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Be Mine

Great show this week! Defending the priesthood; opposition to the Paris Temple; why I’m a Mormon Democrat; Holocaust victims baptized (d’oh); Otterson speaks on affinity fraud; MoTab performing in Arizona – and more!

Clicks:

1. Mormon Midrashim
2. Opposition to Paris Temple
3. Why I’m a Mormon Democrat
4. Holocaust victim baptized
5. Otterson on affinity fraud
6. MoTab heads to Jan Brewer country
7. BYU student found dead in Australia
8. Mormonism and the presidency – don’t worry
9. Scriptures for kids!

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What's Wrong With This Picture?

Prop 8 is struck down by another court. What is the Mormon response?

Using ward lists for politics. McKay Coppins gets it mostly right, save a few fact-checking issues.

The rise of Joanna Brooks continues. She receives a great profile on CNN.

Why are amazing men still single? Don’t ask us. We’re not amazing. But we are single.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg hates on the Church for owning KSL, which sells lots of guns to lots of people.

Assorted: The Romanian IMF chief is Mormon and proud, temple updates, a lame dating quiz, and “Mom, I’m Dating a Mormon” starts.

Touch for info:

1. Prop 8 overturned
2. Church response to Prop 8 ruling
3. Joanna Brooks on CNN
4. Bloomberg hates KSL
5. Ward rosters and politics
6. Why amazing men are still single
7. Lame dating quiz
8. Romania’s jowel king
9. Connecticut temple
10. LDS Tech updates

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We address our alleged criticisms of LDS church leaders. Seeking understand is quite different from railing against Salt Lake.

Elder Marlin K. Jensen has some frank words to share about the state of the Church and how levels of attrition are the highest they’ve been since pioneer days. How is the Church dealing with this? It’s pretty interesting.

A man says the Church stole his paintings

Updates on how the Honor Code at BYU suppresses freedom of religion.

A number of mainstream media stories highlight three great aspects of the Church – garments, tithing, and the nature of the afterlife.

Mitt Romney basically denied the First Vision. Great job, Mitt!

Links:

1. Elder Jensen and dealing with the modern age
2. Tackling tough aspects of Mormon history
3. Response to BYU not supporting religious freedom
4. The Church – art thief
5. McKay explains garments
6. Mormons and tithing
7. GQ takes on tithing
8. Hell for Mormons
9. NYT – Mormon cuisine
10. BYU is the hottest campus in the nation
11. The best BYUSA candidate ever

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The Church seems to approach the battle against gay marriage differently in different states. Minnesota is the latest non-Mormon-heavy state to receive nothing more than a letter read over the pulpit. Why a massive undertaking in California but passive resistance in Minnesota for a moral issue?

Political Beat: Mitt’s finances are discloses, the Church apparently owns Burger King, and Mitt’s “surge” in South Carolina mostly consisted of YSA and BYU kids from DC who were bused down (Incidentally, our boy McKay doesn’t even know use the Church’s proper name), Newt’s pastor says Mormons are a cult. Familiar?

The Kansas City Temple gets its open house and dedication dates.

Jimmer Fredette is your 2011 Mormon of the Year. Yay. Rah. Jimmergasm.

Elizabeth Smart is getting married to a cliche Scotsman. Geoff offers his Scottish insider insights.

Have you seen the “Dear John” section of DearElder.com? Hilarious.

Tidbits: Seminary turns 100, Deseret Books continues to destroy local businesses, “Joseph Smith” on Facebook, and the Top 10 Mormon films.

Links:

1. Different approaches to preserving the sanctity of marriage
2. YSA bused to SC
3. Jimmer is Mormon of the Year
4. Romney’s tithing
5. KC open house
6. Dear John
7. Elizabeth Smart’s beau
8. Joseph Smith’s Facebook page
9. Newt thinks we’re a cult
10. Seminary turns 100
11. Goodbye, family-owned LDS bookstore
12. Top 10 Mormon Films

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Get Back in France

Stop SOPA now! Listen in for details.

A photo of Mitt Romney possibly leaving mission boundaries sparks controversy… because Geoff started it.

PEW releases a landmark study of Mormons, with some pretty interesting results.

Does BYU curb religious freedom via the Honor Code? The Student Review says yes, and we’re inclined to agree.

Pornography will end because of condoms. You heard it here first. Listen in for details.

Businessweek alleges that the “I’m a Mormon” campaign is really an effort on the Church’s part to elect a Mormon president.

Assorted news: The Paris Temple looks like a strip mall; Jon Heder won’t do sexy; the Daily Universe ceases to be daily; beware of giving your wife your Facebook password.

Links:

1. PEWage
1. Actual PEW text
2. Exciting infographics!
2. The end of porn
3. Businessweek and Mormons
4. Let your husband read your Facebook
5. Daily Universe goes weekly
6. Jon Heder is clean
7. How the Honor Code restricts religious freedom
8. The Paris Temple letdown

Cloisters!

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Pure, Unadulterated Talent

Mitt Romney is an anchor baby. Can you believe the scandal? His MEXICAN family?? We talk about other Huntsman-Romney stuff, notably the Church’s alleged sabotage of the Huntsman campaign.

Online dating – endorsed by the Brethren or discouraged? Answers!

Some bored Mormon moms start a Mormon mythbusting podcast.

Julie Beck gets into podcasting. This should be a model for other Church leaders.

Also, some joyous news from the LEGO/modeling front. Listen in for details.

Other news: Church plots for sale in Harlem, SLC is the gayest city in America, LDS.org calendar gets updated.

Clickage:

1. I’m afraid of Mormons, but still better than a Muslim
2. Mormon political roundup
1. Would Salt Lake influence the White House?
2. Romney is an anchor baby
3. Mitt embraces Mormonism in South Carolina
4. Is the Church fixing the Huntsman campaign?
3. Julie Beck gets on the horn
4. Salt Lake is uber gay
5. Deserted News
6. Online dating
7. LDS land in Harlem
8. Mormon Mythbusters
9. LDS.org calendar updates
10. Build your LEGOs, sir

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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TWiM turns 100! Thanks to all of you for helping us reach this milestone. You make it all worthwhile. To celebrate, we pat ourselves on the back and spend the end of the show reading every episode title of This Week in Mormons, ever.

David Archuleta’s mission plans result in a nicely balanced article about LDS missions in the Wall Street Journal.

President Monson is among the most admired religious leaders in the world!

Tuscon hates Mitt Romney. Jon Hunstman is a better Mormon, says they, because he actually likes immigrants.

The top religious stories from Utah in 2011! It’s a big deal.

Other stuff: Explanation on Mormons becoming gods, more on the Mormon Ponzi scheme, old Nauvoo city council minutes.

Touch:

1. John McCain endorsed the wrong Mormon
2. From American Idol to Mormon missionary
3. Top religious stories of 2011
4. Monson is admired
5. Mormons becoming gods
6. Nauvoo city council minutes
7. Mormon Ponziis
8. Mormon Times has TV?
9. Ancient seals!

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The year in review, for we as individuals, for the Church, and for the podcast! What are your memories of 2011 and, more importantly, your memories of TWiM? We are the most important. Don’t forget that.

David Archuleta decides to go on a mission! Woo hoo!

Geoff has more beef with Deseret Book. It’s sad. It’s justified.

Changes in YSA wards in terms of size, naming (_YSA Ward), and other issues. What is going on here? Doesn’t this all go against the whole concept of more, smaller, more manageable singles wards?

Advice from LDS single men to the ladies. Really profound stuff.

And a special segment: We’ve decided the Brethren all need blogs and Twitter accounts, but what should these accounts be named? This is where the genius of TWiM comes in.

Links:

1. Advice from single men
2. Eating crow
3. P Diddy quotes L. Tom Perry
4. 2011: The Year Mormonism Went Mainstream
5. Anti-Mormon website from GOP candidate

Better Than "Russ' Fusses"

]]> http://thisweekinmormons.com/2011/12/episode-99-neils-squeals/feed/ 4 TWiM Will Save Your Lifehttp://media.blubrry.com/thisweekinmormons/thisweekinmormons.com/podcast/TWiM_EP99_Neils_Squeals.mp3- Download "This Week in Mormons" Podcast MP3The year in review, for we as individuals, for the Church, and for the podcast! What are your memories of 2011 and, more importantly, your memories of TWiM? We are the most important. Don’t forget that. David Archuleta decides to go on a mission! Woo hoo! Geoff has more beef with Deseret Book. It’s sad. It’s justified. Changes in YSA wards in terms of size, naming (_YSA Ward), and other issues. What is going on here? Doesn’t this all go against the whole concept of more, smaller, more manageable singles wards? Advice from LDS single men to the ladies. Really profound stuff. And a special segment: We’ve decided the Brethren all need blogs and Twitter accounts, but what should these accounts be named? This is where the genius of TWiM comes in. Links: Advice from single men Eating crow P Diddy quotes L. Tom Perry 2011: The Year Mormonism Went Mainstream Anti-Mormon website from GOP candidate Better Than "Russ' Fusses" TWiM Will Save Your Lifehttp://media.blubrry.com/thisweekinmormons/thisweekinmormons.com/podcast/TWiM_EP99_Neils_Squeals.mp3- Download "This Week in Mormons" Podcast MP3The year in review, for we as individuals, for the Church, and for [...] http://thisweekinmormons.com/2011/12/episode-98-sometimes-i-wish-you-would-accidentally-die/ http://thisweekinmormons.com/2011/12/episode-98-sometimes-i-wish-you-would-accidentally-die/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:05:23 +0000 Geoff http://thisweekinmormons.com/?p=2519 TWiM Will Save Your Life

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Merry Christmas from us! We hope you have a nice holiday.

Should Al and Geoff walk the Camino de Santiago?

SNL has a ball with Tim Tebow, finished with a random joke about Mormonism being right all along! Hooray!

Times and Seasons‘ “Mormon of the Year” nominations are open. We want everyone to nominate and second Kevin Beckstrom for his fine work at Zarahemla Times. Or Rachel Vermillion. But really, Beckstrom. Come on!

A new study shows a growing gender gap within the Church – a growing ratio of women to men. What are the reasons? What can be done?

Likewise, another study officially proves every stereotype one has ever had about the Church.

Letter to Utah State – “What about that ‘Mormon problem’?”

Assorted news: An LDS father and son court investors for a Ponzi Scheme, using their “Mormonness” as incentive for trust; is multi-level marketing actually against Church teaching?; restored Provo Tabernacle “could be” a boon for Provo; Elder Cook urges a restoration of morality.

Linkage:

1. Letter to USU
2. Mormon Choral Organization CD
3. Gender gap widening
4. Study confirms every LDS stereotype ever
5. Mormonism used for investing
6. Provo Tabernacle could be good for Provo
7. Elder Cook urges a restoration of morality
8. Mormon of the Year!
9. Santaquin fires

This Is the Same Outfit She Wore to the Testing Center

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Party week! The guys behind Mom, I’m Dating a Mormon join us in the studio. It was surprisingly insightful to have them, not because their awesomeness is surprising, but because we at TWiM tend to act like dolts when we have guests on the show.

BYU-Idaho and skinny jeans – The debacle of the century. Get the latest news here. Are they allowed? Are they not? Questions! Answers!

Mitt Romney has an interesting few days, both in deciding to actually talk about his experiences in the Church, and also making unfortunate bets with Rick Perry.

Assorted: The Quetzaltenango Temple is dedicated, a funny Mormon Reditt thread, a profile of the female drummer in Neon Trees, the George Albert Smith manual, and virtual Christmas cards!

Links:

1. Neon Trees
2. Reditt
3. Musical Christmas videos
4. Skinny jeans
5. George Albert Smith
6. Romney talks religion

Numbers!

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First Presidency Christmas Devotional recaps, along with our thoughts on the new Bible Videos site.

The Kyiv Ukraine Temple receives a cool architectural award for being the best religious building constructed in Ukraine in 2010. Nasha Ukrayina!

BYU quarterback Jake Heaps is out. Al gives us his analysis.

The Student Review publishes a great article examining the political leanings of BYU professors, and how they are surprisingly balanced compared to most universities.

Did Korihor actually fight for religious freedom amidst a repressive theocracy?

Other items: Mitt Romney’s softer side; a call for the media to stop focusing on the sensational side of Mormonism; stop making fun of Mormons; and Donald Trump is a schmuck.

Links:

1. Kyiv Temple wins award
2. Bible Videos
3. BYU Professors and politics
4. Goodbye, Jake Heaps
5. Korihor – Freedom fighter?
6. Moving beyond sensationalism
7. Making fun of Mormonism

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Behold, a slow week in Mormon news! How do we react? Awesomely.

Going to BYU and not being LDS. How much does it suck?

David Archuleta goes to the temple and gets his Eagle Scout – at 20. What a little, wonderful man.

There is a MoTab Christmas YouTube channel. We repeat: A MoTab Christmas YouTube channel.

The US Senate recognizes the Church’s welfare program.

A dude says he was discriminated against for being Mormon.

And Latino LDS broadcast! ¡Qué chevre!

Touch me:

1. Are Mormons any weirder than the rest of us?
2. Being non-LDS at BYU
3. David Archuleta achieves!
4. US Senate and welfare program
5. Devocional latino
6. Prejudiced against for being Mormon?
7. MoTab Christmas Channel

Such Sultry Looks, Such Glistening Hair

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Modern Family causes a ruckus at BYU. One writer actually compares gay parents to prostitutes and serial killers. Yup.

Vasectomies. To consult the bishop or not to consult?

And bishops overall – Do we use them for general counsel or just for repentance?

Geoff and Al have a new website. Check it out!

Honorable mentions: Church service and how it moderates us; Mormon.org chat trolls; moldy churches in Norcal; and LDS Business College celebrates 125 years of mediocrity!

Clicketh thou me

1. Modern Family BYU drama
2. Mormon chat trolls
3. Neither hot nor cold
4. Three Witnesses monument hits 100
5. Joe Biden loves Mormons
6. LDSBC celebrates 100 years
7. Do not bulldoze the moldy church
8. Taking on vasectomies
9. Professor of the Year
10. Church service moderated Romney
11. New leadership training site
12. Our new website!

Don't Let Him Hold That Baby

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Some updates on the deaths of two missionaries in Texas. Sad times. One of them was right near the end of his mission, too.

Harold Bloom, reknowned jackweed, writes a very biased and senseless op-ed in the NYT. Joanna Brooks responds.

Inclusiveness in the Church or exclusivity? What make someone “Mormon”? We’re debating this, especially based on the big tent nature of recent “I’m a Mormon” videos. Are we in a position to judge someone’s “Mormon-ness”?

Other news: Over 40% of Americans are “uncomfortable” with having a Mormon in the White House, the Quetzaltenango Temple open house is underway, and good times with angry letters!

El Clique:

1. Remembering two missionaries
2. Quetzaltenango open house
3. Bloom article
4. Joanna Brooks’ response
5. Slate and Mormonism
6. A Mormon DJ raver madman
7. 4/10 Americans “uncomfortable” with a Mormon in the White House

Folk Music Just Won't Get You This Far

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Lighthearted discussion on LDS tech advances and the Church’s social media efforts. OK, we’re tech dorks. Sue us.

The Circling the Wagons conference – a Mormon LGBT gathering – took place in Salt Lake over the weekend. One bishop declared homophobia in the Church an “atrocity.” Pretty awesome stuff.

A well-intentioned article about fashionable modesty takes an unfortunate turn in effectively blaming immodesty on two cases of date rape. No bueno.

After last week’s Halloween/modesty debacle, Geoff takes on the practice of garment “tucking.” Get ready, ladies!

Other news: Hilary Weeks tops the charts (sort of), Federal lawsuits against the Church being involved in Utah’s liquor laws, and two cool videos (see below), and a prophet occupies Wall Street.

Clickety Clickster Clickerrific:

1. Homophobia “an atrocity”
2. Modesty and date rape
3. Barring the Church from liquor law input
4. Hilary Weeks is first Mormon to debut atop Christian charts
5. A prophet occupies Wall Street

Holland Rocks It!

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Happy belated Halloween to everyone. Let’s talk about two things: 1) Why cross dressing is allegedly banned at church Halloween parties; 2) Why Halloween is apparently some sort of free pass to skank it up (and we don’t mean the ska dance).

It was hard to miss the New York Times’ really odd article about Mormon Hipsters – Mipsters – and how the way to be cool and Mormon is to rebel a little. Al and Geoff disagree a lot on this one.

Google has rectified its injustice against Mitt Romney. Which injustice? Listen in to find out.

Homeless people already live in cities of trash, so why are LDS teens in Mesa/Gilbert building cardboard cities? To taunt the homeless? To show they they can build in an hour what it takes weeks for a homeless person to obtain?

Jon Huntsman’s daughters are crazy, and not in the fun, hot way of Dubya’s.

Ze Links:

1. Mipsters
2. Hispanics and Mitt Romney
3. Google hates Mitt
4. Where does your freshman class come from?
5. Cross dressing and Trunk or Treat
6. Cities of trash

Adding Insult to Injury

Look What I Made!

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Elder Oaks testifies before the Senate. Orrin Hatch rejoices.

Joe Lieberman speaks at BYU, says he loves Mitt Romney, and encourages everyone to vote for Romney.

Mormons and Muslims need to be better friends. They have too much in common to ignore each other. Let’s make this marriage happen.

Jon Huntsman did sorta OK on “The Colbert Report.” (see below)

Other: Sapporo Japan Temple breaks ground, Ben Folds cries because of white boys singing hip hop, Awkward Mormon Family Photos… and more!

Links:

1. Sapporo Japan Temple
2. Elder Oaks testifies before the Senate
3. Most Americans have no problem with Mormon candidates
4. Joe Lieberman at BYU
5. Mormons and Muslims
6. Awkward Mormon Family Photos

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It’s time for the TWiM rage regarding the “Mormons are a cult” nonsense that’s been going around for the past week. We’re fed up. Why is it OK to hate on Mormons but not on other groups? It’s high time we stopped putting up with it. We at This Week in Mormons stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Latter-day Saints. Enough is enough.

Is NCMO abuse? Some lady says yes. We say no. Is this a battle of the sexes? No. Because we’ll win.

Brandon Flowers’ officially embraces being Mormon in a new “I’m a Mormon” video.

Others: Homeschooling. The Whitney Awards (yippee). And a terrible video done by BYU-I girls who have nothing better to do on a Friday night.

Link

1. Is NCMO abuse?
2. Judge the Man, Not the Mormon – Joe Lieberman
3. Evangelicals Should Stand Up to Anti-Mormonism – John Mark Reynolds
4. Who Says Mormons Aren’t Christians? – Dean Obeidallah
5. Open Letter to Mitt Romney
6. How Do Mormons Answer ‘Not Christian’ Claims? – Michael Otterson
7. Rick Perry Amplifies Anti-Mormon Rhetoric
8. Rick Perry’s Anti-Mormon Advisors - McKay Coppins
9. Nominations for the Whitney Awards
10. Homeschooling Then and Now
11. Ten Years of the Perpetual Education Fund

Jerk.

 

The Original Christus

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Part Two of our General Conference recap continues. So many inspired leaders. So little time.

Our boy McKay Coppins is among the names mentioned in a survey administered by the Church to find out which blogs and writers the saints read. TWiM has, sadly, not made it on the list. Fix this, people!

Do we have an obligation to support Vocal Point in “The Sing-Off” because they are Mormon?

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This past weekend was General Conference. What does that mean for TWiM? A special episode of This Week in Mormons in which we pore through the content of about half of Conference and talk about what spoke to us the most. We’ll cover the rest of it next week.

We are forgoing the typical writeup format for the week. However, here is an article that was mentioned during the show about non-members watching Conference.

If you missed Conference, get the sessions here.

We couldn’t leave you without a few humorous things. Below is a picture from Times and Seasons that we thought was great. Below that is a video celebrating something wonderful for the future.

Happy Conferencing!

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A local Young Men’s president is released for refusing to run the annual Friends of Scouting drive, citing high salaries to local Boy Scout leaders and a lack of funds actually going to the local unit. Crazy story. Listen in to hear the details.

Our General Conference predictions. We’re mostly sad that with Mormon Times having folded back into Deseret News, we have no stories to report on conference food traditions and recipes for cinnamon rolls. Dangit!

After a long hiatus, we bring back our “Rants!” segment. Al and Geoff both have some bones to pick.

Other: A Mormon president in… Mali?, Iceland Mormon cultural center, and if you are 1) Single and 2) Mormon – 4) Get Help!

1. The end of scouting
2. Iceland in the Church
3. Mormons for Mali
4. All the single Mormons (All the single Mormons)

Stupid Crutchy

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Our analysis of the cultural impact and awesome move by the Church with the Philadelphia Temple, for which ground was broken this past weekend. Strong move by the Church.

Senior Missionaries – Why don’t more of them serve? Elder Holland has some ideas. So does the Bloggernacle.

MoBach is over. Talk about a letdown. Sheesh. A boring season ends with a boring post-mortem.

Geoff went to Iceland. He is a changed man.

The actor who played John in one of the temple films was digitally removed and replaced with another actor. Why would the Church bother to yank someone from a twenty-year-old film? We’re really curious about the reasoning behind this.

Other stuff: Cow moosick in France, the BYU Student Review is resurrected, Frats and sororities at the U of U are gone, the Payson Temple goes viral, and a little website that got Al into a whole lotta trouble.

Links:

1. Payson Temple rendering
2. Desperately Seeking Seniors
3. Elder Holland on senior missionaries
4. John yanked?
5. Temple John, where have you gone?
6. Moosick
7. Goodbye, Frats
8. BYU Student Review (awesome!)
9. Philly Temple

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Judas

We are joined by the folks behind the “Most Interesting Mormon in the World” YouTube vids – Melissa Parker, Corbin Frost, and Adam Johnson. So kind of them to join us. We had a blast.

The tenth anniversary of 9/11 has come and gone. How did you remember? We discuss President Monson’s remarks in the Washington Post, MoTab with Tom Brokaw, and “Chosen People Syndrome” – the myth of, miraculously, no Mormons dying in the attacks of September 11th.

A British bus company has forbidden missionaries from tracting on its buses. We predict better adjusted and fewer guilt-ridden missionaries in the future.

Other assorted: Payson Temple groundbreaking, Mountain Meadows Monument gets “National” status, a BoM movie (no, not that one), and a new poll showing that Americans still think Mormons are polygamists. Goodie.

Links:

1. President Monson’s op-ed
2. “Chosen People Syndrome”
3. Groundbreaking for Payson Temple
4. Mountain Meadows Monument
5. Book of Mormon Movie!
6. Study about Mormons and Polygamy
7. No more bus preaching
8. Follow Adam on Twitter and his website
9. Follow Corbin on Twitter and his website

As usual, please subscribe in iTunes, but if you adamantly refuse, you can stream it here.

Teacher’s manual

Student manual

“More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us” – Paul V. Johnson

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LDS men are marrying older for a number of weak reasons and Al questions statistics about LDS divorce rates.

The Provo Travelodge is no more! What?! Yes, folks, the Church has bought it along with other parcels of land adjacent to the burned-down Provo Tabernacle. Is this suspect?

An awesome looking, privately-funded Joseph Smith movie is out. Al has is pre-review, also known as a preview.

The Boise Temple is getting a $13M renovation. Finally, Boise will be given justice!

Other news: Updates on Mitch Mayne, the gay bishopric member; missionary mauled by a lion is recovering; pansies in Fort Collins; Brokaw and MoTab remember 9/11; Bushman!

Links:

1. Lion mauling
2. Church buys Travelodge
3. Pansies in Fort Collins
4. New Joseph Smith movie (video below)
5. Boise gets upgraded
6. Bushman’s rules for himself
7. Mormon men fear marriage
8. Mitch Mayne
9. MoTab, Brokaw, Remember 9/11
10. Relative Finder App for Facebook

Hey, Play That One by George Michael!

It’s just so awesomely terrible.

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Earthquakes! Hurricanes! Michelle Bachmann would have us believe that God is punishing DC. Geoff reports from the ground.

A bishop is hit with felony charges for failing to report a sexual assault on one of his flock. How do bishops balance discretion and confidence with a duty to report lawbreaking?Joanna Brooks has some tough questions for LDS politicians.

Joanna Brook is all over the news this week.

Jimmer’s getting married. Get over it. To find out how his honeymoon will be, see Episode #53.

How does Mitt’s experience distributing welfare and assistance as a bishop play into his political views?

Assorted: Mormons on NPR, 18 year-old missionaries, temples help property values, a new MYC building, and Warren Jeffs is in a coma. Whoopie!

Links:

• Bishop charged
• Spires break off DC Temple in quake
• NPR and the Misunderstood Faith of Mormons
• Joanna Brooks asks the tough questions
• Goodbye, Melvin J. Ballard Building. Hello, Jacob Hamblin Building
• 18 year-old Elders. Yikes
• Property values and LDS Temples – FAIR
• Mitt and welfare
• Bowling, Geoff’s mom, and the Mormon Times

I Represent the Lollipop Guild

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Yet another article about how Mormons are leaders, but from a different angle! Mormons aren’t just business leaders because they love business, but because Church culture helps people learn to organize others.

The Ogden Temple Facelift. Good or bad? Does it diss the original architect? Are we ditching a dated, but unique, building in favor of something far more modern, generic, and less distinctive?

The Washington Post acknowledges that Mormons know how to use the internet. We take charge of our own message and don’t let other dominate the conversation.

John Huntsman: Jack Mormon. It’s official, but we still love him.

Assorted: San Salvador Temple dedicated; Mormons quest for the White House; an openly gay man serving in a bishopric; and more Washington, DC singles! This time on PBS!

Lists of clickety clickers:

1. San Salvador Temple dedicated
2. Ogden Temple. Botched surgery?
3. Mormon men are uber organized
4. Huntsman – “The Church was wrong”
5. Vogue profile of Huntsman – “Like reformed Jews”
6. The Mormon quest for the Presidency
7. Using the Web to control the image
8. Openly gay bishopric member

Watch the full episode. See more Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.

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In case you missed it, Stephen Colbert gives Mormons some love. It’s awesome. High-five a tiger!

Arizona has two Mormons vying for the GOP nomination for the Senate race, and they’re in the same ward. “It’s like a Mormon version of Jerry Springer,” sources say.

We have a great discussion about less activity, the at-risk demographic of 25-35 within the Church, and the shortcomings of the Institute program.

Noted LDS scholar and “we’re-different-from-you” missionary work advocate, Gary Lawrence, publishes a new book about Mormon misconceptions. Rock it, Gary!

Sherlock Holmes – banned in parts of Virginia for being anti-Mormon.

Links:

1. Two Mormons. One Senate seat. Same ward.
2. Mitt Romney’s finances
3. BYU broadcasting building dedicated
4. Sherlock Holmes banned
5. Ramadan at BYU
6. Philadelphia Temple groundbreaking

Ward Wars

 

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

 

 

Subscribe in iTunes. It’s the best way to go! If not, stream it here.
Teachers manual

Student manual

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Please join us all in wishing a belated birthday to Al. The man brings us so much joy and happiness. The man is Mormon hungover.

A poll on Heavenly Mother. Who is she? What is her relationship to Heavenly Father? By Common Consent seeks to find the answer.

The FAIR Conference has concluded, with an interesting presentation about the old Spalding-Rigdon theory about the authorship of the Book of Mormon. Pretty interesting stuff.

Joanna Brooks has a post about five myths of Mormonism. Terrific stuff. We are not all white!

Speaking of whiteness, Michael Otterson has a few things to say about the Church’s internationalization and how 52% of Mormons now live outside of the US and Canada.

Other news: Some funerals for noted former LDS leadership, Mormonism will save the GOP from xenophobia, the Mormon Defense League website, a cryptically Book of Mormon-inspired action movie, and Brandon Davies is making a comeback! Four more years! Four more years!

Clicks:

1. Heavenly Mother is…
2. FAIR Conference stuff
3. Five myths about Mormons
4. Funerals for her and for him
5. Mormons will save the GOP
6. Otterson rocks the casbah
7. Mormon Defense League
8. BoM-inspired movie?
9. Brandon Davies is no longer breaking the Honor Code

I'm Leaving You

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Teacher’s manual

Student manual

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Douglass Brown vows to never read the Daily Universe again. What this means for your weekend and salvation, just ahead.

BeliefNet writer finishes his month trying to be Mormon. Really insightful stuff!

A new study shows that using pornography results in violent behavior. Heady stuff.

Good ol’ Mark Hoffman has resurfaced. Actual tapes of him conducting his business have been discovered. These are the only audio recordings of Hoffman in action.

Warren Jeffs promises a scourge upon those who are prosecuting him. Sickness and death! Man! Go FLDS!

New Jerusalem set in Goshen, UT is completed. Can we get a tour? Is this our own Holy Land Experience?

The Mormon Bachelorette is down. It’s down, people! In its place, we are bombarded with the “Mormon Matchmaker.”

According to Al, people freaked out on a Mormon trek through Iowa but the street fell apart and they were forced to walk on dirt. Find the truth here!

Links:

1. BeliefNet blog
2. New Jersusalem set
3. The Mormon Matchmaker
4. Douglass Brown puts down The Daily Universe, add him on Facebook!
5. Warren Jeffs condemns everyone
6. FLDS temple, Righteous Branch of LDS
7. Mark Hoffman in the news
8. Porn leads to violence

The New Jerusalem

Subscribe in iTunes or click to stream

 Teacher’s manual

Class member study guide

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Myrtle Madness has ended! Geoff and Al recount… some of their adventures.

President Monson’s stalker believes himself to be Jesus. As he stands trial, he tells authorities that he had problems, “Only President Monson could help [him] with.”

Mitt Romney’s Mormonism is only known by 40% of Americans. Let’s keep it hush hush so that the 25% who won’t vote for a Mormon don’t realize that Romney’s one of them!

A temple marriage petition to allow civil marriages immediately before a sealing. Al and Geoff debate the tenets of said petition!

Mormon Matters does a great podcast about modesty. We highly recommend listening.

Links:

1. Old Grantsville church for sale
2. Mormon Matters: Modesty
3. Paris Temple updates (in French)
4. Lame dating experts
5. Monson stalker
6. Mormonism and the “cult box”
7. Romney’s religion unknown to most
8. Church gets a Roku channel
9. Mainstream Christians can learn from Mormons
10. Temple wedding petition
11. Elder Cook throws a pitch
12. We’ve found one of four immortals
13. Ron Howard directs stupid movie

Have You Seen This Boy?

 

The Paris-Versailles Urban Youth Center

Listen to the show here.

Teachers manual

Student manual

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We come to you live from exotic Myrtle Beach, SC! Myrtle Mayhem!

Ainsley Earhardt, a Fox News correspondent, says that Mitt Romney is “not Christian.” This has really incensed not just Latter-day Saints, but many Mormon apologists across a wide religious spectrum. Fair and balanced. Right.

Noted blogger and social media magnate Jesse Stay writes and insightful and inviting piece about reasons to believe the Church. This is one of the better reads we’ve come across in some time.

The Church’s tax-exempt status has been called into question as the Church seeks to mollify those who would attempt to strip it.

Utah Democrats are rocking the casbah.

France is getting a temple! Awesome! This sparks a discussion about general Church administration, namely the rationale behind temples in places where the work is actually receding.

Lil Wayne and Jimmer. Together forever.

The Mormon Times is gone! Well, sorta.

Touch me for luck:

1. Christiangate
1. Basic story on Fox news and Romney
2. Op-ed criticizing Fox News
3. Joanna Brooks has her say
2. Jesse Stay’s great piece
3. Church’s tax-exempt status
4. Utah Democrats
5. Temple in France
6. Toronto consolidates missions
7. Li’l Wayne raps Jimmer
8. Angel Moroni tops Brigham City Temple

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Magically terrific documentary video of two LDS missionaries in the Washington, DC area. Way to get on your film noir, Washington Post.

The Joanna Brooks show! Joanna Rocks Fox News and also wonders if Mitt Romney is developing a sense of humor about his religion.

President Monson has a stalker. Benjamin Staples, you nefarious fool!

Tricia Erickson is crazy.

Assorted: Harry Potter/Book of Mormon mashup, Mormons in the MLB All-Star Game, Fort Collins Temple location announced

Click Me:

1. Romney and long underwear
2. Brooks and Fox News
3. Tricia Erickson and insanity
4. Missionaries and film noir
5. Monson and stalkers
6. Sactown and Jimmergasms
7. Mormons and All-Stars
8. Fort Collins and Colorado

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Happy Independence Day, Venezuela and Algeria! Happy belated Canada Day to our Canadian friends!

Al desperately wants to help midgets having car trouble.

We hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July!

Robin Williams makes a joke at the expense of the Church, and the press gives it way more coverage than it deserves!

Mormons have a disproportionately high level of representation in Congress. Because of this, as well as the “Mormon Moment” stuff, Asians are furious! Furious!

Other stuff: A Mountain Meadows landmark receives National status, Peggy Fletcher Stack gets hers, some LDS teens are the greatest auto technicians in the world!, updates on GAs not being involved in politics, some temple news…

…and The Zarahemla Times!!

Links:

1. Mormon teens are automotive geniuses
2. EXCLUSIVE! LDS Church leaders have donated to political candidates
3. Mountain Meadows Monument
4. Mormons vs. Asians
5. Robin Williams is soooooo funny
   1. Keep it under your hat
6. We are not alone
7. Temple updates

• • • • • • • Class Member Study Guide
            • Teachers Manual
            • Alma 7:13-14
            • Luke 22
            • Matthew 26
            • Mark 14
            • “Overcome..Even As I Also Overcame” – Neal A. Maxwell
            • “None Were With Him” – Jeffrey R. Holland

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Jon Huntsman has a terrible website. Seriously. Time to fire the social media and digital communications staff.

It turns out General Authorities can’t take part in political campaigns. Who woulda thought? We long for the days of Apostles serving concurrently in the Eisenhower administration. *sigh*…

Richard Bushman, author of Rough Stone Rolling and other works, responds to the humorous, yet false nature of “The Book of Mormon” musical…. not the book. The book is true, people!

Al is in love with a story about what he alleges is every missionary’s fantasy. What a terrible, terrible person.

This land is your land, O Canada!

Mormon.org on Times Square appears to be yielding results, at least in terms of traffic.

Hey athletes, put your church first and stop hosing around with money and fame.

Links:

1. ABC and the “Mormon Moment”
2. Is the “Mormon Moment” good?
3. Vote Huntsman because he speaks Chinese?
4. In DC and hate driving to the temple? Take the shuttle!
5. Mission before baseball
6. Bushman weighs in
7. Nigerian chess champs!
8. GAs can’t campaign
9. Of Missionaries, tabloids, and leggy women
10. O Canada!
11. Times Square Mormon.org

Progress at Brigham City Temple

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Enjoy our new feature where we go over a forthcoming Gospel Doctrine lesson for the week in about ten minutes. Ten minutes! Ten minutes and you’re done! We do ask that you please let us know how you like this new venture, so we can gauge whether it’s of use to anyone or not.

Mucho thanks!

• Teacher’s manual
• Class member study guide
• John 17
• “Receive the Holy Ghost” – David A. Bednar, Oct. 2010 Conference

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Well what a program! Such a fun show for everyone this week.

We’re joined by Jenna Kim Jones, of Jenna Kim Jones fame. She’s hilarious! Those of you in Utah can see her perform stand-up on July 8-9 at Wiseguys in Trolley Square. Jenna also takes questions about the “Weiner Wheel” on The Daily Show.

Kevin Beckstrom. Oh Kevin Beckstrom. The man has finally crossed the line. Find out how.

Where is the line between lovingly mocking Mormons and actually preaching hatred? Are we too passive as LDS people? Should we stand up to all of this nonsense?

Cecil Samuelson visits the Scottish Parliament, only to be rebuked by a member of said Parliament; and then that Member of Parliament is rebuked by someone else in Parliament. Rebuking in Edinburgh!

Want to go on an ice cream hike with us? Too bad. We don’t want to.

The Ft. Lauderdale Temple is underway, writers debate “The Book of Mormon” coming to Salt Lake, and there’s a Thomas S. Monson camp in Ontario??

Links:

1. Mocking Mormons
   1. Susan Brooks Thislethwaite
   2. Teasing makes Mormons merrier
   3. “Amos and Andy”
   4. Bom to SLC?
   5. Commentary on NYC “I’m a Mormon” campaign
2. Cecil in Edinburgh, Cecil rebuked
3. Alaska missionaries use typewriter
4. Racism in the Church – Peggy Fletcher Stack
5. They’re here, they’re square, get used to it!
6. Thomas S. Monson Park?
7. New Gallup poll about Mormons
8. Elder Packer faints. He’s OK now and on his way home.
9. Geoff wrote a lovely article about whether a Mormon can even be active when President of the US

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Enjoy our new feature where we go over a forthcoming Gospel Doctrine lesson for the week in about ten minutes. Ten minutes! Ten minutes and you’re done! We do ask that you please let us know how you like this new venture, so we can gauge whether it’s of use to anyone or not.

Mucho thanks!

• Student Manual
• Luke 22 (The Sacrament)
• John 13 (Washing the feet)
• John 14 (The way)
• John 15 (The Vine)
• A complimentary visual aid

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Unrelated to Mormon news, but Al continues to fail to understand why Geoff loves Disneyland so much.

KSL drops “The Playboy Club” because of its relation to some sort of obscure gentlemen’s magazine. TV affiliates picking and choosing in an effort to censor. Right or wrong?

To no one’s surprise, “The Book of Mormon” cleans up at the Tonys. The Church has responded by started an “I’m a Mormon” campaign on Times Square.

Branch presidents are getting deported, and the Church releases another statement on immigration, this one siding a bit more with the law.

Does being a Mormon and – more importantly – serving a mission influence foreign policy outlook?

Mitt debates and appears on Piers Morgan. And boy is he a defensive kid!

Other news: Glenn Beck has a new site, the Church gets social networking into genealogy work, Deseret Book releases an iOS app, LDS fraternities get the axe, and those blasted Texans won’t let us build a meetinghouse!

…And… “The Marriage Ref” is still ON??????

Clickety Clik:

1. Open letter to evangelical critic by Michael Otterson
2. Social networking and genealogy
3. Mitt and Piers
4. Glenn Beck’s new network
5. Book of Mormon at the Tonys
6. “I’m a Mormon” in NYC
7. Immigration
   1. Both sides like new Church statement
   2. Two branch presidents deported
   3. Official Church statement
8. Dang you, Texas!
9. Goodbye, “Playboy Club”
10. Deseret Book iPhone app
11. Mormonism and Foreign Policy

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Enjoy our new feature where we go over a forthcoming Gospel Doctrine lesson for the week in about ten minutes. Ten minutes! Ten minutes and you’re done! We do ask that you please let us know how you like this new venture, so we can gauge whether it’s of use to anyone or not.

Mucho thanks!

• Matthew 25
• Read lesson in the New Testament Class Member Study Guide
• Lynn G. Robbins – “Oil in Our Lamps”
• Ronald A. Rasband – “Parables of Jesus: The Parable of the Talents”

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Phoenix Temple construction gets underway.

Missionary guidelines for senior couples change. Listen in to find out how!

The Moscow Stake is organized by Elder Nelson. Horosho, indeed.

Links:

 
1. Phoenix Temple groundbreaking
2. Most awesome Crystal City singles headline yet
3. Geriatric Missionary guidelines changing
4. Romney on Newsweek
5. Mormons Rock!
6. Stories about YSA. Ye or nay?
7. Evangelicals and the Romney question
8. New PEW poll

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Enjoy our new feature where we go over a forthcoming Gospel Doctrine lesson for the week in about ten minutes. Ten minutes! Ten minutes and you’re done! We do ask that you please let us know how you like this new venture, so we can gauge whether it’s of use to anyone or not.

Mucho thanks!

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More madness about the Crystal City chapel. Seriously, it’s like the media thinks this is the first time a singles ward has been created. The Washington Post and Time are to blame this time around.

Joanna Brooks rocks an evangelical author who argues that a vote for Mitt Romney is a vote for the LDS Church.

Does your horse have equine herpes? Never fear! Stick ponies are here!

Al loves the Book of Mormon soundtrack.

Mitt Romney loves the Book of Mormon musical, too, apparently. *cough*

A real Mormon is on the real Bachelorette, and the Mormon Bachelorette has also been announced. It is a scary week for all of us.

Links:

1. Joanna Brooks rocks….
2. …this man for saying this
3. Elizabeth Smart talks the mish
4. Ride the Tiger! (Pony)
5. Washington Post wants you to get married, LDS kids
6. Time Magazine does not understand singles wards
7. Listen to the BoM soundtrack
8. Mitt wants to see “The Book of Mormon”
9. Jon Heder gets a pilot
10. Jimmer should stay in Utah
11. A Mormon on The Bachelorette
12. A Mormon Bachelorette

Hi Ashley, We Look Forward to Making Fun of Your Experience

It's All A Conspiracy!

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Enjoy our new feature where we go over a forthcoming Gospel Doctrine lesson for this week in about ten minutes. Ten minutes! Ten minutes and you’re done! We do ask that you please let us know how you like this new venture, so we can gauge whether it’s of use to anyone or not.

Mucho thanks!

- Download "This Week in Mormons" Podcast MP3

No Rapture. Life goes on.

Bob Woodward hires Geoff as his personal massage therapist!

Are you TBM? Mitt Romney is. But ARE YOU??

Ladies, stop pining away after President Uchtdorf. You are coveting. COVETING!

A Merrill Lynch employee allegedly gets sacked for being “too Mormon.” Lame.

Geoff has a ball reviewing a review of the recent box office flop, “Priest.” It pertains to LDS people, don’t worry.

And…temple closures, temple open houses, updates on the Brock case, and Huntsman hates utah!

Link:

1. MoBach begins new season
2. Rapture Poll
3. Open house of Quetzaltenango Temple
4. Boise Temple closing… FOREVER! K, not really.
5. Huntsman hates Utah
6. Bishops in the Brock case not prosecuted
7. “Priest”!
8. Stop dreaming of becoming Mrs. Uchtdorf
9. Merrill Lynch discriminates
10. TBM = dumb
11. This is not what the Mormons do in Rome

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The King James Version of the Bible turns 400! Pretty cool. We discuss some of the history of the KJV and celebrate through holy reverence.

Peggy Fletcher Stack continues to amaze! She’s our new McKay. Geoff spends awhile lambasting a new article about the Crystal City ward, which is apparently a YSA ward (it’s not) and is also synonymous with a church building (it’s not).

Romney. Huntsman. We don’t want to beat a dead horse, but perhaps they effectively come from different generations of Mormons, thus explaining their different ways of addressing their faith publicly.

We love pantyhose, and things transpired in the past week that will deeply hurt our preference for those lovely nylon leg-shapers!

Al mocks Geoff for not knowing about settlement history within the Church. Geoff cries and walks out of the show.

Links:

1. Why the LDS Church tops Facebook page rankings
2. Religious belief is human nature, study finds
3. Come to the new singles ward opening up! FLETCHER!
4. KJV finds niche within the Church
5. 400 years of KJV!
6. BYU rugby in championship
7. Vandals in Denver!
8. The hose have got to go!
9. Different strains of Mormonism
10. Recap on Beyond BYU event
11. Find Geoff’s fan page on FB

This Can Be Our Future If We'll Only Just Embrace It!

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Scott Anderson: A Living Legend

Moscow is getting a stake! Moskva! Good for Russia! And we talk some other Church statistics over from 2000-2010.

Peter Vidmar, noted Olympian and recently-appointed Chief of Mission for the US Olympic team has resigned due to pressure from those against his stance on Califronia’s Prop 8. Jacked up.

How “Mormon” is Jon Huntsman? The mystery continues.

A journalist says that Mormons will be “expected” to vote for Mitt Romney by their church. Uh…

In other bits – Marie Osmond re-re-marries, Book of Mormon on Broadway gets a gagillion Tony nominations, FHE treats are the way forward, the Hummer Mom gets in trouble!, and balloons rise in Phoenix! Balloons!

—and more!

Clicking:

1. President Monson speaks at Dixie
2. Moscow stake!
3. Other Church stats
4. Peter Vidmar departs
5. Tony nods for BoM
6. Lessons through FHE treats!
7. Silly kids and flash mobs
8. Hummer mom
9. Balloons for Peace
10. Romney farce
11. Huntmsan – great Mormon or greatest Mormon?
12. Bridal things are changing!

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A slew of stuff this week!

Conservative LDS folk find themselves at odds with the Church over Utah’s HB 116. Welcome to the other side, folks. Liberal LDS people are amused… and adorable Salvadorian branch presidents are deported.

Propaganda art is pulled from the BYU Bookstore by the artist. Apparently he does not approve of BYU’s political neutrality.

Phoenix hates righteousness. They don’t want a temple and they loathe white lightpoles. Yes, lightpoles.

The Mormon Times explains to us how to use iTunes.

The Atlanta, Georgia Temple is finally rededicated following an extensive renovation.

MTC curriculum is reported to be changing.

Oh yeah, and bin Laden is dead.

Links:

1. Phoenix hates righteousness
2. Atlanta Temple rededicated
3. Church’s second solar-powered meetinghouse
4. Elder Holland visits the Persian Gulf
5. Immigration:
   1. Conservative members on the outs
   2. LDS Newsroom statement
   3. Branch president deported?
6. The spirit of Reagan will not live in BYU’s Bookstore!
7. U of U president Michael Young gets hate from the godless Pacific Northwest
8. How to use iTunes according to the Mormon Times
9. MTC curriculum changing?

It just gets better and better!

Definitely Non-Partisan

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If we cease to exist next week because of the piles of lawsuits that will inevitably come our way because of Al’s remarks on this episode, it’s been a good ride. Thanks, folks! Much love!

Continued analysis on why men in the Church fail to marry. Hint: It’s the women’s fault.

Are missionaries going to cease tracting? What??

BYUSA brings us their own unwitting version of Hotornot.com entitled YFashion. It’s amazing. And by amazing we mean awful. And by awful we mean awesome.

Some Utahans have ceased to pay tithing because of the Church’s approval of the Utah Compact involving immigration. No Church PAC, folks!

Missionaries are out of Ivory Coast. Period.

Aspiring filmmaker seeks to make Duck Beach documentary! Yes!

BASE jumping off of the Church Office Building. Revealed!

And “McKay Coppins” is “addicted” to “pornography.”

Click:

1. Our lovely smiling guy gets no love
2. Tracting. Yes or no?
3. Goodbye, Cote d’Ivoire
4. YFashion is AMAZING
5. Mormons MBAs get together and look down on everyone else
6. Oh McKay…
7. No marriage!
   1. Men are wimps
   2. Women do not entice!
8. No LDS PAC
9. Restoration of Joseph Smith home in Susquehanna

Fashion Forward

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Is there a more misunderstood, maligned group than those at TWiM?

Student wards are done! No more! Just YSA wards from here on out. Have fun with that, BYU. There are pros and cons to this, which we discuss on the show.

Inflation has finally hit the Church’s storehouse. Prices are up. It was inevitable.

Cottonwood Heights is got some flava!

Church Public Affairs director Michael Otterson has some words about “The Book of Mormon” musical.

Also, the return of “Worthless Stories Out of the Mormon Times.” The Mormon Times can help you start a blog, Mormons are apparently the most misunderstood religious group ever, and BYU’s Honor Code allegedly targets blacks. Goodie.

Links:

1. Rising cocoa prices will ruin us
2. Farewell, student wards
3. Go, Otterson, Go!
4. Murals are sexy!
5. BYU sponsoring Seder meals
6. Honor Code targets blacks
7. No one understands Mormons
8. Learn to start a blog! It’s easy! It’s fun! It’s for everyone!
9. 150 million copies of the Book of Mormon printed

Profound Scientific Analysis

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Post-Conference post-mortem on dating and the like. It never ends. Chumps.

Terrific statistical data about Church growth across a wide range of criteria. This really is fascinating stuff.

On that same note, a BYU feller creates an impressively functional database of all General Conference talks since the Church began keeping records.

Dating. Al hates it. Geoff loves it. Geoff also loves women, whom Al thinks are dainty little flowers.

The Hymns are not exclusively LDS. Who knew????

KLINGONS!

Links:

1. Statistical report
2. Stat spreadsheet
3. Corpus of GC talks
4. Kevin Barney: Pansy
5. Derek – “Let the women do it for me”
6. Other faith’s hymns in OUR hymnal. WHAT????
7. Susan Brock sentenced

Pansy.

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General Conference recap! What a great Conference it was. We’ll share our thoughts and insights about the joys to be had.

Other than that, just some assorted news, specifically that BYU is building some sort of cult compound on 900 E.

Reasons behind the Provo Tabernacle fire confirmed.

Our take on “The Book of Mormon” musical. You’ll be surprised. Seriously.

Quotage:

1. New BYU Stake Center
2. Portable temples?
3. Church sues Albany. Albany stinks!
4. Updates on City Creek development
5. Worst day of contacting, ever
6. Three new temples
7. Provo Tabernacle

Setup and Punchline

Someone's Been Busy During Breaks From Shooting

Taken With A Lone-Legged Tripod

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Religion is dying in a number of countries, studies say.

Mark Zuckerberg speaks to a half-filled Marriott Center at BYU. The Zuck was with Orrin Hatch, talking about technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Details on the show.

An over-zealous BYU student decides that leggings are not pants, and that they will ruin your life and make you look terrible. He is a fiend.

Updates on temple construction worldwide!

The LDSTech Conference is filled up! Get there, people!

And online missionaries make us happy. So very, very happy.

Links:

1. Religion goes by-by
2. Moroni adorns KC Temple
3. Yet another stupid Mormon Times article about Conference food
4. LDSTech Conference
5. Way to Facebook, missionaries!
6. Mormons in Baseball
7. Will Swenson directs a special film
8. Zuckerberg at BYU
9. Leggings actually are pants
10. Congrats to Janna Mcferson’s FHE Book getting picked up by Deseret Book! BUY IT!

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Blah blah blah. Jimmer. March Madness. Blah blah blah.

The .xxx domain name finally gets approval from ICANN after the Bush administration effectively blocked the motion for years. Family groups are up in arms, but is this really a bad thing?

Updates on missionaries in Japan, the Church’s involvement in Japan, and Lovers in Japan.

An innocent, humble BYU student gets fired for blurting out an expletive while at work. Listen here to hear the story.

The Shakers were once many, but are now just three. THREE!

Richard B. Wirthlin, former head pollster for Reagan, Seventy, and brother of Joseph B. Wirthlin, passes away at age 80.

We were tired of not having a reason to love McKay Coppins, so we created one for ourselves. Find out how.

Links:

1. Richard Wirthlin passes
2. .xxx domain name approve
3. Shakers!
4. Jesus Fish Chocolates!
5. Current evidence suggests God has a wife
6. Japan
   1. Home teaching aids the effort
   2. Missionaries in Sendai sent home early
7. Fired for swearing
8. Follow McKay Coppins on Twitter

SERIOUSLY??????

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Some updates on Church efforts in Japan following the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear explosions, etc.

The Dalai Lama is retiring, at least politically-speaking. What does this have to do with the Mormon world?  Everything!

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of “South Park” and the new musical, “The Book of Mormon,” made an appearance on “The Daily Show” to promote their new musical. It was pretty interesting, mostly due to Jon Stewart’s over-the-top enthusiasm for the whole thing. Should your TWiM hosts go and see it?

Bring back the beard! A blog devoted to bringing beards back to the Church.

Geoff rants against LDS Tech. In fact, it seems he hates LDS Tech. Why the love for Apple? Where’s the Android love? What did we do to deserve this??

Also, Al calls himself a “technophobe”

…

Mormon Stories is a great podcast. Check it out. We discuss this past week’s show, which dealt with some pretty heady stuff. We won’t even write it on here, but listen in. It was actually the base of one of the more serious discussions we’ve had on TWiM. We know, right? TWiM? Serious???

Al makes a doof of himself in front of Harry Reid.

…Other assorted joys.

Clicking these is hardcore. You are bi-winning:

1. Newsroom updates on tsunami stuff
2. Goodbye, Dalai Lama
3. Free Tibet!
4. Mormon Stories podcast
5. Bring back the beard!
6. Mormons and beards in The Atlantic
7. Church breaks a Guinness record
8. Lindy Hill is evil
9. Look at the hard data… ANDROID!

Fear the Beard

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Recap on  Daviesgate. Thanks for commenting on Geoff’s post. Keep it up! The Honor Code is certainly a thrilling topic of discussion.

Al. Geoff. Two forlorn men on a quest to find love. We will tell you what the problem is, ladies, and what you can do to fix it.

The world is ending on May 21. Take that, Aztecs.

Time Magazine has decided that having children ruins families. Wait, what?

Geoff hates “Glee,” and Daily Universe writers should be ashamed of themselves.

Utah does well in a Gallup poll gauging the Happiness Index. Poor Kentucky.

Assorted items: Phoenix temple gets parking, upcoming LDS Tech conference.

Clicking!

1. Brandon Davies was not the first BYU athlete to get the boot for getting busy
2. We must all marry Romanians
3. End of the world! (see below)
4. Families stink
5. Ruddy Glee
6. Happiness index
7. Phoenix temple parking
8. Differences between Huntsman and Romney
9. LDS Tech conference. Email us!

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Polygamist men are less and less virile with subsequent wives, sources say. This just makes no sense. Law of diminishing returns!

Socialism in the Book of Mormon? An op-ed in the Salt Lake Trib says yes. We at TWiM are the deciders and will get to the bottom of the issue. We will make it make sense.

Early reviews of “The Book of Mormon” on Broadway are in. Allegedly, it’s a raunchy, feel-good exercise in debauchery. Not quite sure how all of that works together, but I suppose there’s a reason “American Pie” was such a box office hit in its day.

Geoff has an important question for you listeners about something important. You have to listen to the show to find out how important it is and subsequently respond with importance.

Dirty Jimmer jokes are banned from the BYU-SDSU game!

MoTab gets the most prestigious of awards.

…and The Zarahemla Times! Go Beckstrom, Go!

Rub my belly:

1. Polygamists shoot blanks
2. Union of Soviet Socialist Mormons
3. If it’s from the makers of South Park, can it really be that bad?
4. No poking!
5. General Conference dates announced. Phwew!
6. The MTC turns 50!
7. MoTab gets the Orem award

Come Back to Us

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Ken Jennings has failed humanity. The machines will kills us all.

Should we do away with the King James Version of the Bible? Is it antiquated and incorrect at this point?

An Orem woman gets swindled by a Nigerian prince British dude on LDSLinkUp to the tune of $200,000.

Might we soon see missionaries in Cuba? Sources say yes.

Latino activists urge Mexico to bar American missionaries.

The father of the 5 Browns is a schmuck.

A concert to go against porn! Yes!

Your comments and letters!

…and more stories from the Mormon Times about food and junk like that. Seriously?

Links:

1. Why the KJT is outdated
2. Why the KJT is infallible and amazing
3. Another reason not to use LDSLinkUp
4. Cuba!
5. Filthy Five Brown Jerk
6. Kill the Americans
7. Ken Jennings causes our demise
8. LDS among fastest-growing churches
9. Concerts against porn
10. Drunk dude breaks into AZ church
11. Original text of the BoM
12. Icons of Mormon food
13. Da pidgin Bible

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The Mormon Bachelor is over! Yay! Props to our friends at MoBach, though. They’ve done a great job.

Is Jimmer the greatest missionary in the world? Ever?

Elder Cook makes some interesting remarks about singles wards, namely that the “ideal way” of doing this is for them not to exist altogether?

Al desperately wants to feel a woman’s hand on him.

Lawsuits are fun. A woman sues the Church over injuries sustained during a 2005 activity.

A missionary in California saves a man from a crashed plane! Is it him? Is it In-N-Out? This is a miracle, but either way, Elder Johnson clearly wants to kill you.

The Claremont Colleges are starting a new Mormon journal. Submit your stuff today!

And Al finds out the truth behind the Brandon Flowers music video.

Clickety click

1. MoBach
   1. SL Trib article
   2. Daily Universe loves Buckman
2. Jimmer. Missionary. Deity-esque.
3. Will Huntsman and Romney hurt the church?
4. Responses to “Feel A Man’s Hand on Me.”
5. Suing the Church
6. New Mormon studies journal
7. Elder Johnson is out for blood

I Will Eat Your Children

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The grave of Zechariah has been found. Holla.

Religion is the foundation of democracy and prosperity? Clayton says yes. Also, E. Oaks speaks on religious freedom at Chapman University.

A disgruntled BYU student argues that we should stop pressuring young men to serve missions, you know, because it’s not about duty at all.

The UN has no testimony.  Find out why.

McKay Coppins resurrects, like a phoenix from the ashes!

Assorted news: Church issues a statement regarding Book of Mormon musical; awesome jokes within mormon.org chats; Zarahemla Times! Remember, comment on stuff at the ZT!

Touch me for fun

1. Zechariah.  FOUND!
2. Religious base and prosperity
3. E. Oaks’ comments at Chapman
4. How dare you expect me to serve a mission!
5. The UN hates families
6. Book of Mormon musical statement
7. Mormon.org joke
8. Stupid Jimmer
9. More McKay.  Always more McKay.

"Kaaaaahhhhhhn!"

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Our 52nd show!  One year of TWiM!  Thanks to all of you for your support and participation!  We really appreciate it.

Thanks for going with us on our journey to mock True Mormon Love.  It’s been such a journey.  This journey will continue into the foreseeable future.

A Mormon mom abuses her child in Anchorage.  Turns out people know how to use their limbs there!  Dr. Phil is dumb.  This story is dumb.

John Huntsman quits as Ambassador to China.  Is this a precursor to a presidential bid? In all likelihood it is.  2012 will be the Year of the Mormons! Yay!

Racism in the Church? Do we need a Diversity Specialist calling in our wards?

The Marriott hotel chain is removing on-demand porn from their rooms. Too little too late?

More protests regarding the Phoenix Temple.  A large gorilla is now involved.

The Church has a new site to help with volunteering.  It’s great. Go there and volunteer!

Atlanta Temple rededication dates announced.  Indianapolis Temple site chosen.

Go to Vyou.com and ask us questions!  It’s fun and silly.

The Links-Upon-Tyne:

1. Shocking video of abuse!
2. Huntsman steps down
3. 2012 – The year of the Mormons.  Also, the end of the world.
4. Marriott ditches porn
   1. Related op-ed from Deseret News
5. Open house for Atlanta Temple
6. Site chosen for Indianapolis Temple
7. Distribution Center and Deseret Book to be combined
8. Phoenix Temple protests
9. Church occupies former bank
10. Ward Diversity Specialist
11. Brazil MTC nearly empty

Neighborhood Protests Mormon Temple Height: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

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A harrowing, humbling account in a New York Times article discusses the pitfalls and difficulty in being an unmarried Mormon well into one’s life.  Is there hope?  Are there answers?  What should the Church do with these members?

The “Book of Mormon” musical plot details are revealed. Hint: None of it actually involves the stories in the Book of Mormon.

A BYU study cited in The Economist argues that celibacy before marriage leads to stabler, more fulfilling relationships.  Clearly these people have never been to Thailand.

Church stats – The Church owns a bazillion websites.  One guy decided to track the traffic to all of them and compare.  Pretty interesting stuff.

We have some assorted news items – stealing Church records, Glenn Beck is some sort of new age deity, and a Jamaican missionary is a victim of non-friendly fire. Sad.

Click or Die

1. New York Times article
   1. Responses within the Bloggernacle
2. Book of Mormon musical details
3. No lovin’ before marriage, son!
4. Church traffic
5. Dead missionary
6. Stealing 17 checks and church records
7. Glenn Beck forever

]]> http://thisweekinmormons.com/2011/01/episode-51-feel-a-mans-hand-on-me/feed/ 5 TWiM Will Save Your Lifehttp://media.blubrry.com/thisweekinmormons/thisweekinmormons.com/podcast/TWiM_EP51_Feel_a_Mans_Hand_on_Me.mp3- Download "This Week in Mormons" Podcast MP3A harrowing, humbling account in a New York Times article discusses the pitfalls and difficulty in being an unmarried Mormon well into one’s life.  Is there hope?  Are there answers?  What should the Church do with these members? The “Book of Mormon” musical plot details are revealed. Hint: None of it actually involves the stories in the Book of Mormon. A BYU study cited in The Economist argues that celibacy before marriage leads to stabler, more fulfilling relationships.  Clearly these people have never been to Thailand. Church stats – The Church owns a bazillion websites.  One guy decided to track the traffic to all of them and compare.  Pretty interesting stuff. We have some assorted news items – stealing Church records, Glenn Beck is some sort of new age deity, and a Jamaican missionary is a victim of non-friendly fire. Sad. Click or Die New York Times article Responses within the Bloggernacle Book of Mormon musical details No lovin’ before marriage, son! Church traffic Dead missionary Stealing 17 checks and church records Glenn Beck forever TWiM Will Save Your Lifehttp://media.blubrry.com/thisweekinmormons/thisweekinmormons.com/podcast/TWiM_EP51_Feel_a_Mans_Hand_on_Me.mp3- Download "This Week in Mormons" Podcast MP3A harrowing, humbling account in a New York Times article [...] http://thisweekinmormons.com/2011/01/episode-50-smart-defeats-monson/ http://thisweekinmormons.com/2011/01/episode-50-smart-defeats-monson/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:59:15 +0000 Geoff http://thisweekinmormons.com/?p=772 TWiM Will Save Your Life

- Download "This Week in Mormons" Podcast MP3

Flooding in Australia kills everyone.  The missionaries are OK, though.

Non-LDS women are addicted to Mormon Mom blogs.  It’s a hilarious article from Salon.com and provides a lot of really interesting insights into how non-members view the LDS lifestyle.

Elizabeth Smart – Mormon of the Year

Devout Christians in Gilbert, AZ are on a mission to promote awareness about who the Mormons really are.  A DVD loaded with nonsense about the Church is being circulated in the area.  Ignore, it friends.  Just ignore it.

A terrific new photography book chronicles Mormon life around the world.

And lastly, we issue a call to those disaffected viewers of “The Mormon Bachelor” who frown upon the propaganda machine perpetuated by the producers of the show.  Come to us for freedom of thought and speech!

Links:

1. Australia flooding impacts members
2. Mormon Mom Blogs for Non-Mormon Non-Moms
3. Hatred and Ignorance in Gilbert
4. Elizabeth Smart is the Man
5. Photo Book

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The brother of a General Authority poses as a therapist and sexually harasses his clients.  Why weren’t we prepared??

13 Articles of Mormon Culture.  It’s not as good as it sounds.

Ties. Yes. Ties.

The Church appears to soften a bit when it comes to homosexuals.  They invited them to see David Archuleta sing with MoTab. Gays.  Archuleta.

Updates on the Tuscon shooting.  Does extreme rhetoric cause violence?

Inventions in Mormonism! – CAPTURE!

Los enlaces:

1. Naughty brother of General Authority
2. 12+1 Articles of Mormon Culture
3. Ties
4. Gays love Archuleta
5. Rhetoric and Violence
6. Capture!
7. Ogden Temple closing dates announced
8. Utah’s education system sucks. Enjoy a list of all 50ish states.

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Rick Buck, The Mormon Bachelor, joins us in studio as part of our panel.  The fun!  The whimsy!  We talk MoBach and Rick graces us with his inspired thoughts and opinions.

Illegal immigration.  A terrific Los Angeles Times article highlights the divide on the issue within the Church, using two men, both Church members, to illustrate the ongoing battle.   How do we reconcile our devotion to obeying the laws of the land while still showing compassion towards the less fortunate and working to keep families together?

The Top 10 LDS news stories of 2010, according to our friends at the Mormon Times.

Orson Scott Card rebukes Al… rather indirectly; but the principle stands!

The Church has built an absolutely massive set south of Goshen.  Yes, Goshen.  It is to be used to film all-new New Testament stories to replace current educational videos.

Modesty.  Finland.  Jonna.  Great message. Disappointing song.

The Oquirrh Mountain Temple shooter was apparently under investigation for a ponzi scheme.

And our monthly check-in with the Zarahemla Times!

Clickety Click

1. Immigration – both sides represent the Church
2. Top 10 LDS news stories
3. Orson Scott Card wants love and beauty, not Al
4. Church soundstages in Goshen
5. Temples, Guns, Ponzi Schemes
6. Jonna Christensen – “Finnish” Queen
7. Legos and LOVE!

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Oquirrh Mountain Temple gunman’s name revealed.  Police are still assessing possible motives.  Seriously, a shooting at a temple on Christmas Day? Sheesh!

Do you think sacrament meeting is boring or not as good as it could be? What can be better? Why is it so often lackluster?

Inventions in Mormonism!  We tackle some of the greatest inventions to come from Mormon.  Ever.

Recognizing Mormons – through science and facial recognition software, or by walking around Disneyland looking for knee-length shorts.  The choice is yours.

And vote for Mormon of the Year!  Don’t let Harry Reid go two consecutive years!

Links:

1. Temple shooting
   1. Name released
   2. Updates from others
2. Is sacrament meeting boring?
   1. Related post on Mormon Heretic
3. Mormon Bandz
4. Reverse Charades
5. Mormons look happier than others, so say computers. Never trust computers. Rookie mistake.
6. Mormon of the Year!

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Goodbye, Provo Tabernacle.  Updates on the terrible fire that destroyed the building.  Al hates people who miss buildings they’ve never visited.  Oh, Al….

The British government is weighing blocking pornography on the internet and making consumers opt in if they want it.  A noble effort? Sure.  But there are giant question marks when it comes to internet regulation.  Also, why are Europeans bothering to block pornography online when one can pick it up freely at any newstand or see it on TV?  You European folks are confusing.

The just-released Census figures indicate that more Mormons could wind up getting congressional seats.  Utah gets its #4, baby!

The Church changes some chapter heading text in the Book of Mormon to be a little less race-centric.

Nearly half of LDS men want women to have the priesthood? What?!

Presiding Bishop H. David Burton is the Largest Man in the Universe, or something like that.

Los Enlaces

1. Tabernacle Updates
   1. Pre-fire photos
2. UK government weighs blocking online porn
   1. Ah, Mormon Times, bless your naivete…
3. More Mormons in Congress?
   1. Official Census data just released
4. 48% of LDS men want women to have the priesthood?
5. Go Burt Go!
6. BoM Chapter Heading Changes

Secrets. Secrets.

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Woes abound for missionaries in various locations. The Church yanks non-native missionaries from Cote d’Ivoire because of political unrest. Switzerland is also passing a new law that will prohibit non-European Union missionaries from entering its borders. Brazil a few weeks ago. Cote d’Ivoire and Switzerland now. What’s next? The People’s Republic of Canada?

Elna Baker, noted author and personality, appears on This American Life and discusses her failing faith.  Do we still cling to experiences from our youth in an effort to maintain our testimonies?  What can we do to maintain our faith despite emotional or intellectual trials?

The Church buys a motel across the street from Temple Square in Ogden and then closes it, forcing its emotional patrons to seek respite elsewhere.  Why is the Church’s real estate arm so seemingly cutthroat?  So sad. So sad.

And many other tidbits of fun!  Faux Facebook posts by General Authorities. History of lights on Temple Square.  Guam gets its first stake.

Touch me:

1. Missionary Troubles
   1. Cote d’Ivoire
   2. Swiss law blocking missionaries
      1. US Congress’ effort to appeal Swiss law
      2. LDS Newsroom release
2. Forcibly relocating residents of Ogden.  The shame.
3. First stake in Guam (L. Tom Perry video below)
4. Doves and Serpents – Hilarious Fakebook posts
5. The history of lights on Temple Square
6. Mormon Expression – A killer podcast
7. This American Life - Last Man Standing – The Elna Baker episode

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WikiLeaks and international sabotage!

Being Mormon and famous: Is it fair to hold LDS celebrities to a higher standard, especially if they regards themselves as “active” in the Church?  Isn’t there a double standard there?

Why do women mostly get left out of discussion about the scourge of pornography?  Why do we pretend that women don’t have lusts and desires and paint men as hormonal brutes?

The Church purportedly lowers the age of prospective Brazilian missionaries serving in Brazil to 18 in a response to problematic diplomatic relations between the US and Brazil, thus prohibiting American missionaries from entering the land of Rio.

A Mormon Times columnist WAY overuses embedded text to improve her SEO.  Seriously, it’s just bad form.  And Italy is our goal?  Italy?  Seriously?  T