Richie T and the News Wizard, Verlin, are back to break down the latest news in and around the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While Verlan is holding things down in Arizona, Molly is off enjoying the waters of Lake Powell.

Verlin kicks things off with a recap of babysitting his seven- and four-year-old grandsons while his son Nate took a much-needed baby moon to the Caribbean. 

Things get interesting when Richie recounts a recent Sunday School experience. A substitute teacher with his own YouTube channel led an 80-chapter deep dive into Proverbs and the Songs of Solomon, heavily referencing a “thousand points of the true church”. Richie challenged the room on whether church is for heavy doctrine or building community, which resulted in an intense follow-up phone call from the teacher’s octogenarian father. The caller called Richie a jerk, sparking a great debate on whether facts or the Spirit actually convert people. The guys also tackle the “church of sameness,” using the identically dressed Tabernacle Choir as a prime example.

The guys tackle some listener questions, including a stake presidency discussion on whether to pay tithing on Social Security—ultimately landing on personal interpretation of the word “increase”. Music in the church is also evolving; a recent Stake Conference incorporated diverse cultural sounds with a guitar duo, brass instruments, percussion, and even a Primary kid playing the ukulele.

We highlight a few fascinating interviews and upcoming releases, including Robin Ritch’s insights on women as disruptors in the 70s, a new book about happiness, and the highly anticipated October documentary on the daguerreotype of Joseph Smith. Verlan’s guilty pleasure, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, gets a quick shoutout, and we play a reality TV edition of Smooch, Marry, Kill featuring Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, and The Amazing Race. Plus, a nod to the “Best DJ in Utah” and their impressive 705 star reviews.

In sports, BYU football is rolling at 3-0 and ranked #9 after taking on Colorado State and Arizona, with TCU up next. Utah is also holding strong at 3-0 with a #15 ranking. Finally, we mark a major historical milestone: September 21st is the 203rd anniversary of the angel Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith.

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Robin Ritch, a tech executive who formerly ran the Deseret News, Church News, and Utah Business, brings a refreshingly nuanced perspective to navigating faith, culture, and personal growth. Growing up in a mixed-faith Catholic and LDS home in the Pacific Northwest, she learned early on how to balance differing viewpoints without losing her own spiritual footing.

In this episode, we dive deep into the core concept of Robin’s book, Using Friction to Grow. She unpacks the pivotal years between 1968 and 1974—a defining era when LDS women faced massive cultural shifts, the civil rights movement, and the loss of Relief Society autonomy. Robin argues that friction isn’t something to run away from; much like tires on a road, it’s exactly what we need to gain traction and move forward.

If you’ve ever felt tension between your personal spiritual experiences and the cultural norms in your ward, you aren’t alone. Robin shares incredible insights from women who navigated those exact challenges and chose to stay. She emphasizes that a real faith journey requires taking ownership of your relationship with God, rather than waiting for the institution to be flawless.

@hallwayconversations1.

@robin.ritch.

www.robinritch.com

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Remember the daguerreotype that broke the Mormon internet back in July 2022? The one that had everyone in the comment sections intensely debating whether it was actually Joseph Smith? We are getting as nerdy as humanly possible about it today.

For nearly two centuries, the world has debated Joseph Smith’s true likeness. Now, after 25 years of investigation, experts uncover stunning evidence that may bring audiences to the moment they can finally see Brother Joseph Again.

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Patrick, Daylan, and Joseph drop into the Hall to talk about their new documentary project, Brother Joseph Again. We get into the raw reactions of seeing a face that didn’t quite match the polished, rugged frontier prophet we are used to seeing in historical paintings. Daylen, the film’s director, breaks down the massive amount of combined research, the forensic analysis involving Joseph’s death mask, and why this journey isn’t just about historical curiosity—it’s about understanding the actual man who lived in the trenches and building a real relationship with him.

We also talk about the heavy lift of independent filmmaking. Daylen left his corporate career and sold his house to make this happen. If you want more high-quality, deep-dive historical projects that don’t just quote from manuals, you have to vote with your wallet. The film hits theaters on October 9th.

What We Cover:

Why that initial leaked image caused such a conflicted, visceral reaction.

The deep forensic science comparing the daguerreotype to Joseph’s death mask.

The stark difference between the “sanitized” historical Joseph and the real man.

Why seeing the Prophet as a real, imperfect human actually strengthens a spiritual connection to him.

The wild financial risk of funding an independent cinematic project like this.

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Hey everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Cultural Hall! I’m really excited about this one because we are finally solving a mystery. A couple of months ago, I told you all a story about DJing a wedding at a house that had some very unique door handles—exact replicas of the ones on the Salt Lake Temple. Well, the secret is out! It was the home of Brad and Marjorie Lowder (Marjorie is the youngest daughter of President Russell M. Nelson). I’ve been providing DJ services to the Daybreak community generally for ten years now, along with countless other spots across the state, but DJing that wedding at the Lowders’ house was an unforgettable highlight.

Today, Brad and his twin brother Carris join me to talk about a brand new project they’ve started. After surviving a minor heart attack at 58 and losing his own dad at 67, Brad hit his 68th birthday and had a huge wake-up call. He did the math and realized he needed to make some serious lifestyle changes if he wants to be around to dance at his three-year-old granddaughter’s wedding. To keep himself accountable, he and Carris launched a new podcast called Live Longer, Live Stronger.

In this episode, we dive into:

The Wake-Up Call: Brad’s realization that he needed to overhaul his daily habits to make it to 93.

Healthspan vs. Lifespan: Why it’s not just about adding years to your life, but making sure you have the mobility and health to actually enjoy them.

Lessons from a Centenarian: The incredible example of longevity and purposeful living set by President Nelson, from his habit of always taking the stairs to his focus on daily movement.

The Power of Purpose: Why simple things like serving others, staying connected with family, and having a reason to get out of bed are the true secrets to aging well.

No Snake Oil: Why their new show isn’t about selling supplements or being preachy—it’s just a couple of guys sharing what they are learning along the way.

This conversation is a fantastic reminder that we only get one body, and it’s up to us to be good stewards of it. Take a listen, and let me know what you think!

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It’s a full house in the Cultural Hall! This week, we are joined by an all-star lineup of the “News Wizard’s” family and favorites: Nate, Robin, Sydney, and Caitlyn. We kick things off by airing out our most embarrassing church moments—from forgotten baptism duet lyrics to heavy breathing on the microphone.

The group dives deep into the realities of the new 25-minute church class schedule. Is it a rushed, chaotic mess of overlapping wards and loud bells, or just a new routine to get used to? Plus, the McDanel sisters take over with a hilarious, LDS-themed round of “Smooch, Marry, Kill,” and we wrap up with a quick look at recent church news, including the dismissal of the tithing lawsuit and updates to chapel artwork.

Meet the Panel: We get to know Nate, Robyn, Sydney, and Kaitlyn, and settle the debate on who is actually the favorite child/grandchild.

Most Embarrassing Church Moments: The crew shares their most cringe-worthy memories, including a 15-year-old’s mid-duet blank-out at a baptism and the perils of live microphones.

The 25-Minute Lesson Crunch: A candid discussion on the new, highly compressed Sunday School and Relief Society/Elders Quorum classes. We talk about the chaotic transitions, the lack of time for deep doctrinal discussions, and the jarring reality of the countdown buzzer.

Smooch, Marry, Kill (Church Edition): Kaitlyn and Robyn lead a hilarious round of their signature game. Find out what the group decides to do with 25-minute baptisms for the dead, being alone at a ward party with the bishopric, and singing Girls Camp songs at karaoke.

Church News & Updates: A quick dive into the dismissal of the long-running tithing lawsuit and thoughts on the initiative to make chapels more Christ-centered with new artwork.

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Molly joins Richie this week fresh off a wild run of life events—getting called as Relief Society President while on a cruise in Iceland, her son getting his mission call to São Paulo Interlagos, Brazil, and another son locking down a full-time job offer for 2027.

In listener mail, shoutout to Todd Haden for listening while pushing data at work. Richie also takes a moment to apologize after an anonymous emailer rightfully called him out for accidentally referring to an Arizona rapist as a “gentleman” in a previous episode (a bad habit of using catch-all polite terms that he completely agrees was the wrong move). We also get into the weeds on the new vetting process for Temple Square performers and whether the policies are leaning a bit ageist.

On the reality TV front, Taylor Frankie Paul totally blew the ending of her unreleased Bachelor season, Witney Carson is competing pregnant on Dancing with the Stars alongside Jimmy Kimmel’s Guillermo, Connor is also joining DWTS, and American Idol winner Iam Tongi and his fiancee recently received their endowments.

Articles of News covered this week:

Tickets for the Salt Lake Temple open house are going fast (Molly already has hers for May 22nd)

Church camp reservations are shifting to November to better align with FSY

A look back at the unique layout of the historic 10th Ward Square in SLC

Frustrating window-smashing vandalism at a church building in Sparks, Nevada

The heavy and tragic news of a former Layton bishop’s arrest

Support our sponsor: Need a DJ for a wedding, baptism, or party? Reach out to bestdjinutah.com.

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Technical difficulties couldn’t keep this episode down! Richie, Kurt Francom (from Leading Saints), and Verlin the News Wizard are back in the Cultural Hall to hash out the latest happenings inside and outside the Church.

From the quirky traditions of LDS wedding receptions to billion-dollar real estate holdings, the guys cover a ton of ground this week with their usual mix of humor, honesty, and insight.

Stake Conference Survival: Kurt breaks down his recent “Zion Lab” deep dive into Saturday evening stake conference sessions and how to actually make them engaging.

Mormon Wedding Culture: Richie shares his latest weekend gig stories. We’re talking soda bars, insulin shots in the parking lot, and the inexplicable LDS tradition of guys tying their neckties around their heads on the dance floor.

Chapel Redesigns: Is the sacrament table moving to the center of the chapel? Plus, a frank discussion on why you won’t find paintings of Jesus inside the actual chapel walls.

Salt Lake Temple Volunteers: Want to help out with the Salt Lake Temple grand reopening? The guys talk about the new week-long service shifts available for the big event.

Security at Church: A sobering look at safety protocols and concealed carry in meetinghouses following the tragic shooting outside a funeral in Kearns, Utah.

Apostles on the Ground: Elder Uchtdorf and Elder Andersen travel to Washington state to minister to communities devastated by recent wildfires.

The Church’s Real Estate Empire: Breaking down the recent Bloomberg report on the Church’s massive $20 billion real estate footprint, including planned communities in Florida, Texas, and Colorado.

The 25-Minute Training: Initial thoughts on the new, highly condensed Sunday School teacher training videos and why they are causing a bit of a stir.

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In this “Articles of News” episode, Richie and Verlin (our resident News Wizard) are tackling a packed listener inbox, playing a pretty wild Old Testament version of Smooch, Marry, Kill, and breaking down all the biggest stories happening around the Church right now.

Banter & The Listener Inbox Verlin is joining us straight from the 1994-era Durham, North Carolina stake office—getting ready for some weekend ward cleaning and a massive “pig pickin'” (smoked pork and banana pudding, anyone?). Meanwhile, Richie recaps a high-energy DJ gig for the Nightingale nursing group and calls out listener Jack Marinello to step up his game in the Facebook comments. Plus, we dive into a great email from Chris about navigating the “Moco” (Mormon Corridor) and the tricky balance of separating actual gospel principles from institutional church culture.

Global Church Leadership & Events Happy 94th Birthday to President Oaks! We chat about his first international trip as the 18th President of the Church to dedicate the Belo Horizonte, Brazil temple. We also touch on Elder Patrick Kearon’s powerful message at Education Week to a crowd of 15,000, where he urged everyone to “stop earning their worth.” Also on the docket: Elder Rasband’s MTC address on the current global missionary surge, Elder Villar championing religious freedom down in Peru, and the Institute centennial broadcast out of Johannesburg.

Policy, BYU & Institute Updates What do you guys think about the new, 25-minute-shorter Sunday block schedule? We cover that, along with the digital release of 10 joyful new hymns and the new ward-level event RSVP feature rolling out on the app. Over in Provo, Education Week just wrapped up with 16,000 attendees focusing on Charity, and the new BYU School of Medicine announced an upcoming “Christ-Centered Physician” conference. Plus, Seminary and Institute enrollment has officially topped 1 million globally, thanks in large part to the “Invite a Friend” initiative.

Culture & Retention Trends We dig into some shifting demographics today, specifically a BYU Studies report on the sharp decline in church retention among Gen Z women. We discuss the commentary pointing to politics, purity culture, and feelings of powerlessness as driving factors. We also look at some interesting Gallup data comparing lower European church participation to the high devotion metrics seen in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Finally, we share a laugh over a story about a YSA who shaved her head just to deter unwanted dates, and we discuss the viral Friend magazine article asking, “Are there any girl bishops?”

Question of the Week: We want to hear from you! What was your biggest takeaway from Elder Kearon’s message about slowing down and no longer trying to “earn your worth”?

The Cultural Hall, Articles of News, LDS podcast, Mormon Corridor, Smooch Marry Kill, Durham North Carolina, President Oaks, Belo Horizonte temple, Elder Kearon, Education Week, Elder Rasband, religious freedom, church schedule change, new hymns, BYU School of Medicine, Seminary and Institute, Gen Z retention, YSA dating, girl bishops

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