This Week in Latter-days

In this episode, the TWiM Sister (Tiffany Hales & Arriane Smith) step in to discuss this week's Mormon news. Fans of the reality show "Sister Wives" have noticed similarities between a character on the show and a real-life Mormon man involved in a lawsuit over allegations of fraud. A new study has found that younger Latter-day Saints prioritize issues such as climate change and social justice over political affiliation. We'll also explore the success of Crumbl Cookies, a Utah-based cookie franchise. In other news, a Mormon man named David Groesbeck survived a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, and a man accused of running a Ponzi scheme that targeted members of the Mormon community in Utah has been released on bond. We'll also discuss a legal battle between St. Luke's Hospital and a sheriff who refused to serve Ammon Bundy with legal documents. Lastly, we'll touch on a few more stories, including the passing of Helen Wells, the announcement of a new worldwide testimony meeting for youth, and a collaboration between the Piano Guys and the Tabernacle Choir on a new musical piece.

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Sister Wives Spoilers – Christine Brown Is Engaged To David Woolley

What one researcher calls the ‘seismic political shift’ happening among young Latter-day Saints

Crumbl Cookie is leading the dessert industry — what’s behind its popularity?

How a Latter-day Saint survived a plane crash and 29 days in the Alaska wilderness

Mormon Ponzi scheme defendant released on bond

How a former child star with ties to eastern Idaho got started in acting, overcame a 10-year battle with addiction

Idaho sheriff refuses to serve Ammon Bundy. Hospital asks justices to weigh in

San Diego California Temple to close in July 2023 for extensive renovations

Sister Helen Wells, wife of Elder Robert E. Wells, remembered for her ‘joy in serving the Lord’

Bing has a testimony of the Book of Mormon! And other adventures with AI chatbots.

Church announces new worldwide testimony meeting for youth

Redmond man accused twice of child molestation arrested a 3rd time, faces 4 more charges

President Camille Johnson Video

Watch: This new collab from The Piano Guys and The Tabernacle Choir will give you goosebumps

Music Coordinator Video

John & Jenny Dye break down the news this week!

Links:

President Nelson's Peace Prize

Arizona Abuse Case

Young Missionary Dies in Honduras

Miss Teen Philippines Hawaii Gathers Donations

Church Donation to the American Red Cross

New Platforms for Church's Humanitarian Efforts

Women at LDS General Conference

Just Serve

Skylight

Church Casting and Music Opportunities

News

Elder Holland’s Health (he won’t speak at SUU graduation)

$6.2 million was donated to charity in the giving machines this past December. The World Report showed a woman living in rural Moldova who was gifted a pig.

The world’s largest annual outdoor Easter Pageant is happening in Mesa Arizona right now. A local news reporter said, “We need spaces where we feel welcome just as a fellow human being. Again, I know next to nothing about the LDS church or Muslims or evangelicals or the many other Christian denominations. But I do know that our society is being ripped apart in the name of our faith values and our view of the world. This isn’t about any church after all. It’s about a moment. It’s about the experience of just being with one another. We need more of that – a lot more.”

The Church Audit report in General Conference sounded pretty much the same as it always does… that the church followed appropriate accounting procedures. But, we know that there was a large settlement recently focused on some of the church’s accounting procedures. Does the fact that this was not mentioned in Conference say anything about how much people should trust these statements?

Melissa

The church announced 15 new temples in General Conference. You correctly predicted San Jose, and I correctly predicted none in Utah or Idaho. Are there any locations on the list that seem particularly significant?

The statistical report is a rare opportunity to see how the church is doing compared to previous years. The Deseret News put out a comparison table. It looks like there is growth of about 1% in most categories, but children of record baptisms are down slightly. Convert baptisms are up 26%. What does this mean?

Sister Ana Maria Bonny Hernandez has recently been called as the new representative of the Church to the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in Geneva, Switzerland. Ana Bonny, who is a native from Spain, is the first European member of the Church to hold this assignment. The Committee on the Status of Women group promotes gender equality and the empowerment and defense of the rights of women and girls across the globe. NGO CSW Geneva comprises representatives from some 40 UN-accredited nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) who have consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The Church is one of those organizations, through Latter-day Saints Charities.

On the topic of gender equality, how strange that only two sisters were asked to speak even though the YW General Presidency was released.

It is taking a long time to find jurors in the Lori Vallow Daybell case. I’m shocked at the number of people who have heard nothing about the case. Side note: Should this case be considered “Mormon News”? Mosty national stories call her a member of a Doomsday Cult. Do we really want to tell them that our church is somehow associated with THAT? Isn’t this more a fringe movement or an off-shoot of the church like FLDS?

Big Deal, Little Deal, No Deal

Some family members will be allowed to attend the Lori Vallow Daybell trial

April 6 is a really important day in church history. (Maybe do this in big deal, little deal, no deal)

A King from Ghana attended General Conference. More about him is in this article (2nd to last paragraph), wikipedia doesn’t have much more about him. Is this significant? (Maybe do this in big deal, little deal, no deal)

The church gives more to unhoused Utahn’s than you think

Glenn Beck Good Friday nationwide fast

Famous Mormon-Adjacent Individuals (Which former Mouseketeer was raised LDS?)

Justin Timberlake

Ryan Gosling

Brittney Spears

Mormons Doing Goodly

A woman died after saving her friend’s life while climbing a frozen waterfall (Raven Falls) in Duchesne.

Author Brandon Sanderson responds kindly to smear

This Week in Mormon History

90 Years ago.

J. Reuben Clark Jr. is sustained as the second counselor in the First Presidency. As the first LDS church president since Brigham Young to ask a non-general authority to serve as a Presidency counselor, Heber J. Grant kep the position vacant for sixteen months to allow Clark to complete his service as the Ambassador to Mexico. Clark is the first general authority who has previously served the U.S. government in a high office. He is also the first member of the Presidency with a post-graduate degree (from Columbia) and is ordained a high priest today.

135 years ago today - Apr 6, 1888

Letter of Wilford Woodruff and apostles establish annual salaries for stake presidents and end President John Taylor's provisions for local bishops to receive fixed percentage (8 percent) and stake presidents (2 percent) of collected tithing as salary. Until 1896 stake committee apportions this 10 percent of tithing between stake tithing clerk and bishops. On same day apostles approve salary for First Council of Seventy, to which one of its members responds: "I would prefer to receive no salary."

170 years ago today - Apr 6, 1853

The Mormons who rejected the leadership of Brigham Young and never accepted the idea that polygamy was revealed doctrine hold a conference in Wisconsin to found the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This organization brings together many of the Saints who believe that the church should be led by members of the Smith family.

35 years ago today - Apr 4, 1988

Arizona-s state senate convicts Governor Evan Mecham of "high crimes and misdemeanors," thus removing him from office. Mecham is first Mormon office-holder to be impeached (February 1988), and first to be convicted by senate and constitutionally removed from office. Every LDS legislator (all Republicans) voted against his impeachment; there were no Mormons in Arizona senate at this time. You can read all about him on his Wikipedia page.

A recap of the General Conference Saturday Morning Session

TWiM Sisters are on the case!

Links:

Lost journal of Martin handcart pioneer found and donated to Church History Library

Former child actor with ties to eastern Idaho has no regrets living out of the spotlight

Dentist Poisoned Wife to Death to Start ‘New Life’ With Paramour, Cops Allege

The case for talking to strangers

A ‘remarkable, outstanding tenure’ coming to an end for BYU’s Kevin Worthen

New university president named at BYU

BYU police warn of man entering women’s dorms, stealing clothing

Meet the ‘Swedish Osmond’ who will host the Church’s European Easter concert

Salt Lake Temple renovations now estimated to be complete in 2026

We’ve witnessed campus cancellation campaigns. Elder Holland deserves to be heard at Southern Utah University

Latter-day Saint teen’s ‘American Idol’ audition sends her to Hollywood

Jared Bridegan murder: Ex-wife’s new husband arrested, indicted, while her family releases statement

'Super overwhelming;' crying Utah State cheerleader goes viral

They met filling sandbags 40 years ago. Now this Utah couple is volunteering again

Utah: An influencer’s modest fashion haven

Polygamous leader made sexually explicit calls from jail to child wives, prosecutors say

Elvis’ Book of Mormon. Brigham’s elevators. Those are good Mormon stories, but are they true?