The Mormon News Report Podcast: Recent Episodes
Brandt Malone | Mormon Commentator
Brandt and Jenny return from break, but only briefly. Why we have been off for so long, what comes next, and when to expect more episodes of the MNR podcast…
Join, Jenny, John and Ben as they discuss D&C 67-70 in this week’s Mormon News Report Come Follow Me discussion.
Today on the show, we’re signing yearbooks and telling each other we’ll definitely hang over Summer Vacation. An odd Tweet from Brandt, MTC’s reopening, and MORMON DATA. All that plus…
Today on the show, a new way to approach religious freedom, a new award, and the Mormon response to Juneteenth. All that plus more on the Report! As always, today’s…
Join, Jenny, John and Ben as they discuss D&C 64-66 in this week’s Mormon News Report Come Follow Me discussion.
Today on the show, we are starting to get back to normal around the United States. What does that mean for the Church? Plus, a great review of a new…
Today on the show, we are starting to get back to normal around the United States. What does that mean for the Church? Plus, a great review of a new…
MNR is back after a well-rested Memorial week! Today on the show: Returning to general population church, Mormons and Politics (a LOT, sorry in advance), and is there a church…
Join, Jenny, John and Ben as they discuss D&C 51-57 in this week’s Mormon News Report Come Follow Me discussion.
Did not expect to start the show talking about mid-90s Must See TV Lineup on NBC, but here we are. Church operations opening up more and more, new global broadcast…
Today on the show, COVID is back on the menu as we discuss the new CDC guidance and what that means for all of us returning to church. Plus, Mormons watching Newsmaxx and an interesting headstone for Pres. Nelson? All that plus more on the Report!
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
Fully vaccinated can drop the masks, skip social distancing (AP) Latter-day Saint aid flowing to India as COVID-19 ravages nation (Deseret News) Survey: Faith groups showcase media divide (Religion News Service) Why BYU, other church schools rejected tens of millions in COVID-19 relief (Deseret News) Are Latter-day Saint voters turning blue? (Deseret News OpEd, Christian Sagers) Filmmaker seeks monuments at Temple Square and This Is the Place honoring early Black Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake Tribune) If Mormons could just hang out in the church building (Jana Riess, Religion News Service) Nelson’s headstone gets assist from temple renovation (Salt Lake Tribune) BYU professor calls gay student a Book of Mormon term associated with anti-Christ (Salt Lake Tribune) SUNSHINE:
Jenny: Kids got appointments!
Brandt: The Legend of Frank Martin (5/16/2021)
Image Via Twitter
Today on the show, Jenny and Brandt discuss a potential lawsuit (maybe?) against the Church, vaccine hesitancy among the Mormons, and controversy among Wendy Watson Nelson's UVU Commencement address. All that plus more on the Report!
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
Man attacks police after threatening to kill hotel guests and 'The Mormons' (KUTV) Groundbreaking Date Announced for Salvador Brazil Temple (Church Newsroom) Nails over 100 years old found during Salt Lake Temple renovations (ABC4) LDS Church urges court to toss out James Huntsman’s lawsuit, says his bid for tithing refund is ‘without merit’ (Salt Lake Tribune) Senior Service Missionary Opportunities Are Expanding for Latter-day Saints Around the World (Church Newsroom) Half of US Mormons are COVID-19 ‘vaccine hesitant’ or ‘vaccine refusers,’ study shows (Jana Riess, Religion News Service) Relief Society General President Bingham Meets with U.S. First Lady Jill Biden (Church Newsroom) Missouri Republicans move to create a “Rush Limbaugh Day” (The Pitch KC) Former Minnesota Mormon church leader pleads not guilty to sexual assault on child (Yahoo News) How President Nelson received a revelation about 2 temples (Deseret News) The wife of the LDS president is speaking at Utah Valley University’s commencement. Here’s why LGBTQ students are opposed. (Salt Lake Tribune) After tension over her speaking, here’s what the wife of the LDS president told graduates at Utah Valley University LDS President Russell M. Nelson receives honorary degree from U of U (ABC4) Latter-day Saints are talking more about Heavenly Mother, and that’s where the debates and divisions begin (Salt Lake Tribune) SUNSHINE:
Jenny: Brandt: Mary Katharine Goddard, the Woman who Signed the Declaration of Independence
Today on the show, Jenny and Brandt remember the life of historian D. Michael Quinn, discuss the odd group known as the LDS Freedom Forum (and why they might view the U.N. as the antichrist), and a very interesting development with the Manti temple. All that plus more on the Report!
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
Man charged with hate crime, arson of Cape Girardeau church (KFVS, Missouri) Latter-day Saint Church notifies sex therapist of official excommunication (Fox13) Church Encourages Missionaries to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine (Church Newsroom) Historian D. Michael Quinn, who was booted from the LDS Church as part of the ‘September Six’ but remained a believer, dies at 77 (Salt Lake Tribune) LDS Church embraces the U.N., but some members see the global group as ‘satanic’ (Salt Lake Tribune) 7 more Latter-day Saint temples in Utah reopen for limited youth attendance (KSL) Cottonwood Heights neighbors ask LDS Church to preserve small park instead of selling it for development (Salt Lake Tribune) What Senator Mike Lee Tells Us About the Future of the GOP (Religion & Politics) Help all women — including queer members — to feel they belong in Relief Society, LDS attendees told at BYU conference (The Salt Lake Tribune) More Latter-day Saints are headed to the NFL. Here’s what they can expect (Deseret News) President Nelson Announces a New Temple Will Be Built in Ephraim, Utah (Church Newsroom) SUNSHINE:
Jenny: Vaccine Dose #1 Yay! Brandt: The joys of Magnesium and/or L-Theanine for sleep
Today on the show, Jenny and Brandt talk about what it's like returning to church. There's also some news, like LGBTQ+ characters on BYUtv, an update on temples in Utah, and an update on steps to preserve the Minerva Teichert murals. All that plus more on the Report!
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
BYUtv has a come to Jesus moment on LGBTQ characters (Now Toronto) Response of the Church of Jesus Christ During Volcano Eruption in St Vincent (Church Newsroom) The Latest News on Temple Reopenings (Church Newsroom) Man who did original artwork for iconic CTR ring has died (Deseret News) Sunday rally in Provo supports keeping Minerva Teichert murals in the Manti Temple (Daily Herald) New organization launched to seek out LDS women to run for office (Daily Herald) Mormon sex therapist faces discipline and possible expulsion from the LDS Church (Washington Post) SUNSHINE:
Jenny: Vaccine Dose #1 Yay! Brandt: The joys of Magnesium and/or L-Theanine for sleep
Join Jenny, John, Ben and Brandt as we break down the top moments from the April 2021 General Conference this past weekend!
Join Jenny, John and Ben as they discuss the Come Follow Me lesson from Doctrine & Covenants Section 27-28
Image Via Rick Grunder
Today on the show, Jenny and Brandt discuss some new updates on the Church's involvement with vaccine distribution, BYUtv isn't what you think it is, a Mormon connection to the Perseverance rover, and BYU addresses race issues on campus. All that plus more on the Report!
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
The Wilford Woodruff Papers website is live. Here’s what you need to know (Deseret News) Service Missionaries That Oversee Construction of Temple Talk About the Placing of the Angel Moroni (KPVI Idaho Falls) Students at Brigham Young make rainbow light display on ‘Y’ (Washington Post) The underreported church response to the deceptions recounted in ‘Murder Among the Mormons’ (Deseret News) Church Announces an Addition to Phase 2 Temple Openings in Some Areas (Church Newsroom) Mormon leader says family donation to Biden was 'oversight' (ABC News via Associated Press) Church expands leadership roles for women in Europe (Church Newsroom UK) First Presidency Provides Update about Historic Temple Renovations (Church Newsroom) SUNSHINE:
Jenny: And Still, Birth: Death and New Life in a Pandemic by Adrienne Cardon, + one of the (adult) kids moving into their own (first) apartment + 1 year of MNR CFM Brandt: A birthday for a certain 2 year old.
Image via LDS Living
Today on the show Jenny and Brandt talk about the new Netflix documentary series "Murder Among the Mormons" with Daniel Gullotta, Ph.D. candidate in American religious history at Stanford University. Daniel has long been involved with the Mormon Studies and American Religious History community, and wrote an interesting piece at The Bulwark this week discussing the documentary and contextualizing the environment of 1980s Utah.
Fraud, Fortune, and Fame in the Search for Religion’s Origins (Daniel Gullotta, The Bulwark)
Follow Daniel Gullotta on Twitter
Image via IMDB
Today on the show, Jenny and Brandt discuss some new updates on the Church's involvement with vaccine distribution, BYUtv isn't what you think it is, a Mormon connection to the Perseverance rover, and BYU addresses race issues on campus. All that plus more on the Report!
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
The Church of Jesus Christ’s Statement on the Equality Act (Church Newsroom) Despite what many still think, BYUtv is not a student-run TV channel (Scott D. Pierce, Salt Lake Tribune) Latter-day Saint Charities Commits US$20 Million in Support of UNICEF’s Global COVID-19 Response (Church Newsroom) Salem man sues Mormon church, alleging it allowed youth group leader with child sex conviction to abuse him (SalemReporter) Ex-NASA engineer watches her project land on Mars while serving Latter-day Saint mission (Deseret News) ‘Go back to the Future’, LDS missionaries now encouraged to be more technologically engaged even after COVID-19 restrictions lift (ABC4 Utah) BYU released a report saying its students of color feel ‘isolated and unsafe’ due to racism on campus (Salt Lake Tribune) SUNSHINE:
Jenny: Brad Wilcox (Still!) and Rehab
Brandt: Rediscovering Mr. Rogers Neighborhood with a New Generation
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Join Jenny, John and Ben as they discuss the Come Follow Me lesson from Doctrine & Covenants Section 12-13
Image Via Book of Mormon Central
Join Jenny, John and Ben as they discuss the Come Follow Me lesson from Doctrine & Covenants Section 10-11
Image Via The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Join Jenny, John and Ben as they discuss the Come Follow Me lesson from Doctrine & Covenants Section 6-9
Image Via The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Get ready for a doozy of an episode. A deep-dive into the online movement known as #DezNat, a discussion on Mormons in media, and we debut our new segment - the CHURCH CONUNDRUM, where Jenny and Brandt tackle a difficult church situation from the third-party outsider perspective.
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
Missouri bicentennial: Mormon order of 1838 'one of the saddest stories in American political history' (Southeast Missourian) A mix of hope and dismay as religious leaders assess Biden (Washington Post) Unholy war: Is #DezNat an online platform for defending the LDS Church or a launching pad for extremists? (Salt Lake Tribune) David Duchovny talks new novel 'Truly Like Lightning,’ reveals its connection to ‘The X-Files’ (USA Today) Latter-day Saint Charities donates 40,000 pounds of food to families in Missouri (Deseret News) Young Missionary Dies in Haiti (Church Newsroom) Filmmaker gets to Sundance with a dark comedy inspired by his Latter-day Saint mission (Salt Lake Tribune) The Church Conundrum: A Stake President with Racially Insensitive posts on Social Media
Image via AW360
Guess who's back. Back again. Jenny's back. Tell a friend. Today on the show, the First Presidency receives the COVID-19 vaccination, the Church encourages local youth conference and camps to be held this summer, and we have updates on General Conference. All that plus more on the Report!
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
The First Presidency and Apostles Over Age 70 Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine (Church Newsroom) Letter: Death is upon us — now is the time to tap the LDS Church rainy day fund (Salt Lake Tribune) Temple reopening status tracker — through Feb. 1 (Church News) President Ballard Encourages Leaders in the U.S. and Canada to Hold Local Youth Conferences and Camps in 2021 (Church News) Advocates to End Domestic Violence in Carson City receives LDS food grant (Carson Now, NV) After community pushback, LDS Church renames, relocates Tooele temple (Salt Lake Tribune) Mormon Women for Ethical Government leader to take part in President-elect Joe Biden’s Inaugural Prayer Service (Salt Lake Tribune) Former BYU basketball coach Tony Ingle dies at 68 (KSL) The Rev. Amos C. Brown: Our history is our present (Deseret News) LDS Church distributes food to area Native Americans in need (Local 8 News Idaho) The April 2021 General Conference Will Be Virtual Only (Church Newsroom)
Image via The Chicken Wire
Another solo show this week, with a lot of very minor news stories. Plus some thoughts on Salt Lake City's declining Mormon population, and why it's not that big of a deal.
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
Elder Gerrit W. Gong gives LDS young adults three goals for 2021 (Daily Herald) Church Office Building Plaza Renovation Is Underway (Church Newsroom) Name change protest draws large crowd to Utah university (San Francisco Chronicle) Mormon bishop, 42, is charged with sending sexually explicit messages to a child after he was allegedly caught 'lying about his age on Pinterest' (Daily Mail) Church plans first-ever virtual ‘Friend to Friend’ event for children worldwide (Deseret News) Provo's Friends of the Coalition to receive portion of LDS Church $3.3 million donation to homeless (Daily Herald) Former BYU and NFL player has a change of plans, will be a mission president (Deseret News) New Joseph Smith Papers podcast promises ‘important details’ of the priesthood restoration (Deseret News) Latter-day Saints are overrepresented in Utah’s Legislature, holding 9 of every 10 seats (Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake County keeps losing Latter-day Saints, and there are multiple theories as to why (Salt lake Tribune) Arizona man says LDS Church threatened expulsion for abuse report (Salt Lake Tribune) Joseph Smith Memorial Building now has a mini-temple of sorts so top LDS leaders can meet while iconic temple is closed (Salt Lake Tribune) President Nelson will reach a new milestone in church history (Deseret News) Church Leaders Condemn Violence and Lawless Behavior During Times of Unrest (Church Newsroom)
Image via American Libraries
There's no Jenny this week. And it's a bit late, but we're here! Join Brandt as he recaps this week's Mormon news, including quite a few updates to stories we have tracked in the past.
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
125 years ago today, Utah became a state (Fox 13) 4-part series on the 'sausage making' of Utah statehood (Utah Policy) Salt Lake landlord reportedly recorded his tenants — and others — while they were naked (Salt Lake Tribune) Judge won't decertify BYU PD over Honor Code investigations (Fox 13) Prosecutor in Daybell case vows to file conspiracy to commit murder charges (Fox 13) Car Accident Takes the Life of a Young Missionary in Arkansas (Church Newsroom) First Presidency Calls 105 New Mission Leaders for 2021 (Church Newsroom) Convicted Utah fraudsters used ‘spiritual revelation’ to bilk investors of $11M, feds say (Deseret News) A third Latter-day Saint apostle has contracted and recovered from COVID-19 (Salt Lake Tribune) In reaction to Capitol assault, LDS Church points to Oaks’ speech denouncing post-election violence (Salt Lake Tribune) Man photographed hanging from Senate balcony identified as religious Idaho man (KJZZ)
Image via Harvard Health
Strap on your nerdy Mormon history nerd hats - we're going deep. Join Jenny, Brandt and John as they talk about D&C 1, the chronology of the Doctrine & Covenants, and the importance of context when studying the D&C.
Image via Third Hour
It's been a while. While there wasn't monumental news while we've been off, there were quite a few big stories and high quality reporting and interviews you should know about. Brandt and Jenny are here to guide you through it all.
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
Opening Exercises + COVID News Report Arizona Appellate Court Warns On Ruling 'Mormons are Christians' (KAWC Colorado River Public Radio)
FairMormon’s new satirical videos take on church critics, but does the humor miss the mark? (Salt Lake Tribune) Church Leaders Congratulate President-Elect Joe Biden (Church Newsroom) Sexual abuse lawsuit against Mormon church dropped (Idaho State Journal) Anti-maskers who cited Book of Mormon and Constitution drop suit against Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (Salt Lake Tribune) Mormon Temple makes changes, after complaints about drive-thru light display (WJLA Virginia) Mormons add call to eradicate prejudice, racism to handbook (Associated Press) Mormon church sued for alleged role in Boy Scouts sex abuse (Associated Press) Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 117th Congress (Pew Research Center) Mormon church rejects claim it meddled in death row case (Standard-Examiner, Utah) What you may not know about Mormon historian Richard Bushman — for one, he was agnostic when he went on his mission (Salt Lake Tribune) The Most American Religion (McKay Coppins, The Atlantic)
Image via Screenful
Join Jenny, Ben, and John as they talk about Christmas, Christmas traditions, and how we do what we do in the Church.
Image via Fine Art America
Join Brandt, Jenny and John as we end our Come Follow Me discussion on the Book of Mormon, wrapping up with Moroni 10.
Image via Book of Mormon Central
Join Jenny, John and Ben as they discuss Moroni 7-9 on this week's Come Follow Me virtual Sunday School!
Image via BYU Museum of Art
Join Brandt and Jenny as they review the week of November 30 in Mormon News!
Image via Rachel Ray
Join Brandt, John and Jenny as they host the Mormon News Report Virtual Sunday School Class covering Ether 1-5.
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We're stocking up, strapping in, and locking down on the Mormon News Report this week. COVID is raging, and the church is making a lot of adjustments, some good, some "meh." Listen in for our discussion on that and much more on the Report!
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
00:00:00 Opening Exercises + COVID News Report
00:21:11 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star says she's 'Mormon 2.0': What that means (Today)
00:28:16 A Look at How the Church of Jesus Christ Will #LightTheWorld This Christmas (Church Newsroom)
00:34:32 Christmas on Temple Square to be Celebrated Virtually in 2020 (Church Newsroom)
00:37:19 Committees Thank Members for ‘Overwhelming’ Response to Hymnbook Revision Efforts (Church Newsroom)
00:41:03 Moab LDS chapel vandalized (Moab Sun News)
00:43:33 Russell M. Nelson to share “Message of Hope and Healing” (Instagram)
00:44:46 Young Women Celebrate 150 Years With Face to Face Broadcast (Church Newsroom)
00:50:50 BYU temporarily closes part of library because students didn’t wear masks (Salt Lake Tribune)
00:52:16 Latter-day Saint leaders make ‘temporary’ changes to meetings, but mask debate still divides Utah worshippers (Salt Lake Tribune)
01:04:57 Sunshine in your Soul Brandt: New Looney Tunes
Image via The Independent
Join Brandt, John and Jenny as they host the Mormon News Report Virtual Sunday School Class covering Mormon 7-9.
Image via The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Today on the show: The election is over! Covid is raging in Utah! Cats and dogs, living together - it's madness! Voting patterns of religious groups, Missionaries returning to the field, and much more on the Report!
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
00:00:00 Opening Exercises + COVID News Report
00:25:02 Ground broken for a second Latter-day Saint temple in St. George (Salt Lake Tribune) 00:26:19 Most Americans see Bible, Quran and Book of Mormon as ‘expressions of the same truths’ (Salt Lake Tribune) 00:30:50 Analysis: Most Utahns downplay divine involvement in elections (UtahPolicy.com 00:34:43 Legal giant Oscar McConkie Jr., an LDS Democrat who formed one of Utah’s largest law firms, dies at 94 of COVID complications (Salt Lake Tribune) 00:42:43 AP VoteCast: Trump wins white evangelicals, Catholics split (Associated Press) 00:46:04 Audio recording captures Lori Daybell saying she ‘was going to murder’ her third husband (East Idaho News) 00:51:40 Elder Soares encourages respect and love for those with whom we disagree (Idaho State Journal) 00:55:34 Church Begins Limited, Deliberate and Cautious Missionary Assignments Outside Countries of Origin (Church Newsroom) 01:00:39 Sunshine in your Soul
Jenny:
Invitation for the walk Saturday morning (“I like your flag.”) Chappelle’s opening SNL monologue This woman who has Alzheimer’s and the power of music
Brandt:
Jenny being the driving force behind the MNR for the past few months Great Value Mint Mojito unsweetened sparkling water
Image via PicsLyrics
Today on the show: It's one day to Election day, and things get heated. Things are said. People are compared to Captain Moroni. Just a normal election day. Plus updates on Pres. Oaks' BYU devotional and much more on the Report!
As always, today's show is brought to you by our friends at Signature Books. Check out their entire collection at SignatureBooks.com
00:00:00 Opening Exercises 00:12:15 Man gets jail time for sexual assault of woman at Rexburg church (East Idaho News) 00:15:26 For Mormons in a faith crisis, the Gospel Topics essays try to answer the hard questions (Jana Riess, Religion News Service) 00:18:24 LDS farms have bumper crop, help food pantries from coast to coast (Daily Herald) 00:20:30 'Once I was a Beehive' sequel in the works, filmmakers announce online casting call (KUTV) 00:27:35 How Black Latter-day Saints reacted to Dallin Oaks’ mention of Black lives matter (Salt Lake Tribune) 00:38:01 Taylorsville Utah Temple groundbreaking signals ‘special’ era of Latter-day Saint temple building (Deseret News) 00:39:35 Salt Lake City to Lose Its Two Daily Print Newspapers (New York Times) 00:44:48 More Utah women are donating to Biden as Trump struggles with women voters (OpenSecret.org, The Center for Responsive Politics) 00:54:19 At BYU Conservatives Feel Free to Speak—Liberals, Not So Much (Real Clear Education) 00:59:09 OpEd: Trump or Biden ... what would Jesus do? (Christian Sagers, Deseret News) 01:01:27 Sens. Rand Paul, Mike Lee praise president at Gilbert 'Latter-day Saints for Trump' rally (AZCentral) 01:04:43 Sen. Lee clarifies 'perhaps awkward' comment comparing Trump to Book of Mormon figure (Fox 13) 01:11:03 Sunshine in your Soul
Jenny: 2 songs
"Hard Times," Guster "All Together Now," OK Go
Brandt: Trick or Treating and why "think about the children" isn't a bad thing
Image via US Embasy
Join Brandt, John and Jenny as they host the Mormon News Report Virtual Sunday School Class covering Mormon 1-7.
Image via The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Join Brandt, John and Jenny as they host the Mormon News Report Virtual Sunday School Class covering 3 Nephi 27 - 4 Nephi
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Join Brandt, John and Jenny as they host the Mormon News Report Virtual Sunday School Class covering 3 Nephi 20-26
Image via The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints