Mormons in Media

Eli discusses the pain of growing up in the church and being gay. Rebbie talks about the cognitive dissonance of having a testimony but struggling with doctrine that feels exclusionary. We talk allyship on social media vs in real life, whether flags are worth the fuss, and of course, both start crying at some point.

It's another Mormonland crossover! Nicole asks Rebbie all her "outsider" questions from the season. We talk maternity garments, coffee vs. diet coke, cross necklaces, and that culty Young Women's chant. Most importantly we wonder how a middle aged man in a Chippendale's costume almost starts a fight while stone cold sober.

There's a world of LDS folks making award-winning art, and Glen has every one of them on speed dial. From painters, to ballerinas, to opera singers, to video game composers, to Cinco Paul and Greg Whitely. Rebbie and Glen talk about his many artistic pursuits (including being a professional dancer and authoring dozens of books), his role as Director for the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts, and how anyone can be part of this movement.

Some links I hope you'll use:

- The Center for Latter-day Saint Arts website

- Glen's website

- CFLDSA Festival tickets (May 30-31)

- The CFLDSA book

She's a mom blogger who broke the mold, a Latter-day Saint who wrote a book about being pro-choice, an American renovating a 400-year-old house in France. Gabby and Rebbie talk juggling parenthood and work, our favorite weird parts of Mormonism, and how to use who you already are to make your work stand out.

Follow Gabrielle on Instagram, Threads, and Substack.

Our first ever crossover! In which we learn Nicole's exposure to Mormon theology comes mostly from a Housewife. We talk temples vs. meetinghouses, varying degrees of orthodoxy in Mormonism, and whether it's culturally acceptable for women to be the breadwinner a la Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

Rebbie is joined by filmmaker Jared Cardon to discuss why the Latter-day Saint movie movement got stuck in adolescence, and what it would take to get it growing again. We talk about the demise of the Kirby era, the tension between 'clean content' and creativity, and dream of the church creating a Perpetual Artist Fund.

Here's the video I reference about what France does to support cinema. And here is Jared's website if you want to check out some of his work.

We talk Kirby's career beginnings in the Mormon Movie Moment, what it really takes to make it as a performer, and revisit the absurdity of beer-commercial-gate. We also discuss what it would take to recreate the glory days of 2003 and how one of us might be on the way to making it happen (!!)

Rebbie is joined by Lindsey Encinas and Meg Walter to talk about the cursed intersection of Mormonism and The Bachelor -- from Jef with one F, to the LDS Millionaire, to Litia being the most eligible woman in history who still didn't get the final rose.

The Salt Lake Tribune's Senior Religion Reporter casually tells a dozen stories that blow Rebbie's mind. From starting a Mormon magazine decades before the bloggernacle, to interviewing the Dalai Lama, and Mark Hoffman (pre-explosions), and every Latter-day Saint Prophet since Gordon B. Hinckley, to running her fingers through David A. Bednar's pristine hair. Consider this a teaser for Peggy's memoir, which we need ASAP.

Eli and Rebbie are sick of internet fights between people who love and hate the church. Why do we do this? And what would it look like to support each other, whichever side you're on?