

Possible narcissism and lots of emotions I'm not even done listening yet. The reporter has a great voice and does a good job with her part. A couple of things stand out to me as a mental health professional. One is that, even while behind bars, this guy seems to need to set him up as the prison hero. Other people feed into this by talking about how he is doing so much to help everyone. I fully acknowledge that we get very limited information, but just based on what is shared in this podcast, I'm guessing he loved being so important. He could do things with computers… He could speak multiple languages… He taught all kinds of classes… He kind of had a captive audience where he could feed his needs for admiration and to be the smartest guy in the room, or in the prison. He was indulged a lot of ways and continued to blame Jordan, stress, the dad who stood up for him in court and at parole hearings, and only took responsibility when it seemed like it would help his case to do so. Meanwhile, the families are devastated. I don't criticize anyone for being emotional and expressive about feelings in situations like this, but there was a lot of it throughout the podcast from the sisters and the wife. They are obviously vulnerable and the man who killed their loved ones is certainly capable of taking advantage of those vulnerabilities. I don't think I've heard so much crying in any other podcast, and again, I say that with complete respect for his victims. It speaks to their pain. I understand the strong religious convictions and the feeling that this ability to forgive came from God and I do not question that. I am just concerned that their emotions were manipulated by someone very good at doing exactly that. I was not there, obviously, but nothing in his letter or that was recounted from their meeting with him anything other than cliché and what you would expect someone to say who is trying to seem as though they regret what they did. Just a year and two has sentence, he was already trying to get out. He did not take responsibility at that time and distanced himself from his crimes with his language about "what happened. " how in the world this conversation could have even been entertained so soon into his sentence is completely beyond me. If he was delusional, had not slept or had anything to be under the influence of substances, experiencing paranoia, or whatever, you would think those things would've been focused on more at trial or that a defense would have been made that he was experiencing some level of mental illness at the time of his crimes. That did not happen. it certainly seems he displays traits of entitlement and narcissism and I am concerned that he was simply good at making other people believe he was something other than what he truly was. He retained his ego and was able to get even more of what he wanted when he apologized to the families and ultimately had his apologies and statements of regret accepted by them. Ultimately, the opinions of these women and their families are the ones that matter the most, and if going through all this in the ways that they have has brought them some peace and healing, then I suppose that is what is important.

I just found this podcast and have binged the first season and now the second. I love “The Letter.” The stories are told so beautifully and the families they are about are amazing and inspirational! I have also listened to the “Violation” podcast and can’t stop thinking about the forgiveness vs the hate and rage that are spoken about by the victims in the case against Jacob Wideman. I wish that the Rasmussens and the Snaars could meet with the family that is fighting to keep Mr. Wideman in prison for the rest of his life. The contrast of these stories is unbelievable. So enjoying The Letter!!

One of the best true crime podcasts you’ll ever explore….Amy Donaldson is a master storyteller and the story makes you really think deeply about how to forgive injustice and how to navigate through the darkest hours.

This beautiful podcast is incredibly well researched, organized, and narrated. The concept of respect and non-judgement for the reactions and actions of those who’ve been harmed is so important. The objectivity is also amazing. Just listen.

Thank you. The entire story is so insightfully written, and wonderfully presented. The bonus episode with your husband restores one’s faith in humanity. Please thank him.

I don’t even know how this is a story to tell. Someone does something bad, people are hurt, bad guy is brought to justice, and that’s all folks.

All of these true crime podcasts now are requiring subscriptions to listen to on-top of ads already no thank you. I’ll stick with the free ones that are left in this world. This podcast in particular has so many closed premium episodes that apple should remove it because what is the point of having a podcast if most of the episodes are closed off to the public?

I wanted to like this podcast and I have it a solid try but it just fell flat for me. I am empathic to the family for such a tragic and senseless loss but it seems reliving this trauma has been more than difficult for the wife. She cries through every single episode. So much so that I worry doing this podcast took a negative toll on her. It’s difficult to get past the crying. As far as the story goes, it’s really only interesting until episode 3-4. Unfortunately I’ll be moving on but I do hope you all find success.

The narrative is populated with references to Mormon culture. So I presume we are headed toward an under the banner of heaven type of religious extremism murder? If not, then I think the content is excessively spiked with Mormon cultural references. The narrator has a pleasing voice and a good delivery. it’s just not clear whether we are headed toward a compelling destination, and why I’m hearing all the Mormon stuff.

Such a powerful story of tragedy, lament, grief and finding peace and forgiveness in the most unlikely place.

This PODCAST is by far the best that I have ever listened to. Season One just grabbed my heart .Season 2 is just so powerful!! I feel my heart breaking for the wife’s, the children, the family members that tell the story like it happened to them yesterday. I cried so hard with episode 4 that I had to pull my car over to finish it. I honestly cant wait to hear the next episode.

Really great and respectful stuff. But definitely don’t need to hear this random dude go off on policing in this bonus episode. Not sure how it’s relevant to this story in any way, nor am I convinced that this guy is worth his salt. How about bias in the media? Certainly not Lily white. Kinda mad I paid for this.

Such a powerful story and such a professional podcast. I've finished Season One and am on Season Two. I hope you all do MANY stories. Absolutely love this podcast.

Binge listened! I can’t wait for an update on George’s parole.

Great writing m

I have not yet listened to Season 2 and look forward to it as that is the one that threw me in. But I thought I would start with Season 1 and I’m really glad. I’ve listened to a lot of podcasts and none have made me shed so many tears as the last two or three episodes of Season 1. I am so inspired by these incredible people and you did a great job of delivering the message. Thank you.

I love this podcast!! I look forward too Tuesdays!!