Send us a text

1. Shawn helps us understand the challenges of Utah culture.
2. Our first mission president's wife recently passed away at 91 years old. We don't spend a lot of time talking about this calling in the church, and for her this represented three years of about a 70 year life dedicated to the Lord. Obviously the majority of her impact in her life is on her family and those she served in these other callings for 70 years, But she had a profound impact on me at an important time in my life. What kind of an impact did she have on you in your life as a missionary and your life since a mission?
3. What will you remember most from this general conference? What was your favorite talk? Is there any interesting news?
4. I want to dig in a little deeper on a specific message that I heard in the Sunday morning session. From my perspective, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder Soares, and President Nelson all spoke about contention in political discourse. Were there any tidbits of information that you think are specifically relevant to what we're trying to accomplish here on the latter day lens?

Big Question:

Let’s talk about what it means to listen to the Prophet. Elder Haynie's talk was pretty clear that we should not spend a lot of time nitpicking about whether the Prophet says thus sayeth the Lord when he is giving us counsel. It sounds to me like Elder Haney is teaching us that we should focus on obeying the Prophet and not worrying so much about the context in which the Prophet is speaking. Shawn, I'm going to give you the first word on this because I know that you distinguish between the venue in which a prophet is speaking and whether or not their message gets canonized in terms of doctrine. So I kind of want to hear what you have to say about this. How do you deal with these questions about when the Prophet is teaching doctrine versus when the Prophet is just giving us counsel and how do you use that in your life to guide you into making decisions about what to do and what not to do?

Send us a text

1. What is the Latter Day Lens

2. We agree that there are universal truths in religion? What about politics or government?

3. For us, religion influences our political views, but for some people politics influences religion. How can the Latter Day Lens help people navigate situations when religion and politics seem to collide?

4. How does this podcast help promote using a latter day lens?

Send us a text

1. Elizabeth Warren argued recently that if Republicans had not loosened regulations on mid-major banks in 2018, SVB and Signature Bank would not have failed. The text of the bill is here. Title IV of the law specifically increased the asset threshold at which company-run stress tests are required, from $10 billion to $250 billion and allows them to invest a higher percentage of deposits. She also blamed Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s lackadaisical attitude toward regulation for some of the failures. If The Fed had conducted stress tests more frequently, they would have noticed the problems at Silicon Valley Bank and could have required them to keep more of their assets liquid to prevent a run on the bank. Doesn’t the failure of these banks prove that government regulations are necessary to prevent banks from being too risky with investor assets? Every business would prefer less regulation, they never think that they will fail. Does the government have a moral obligation to regulate companies and protect consumers?
2. On the one hand, we want government affairs to be conducted openly and in public view. Recently, a judge has asked to keep information about a hearing on the abortion pill quite. He is concerned about his own personal security.   This judge’s ruling will influence the access to abortion pills in the United States. Some people have the means to try to influence the courts through legal briefs, but others do not. The courts have a strong influence on public policy in the United States. Between 1945 and 2004, federal courts made or influenced nearly one in four significant federal policy changes. Most of us aren’t lawyers. Most of us don’t know how to influence policy in the courts. When a person cares a lot about an issue, but they feel powerless, they are likely to choose more extreme forms of political participation. What is the appropriate moral response to situations in which we strongly disagree with others? How should we try to influence policy coming through the courts? Political Science suggests that media attention and public opinion can influence court decisions. 
3. Biden recently approved The Willow Project. It allows ConocoPhillips to drill for oil on Alaska’s North Slope in the National Petroleum Reserve. Alaska Natives closer to the project oppose it out of concern about the health and environmental impacts of a major oil development. Setting aside climate change, what moral obligation does the US government have to the Native people who will see their community change as a result of this drilling? We are industrializing a space from its natural state contrary to the will of the local population. Is this morally wrong?

 Big Question for debate:

Recent work suggests that Brigham Young may have been the source of the policy that denied people of African descent from receiving the Priesthood

Send us a text

On 60 minutes recently, the President of Microsoft (Brad Smith) suggested that it would be a good idea to have a government regulatory body—like the FAA for airlines or the FDA for drugs—created that would regulate big tech. Something like a digital regulatory commission. We have it for virtually every other segment of the US economy, is it time to create something to regulate tech?

Recently, a woman who was in Mexico for cosmetic surgery was kidnapped and her friends were killed in a case of mistaken identity. The cartel apologized and actually turned over the people responsible to the authorities, but many question the authenticity of the apology letter. The FBI is working with Mexico to bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice, but some people want the US to go further. Some have even called for the US to “unleash the fury and might of the United States” to combat drug cartels. What is the appropriate moral response to this situation? Jesus said to turn the other cheek, does that apply in matters of foreign policy?

Budget negotiations are in full swing in Washington D.C. Republicans would like to reduce the size of the federal budget. Biden is proposing cuts to the federal budget as well, but he would like to increase federal support for Medicaid, increase the child tax credit by $1,600 per child and pay for it with a minimum 25% tax on the richest Americans. The restored gospel clearly teaches us to take care of the poor. Alma 34:28 says that if we do not help the poor we are as the hypocrites that deny the faith. Should Latter-day Saints support government proposals designed to help the poor?

Big Question for debate:

Mosiah 29: 16 says that “because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you.” But, in verse 13 he says, “if it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God, and judge this people according to his commandments, yea, if ye could have men for your kings who would do even as my father Benjamin did for this people—I say unto you, if this could always be the case then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you.”

If you look at the history of Nephite civilization as we know it, they do really well when they have a king (500 years until Mosiah and ~400 years after Christ) the only time we have lots of wars recorded is when they have the system of judges in place. 

Furthermore, when Jesus comes again, He will rule as king. 

The question: Is one form of government morally superior to another? Can’t we just choose any form of government and as long as the people are righteous, the society will prosper?

Send us a text

The number of children being employed illegally has been steadily growing, with a 69% increase since 2018. Last year, the U.S. Department of Labor found that 835 companies were employing about 3,800 children in violation of labor laws. It’s in all 50 states. It’s in factories, agriculture, child, domestic, household, labor, construction, you name it. It’s there in your community. This seems to widespread to me to attribute it to human trafficking, some of this has to be caused by children wanting to work. Should the government stop kids from working in hazardous conditions if it is something that they want to do?

Californians are purchasing guard dogs to protect them from crime. Some say that this is because they are worried about the legal consequences of carrying guns. I remember that this was really common in Ukraine. Is it better for society to arm themselves with dogs instead of guns for protection? Is it better for people to use dogs for protection rather than expecting the police to prevent crime?

Fewer people attended CPAC (The annual Conservative Political Action Conference) this year, and those who attended are strongly pro-Trump and are from the populist wing of the Republican Party. It used to be a place where everyone from the party would get together and strategize, but mainstream Republicans are staying away. Is this a microcosm of what is happening at Republican gatherings across the nation? When is the last time any of us went to a party meeting? If so, what does that mean for the future of the Republican Party?

Big Question:

Right now Idaho does not allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver’s license. A bill is currently being debated that would change that. Opponents of the bill say that allowing undocumented immigrants to get a license is rewarding bad behavior. Entering the country illegally is a misdemeanor offense. There is no other misdemeanor for which society imposes a penalty with a life sentence, is it wrong for states to pass laws that force undocumented immigrants into a second-class status for the rest of their lives?

Send us a text

·        School vouchers: Who benefits from them, are they a good idea?

·        Section 230: Should social media companies be liable for content on their platforms, like other media companies are?

·        Utah just passed a ban on Gender affirmative care for minors. Here are the current church policies on transgender individuals. Should governments pass laws banning gender affirming care for minors?

 38. Church Policies and Guidelines
  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/38-church-policies-and-guidelines?lang=eng

 Big Discussion Topic: 

The Pope says being gay is a sin, but not a crime. Where do you agree/disagree with him?

Send us a text

1. Right now, the Utah legislature is discussing a bill that would strip Planned Parenthood of its medical license and make it more difficult for women to access abortions. What should be done about abortion?
2. 89-year-old, five-term senator Dianne Feinstein announced that she will not seek re-election in two years. The constitution has a minimum age for serving in office (25 years old for the House of Representatives, 30 years old for the Senate, and 35 years old for President), should there be a maximum age?
3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settled an allegation with the Securities Exchange Commission that the church created shell companies to avoid disclosing the church’s investments. This has been the topic of considerable debate since the whistleblower allegations were filed last year. Is this a big deal, little deal, or no deal? 

Big Question: We had another tragic mass shooting this week in Michigan. The gun violence archive puts the number of Mass shootings in the US at over 70 so far in 2023. What should be done to reduce mass shootings in the United States?

Send us a text

1. Federal investigators have accused two people of targeting members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a $500 million Ponzi scheme. And Utah has more Ponzi schemes per capita than any other state. Are members of the church more naïve than the rest of the US?
2. Rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again meeting with LDS missionaries after moving to Salt Lake City. Is this proof that the restored gospel is for everyone?
3. President Biden’s State of the Union address highlighted many of his accomplishments. Despite this, lot of people, including 58% of Democrats do not want him to run for reelection. Why is that?
4. There is intense fighting near Bakhmut in Ukraine. This may mark the first successful advance for the Russians in a long time. Should the US be doing more to help the Ukrainians?

Big Topic:

As I drive from Utah to Idaho, I see lots of people waving flags on their trucks and at their homes. I don’t see US flags as much as I used to, I see more divisive flags. What do these flags represent? Why are people flying them? Is it ok to wave a flag that might upset some people, even if it has a different meaning to you personally?

Example flags (I’m leaving out all the ultra-offensive F-Biden flags on purpose): 

Send us a text

• The COVID Health emergency will officially end in May, and along with it a bunch of government benefits that were put into place for the pandemic. CNN has a list here. Personally, I am going to miss some of these benefits. Did the little experiment with free COVID related healthcare demonstrate that government is good at providing healthcare? Government funded the COVID vaccine, testing, and treatment; it seemed to work really well.
• MrBeast cured blindness for over 1,000 people. The church is increasingly publicizing the good works they do. All of this pales in comparison to what governments do to help the downtrodden. Is this a PR problem? Should governments do more to publicize the good that they are doing?
• One of the Real Housewives of SLC wants to trademark “Bad Mormon”, the church opposes it. Should the church just let her have the trademark, since we don’t want to be known as Mormons anyway?
• BYU would like faculty members’ teaching and research to align with LDS tenets. Is this just an attempt to force liberal-minded individuals out of BYU? What does it appear that they are trying to accomplish?

Send us a text

Who are we? Why would you want to listen to us?
This episode introduces your hosts and the reason for the podcast. You've never heard talk about Ukraine or Russia like this before. We may not be foreign policy wonks, but we have information and perspectives you won't hear from the talking heads on prominent news outlets. 

Join us this week as we discuss: 

1. How we felt when Russia invaded communities in which we served as 1990s-era Mormon missionaries. 
2. Is Ukraine Russia? Are there historical justifications for the invasion?
3. What ought to be done? What specific steps would we take if we were in a position of influence to solve this crisis?

As always, the opinions expressed are our own and are subject to change. Our views do not reflect the views of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or any of its subsidiaries. Everything is unscripted, and we often change our minds while discussing a topic.

Links to information about the treaties signed when Ukraine agreed to transfer their nuclear weapon arsenal to Russia.

Information about Kievan Rus the Mongol Horde, the rise of the Russian Empire, and Ukraine before the Soviet Union.

Information about Ukrainian nationalism, culture, and religion.