Episode Details

Recently John Dehlin had lunch with a mid-level Mormon church leader along the Wasatch front who was eager to share insider information regarding the statistical and programmatic health of the Mormon church since the COVID-19 epidemic.   Topics that were covered include: - The pervasiveness of "faith crisis" issues within Mormon stakes and wards.

• The rise of conservative/fundamentalist/"Prepper"/"Trumpers"/anti-vaxxers/Q-Anoners as a source of disaffection from the Mormon church.
• Attempts to increase the involvement of women.
• How post-COVID Mormon apathy has led to a decline in church activity.
• The rise of "PIMO" Mormons (Physically in, mentally out).
• The decline of the Mormon youth programs, with a dramatic decline in young men church participation and mission service.

The leader was willing to share activity statistics within his stake to demonstrate the post-COVID decline.

Finally, the source was willing to share information regarding three significant changes at Mormon church headquarters:

• The dramatic rise in temple building since Russel M. Nelson became the Mormon prophet, and the effect this is having on the temple department.
• A new Mormon temple prep course that will soon be released.
• Significant upcoming changes regarding 1 on 1 youth interviews.

Show Notes:

• Brad Wilcox's Alpine Youth Fireside on February 6, in which he made racist and sexist remarks, and said that other faiths are only "playing church" 
• The Black Menaces denounce Brad Wilcox on TikTok
• "Saying he has been 'corrected,' LDS leader Brad Wilcox again apologizes for his remarks on race," by Tamarra Kemsley, Salt Lake Tribune, February 14, 2022
• Brad Wilcox's apology
• "Alpine Utah Mormon Youth Rescue With Brad Wilcox," on Mormon Stories
• "Top 10 Problems with Mormonism that Brad Wilcox's Speech Unveiled," on Mormon Stories
• "Listeners Call In: Responses to Brad Wilcox's Talk," on Mormon Stories
• "Brad Wilcox showed up at my religion class at BYUI today to say hi"
• "How the LDS Church made $22B during the pandemic," by Tony Semerad, Salt Lake Tribune, February 15, 2022
• Questions From the Closet, with Charlie Bird and Ben Schilaty
• "The Gay Mormon Reformation," on Mormon Stories
• "The Mormon Influences on Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow," on Mormon Stories
• "Ezra Taft Benson and the Making of the Mormon Right," with Matt Harris on Mormon Stories
  Part 1
  Part 2
• "The LDS Church's Coverup of Sterling Van Wagenen's Sexual Abuse of Sean Escobar," on Mormon S