Where is Leading Saints going in 2026? Listen in to find out!

Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community

In this episode, Kurt Francom discusses the evolution of Leading Saints and the introduction of Zion Lab, an online community aimed at fostering leadership and cultural development among Latter-day Saints.

00:03:04 – Introducing Adam Treadwell

00:04:03 – North Star Conference

00:06:01 – Adam’s Journey with Leading Saints

00:07:01 – Key Accomplishments of 2025

00:10:57 – Zion Lab Progress

00:11:57 – In-Person Leadership Gatherings

00:12:28 – Understanding Zion Lab

00:16:06 – Personal Insights from 2025

00:19:29 – Cultural Development in Leadership

00:22:03 – Future of Leading Saints in 2026

00:25:23 – Expanding Language Resources

00:27:53 – Importance of Zion Lab

00:30:32 – Moderation in Zion Lab

00:34:59 – Inclusivity in Discussions

00:35:38 – Eliminating Borders with Zion Lab

00:39:39 – Content Creation Process

00:44:02 – Emerging Themes and Trends

00:48:05 – Navigating Difficult Topics

Shift to Community Focus: Leading Saints is transitioning from being solely a podcast to a community-driven platform through Zion Lab, where leaders can share ideas and best practices.

Grassroots Leadership: Significant cultural shifts within the church will come from lay members rather than institutional changes, highlighting the role of individual initiative in building Zion.

Content Creation and Curation: The podcast will continue, but the emphasis will be on community-generated content, allowing for a broader range of voices and experiences to be shared.

Diversity of Perspectives: Zion Lab aims to create a safe space for discussions on various topics, including controversial issues, while ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.

Language Expansion: There are plans to expand content into other languages, recognizing the diverse experiences of Latter-day Saints worldwide.

Encouraging Participation: Leaders are encouraged to actively participate in Zion Lab, sharing their experiences and insights, which can help others in similar situations.

Fostering Community: By connecting with others in their local areas and beyond, leaders can find support and inspiration, reinforcing the idea that they are not alone in their challenges.

Embracing Change: Leaders should be open to new ideas and approaches, understanding that effective leadership often requires adapting to the unique needs of their communities rather than relying solely on institutional directives.

The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes.

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