This Week in Latter-days

Our General Conference recap is here! We have surely been blessed. So join us to discuss our favorite talks, bits of inspiration we received, and our response to the happenings of the weekend, notably the calling of three new members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, and Elder Dale G. Renlund.

There was surely some news around #ldsconf as well, so check out the links below, eh?

* Elder Renlund brings more diversity than you think

* Mocking the Lord's Anointed

* Ponderizing for money

* Jana Riess is unhappy with white men

* No Conference talks in native languages

* Tie Tracker!

General Conference is upon us! And what an #LDSCONF it'll be. Per usual, we have our topic and temple predictions, but given the three vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve, we, with the help of the interwebs, also have some thoughts on potential callings to the Twelve; all in jest, of course. We know how that stuff is actually handled.

What the heck went on with this blood moon stuff? October is here and we are alive. Julie Rowe has basically called it quits. The Church was forced to call her out. Crazy things are happening. Rapture4Eva.

The great Tom Mon Jovi was mostly well received, yet many of you do not seem to understand what we are about. So let's work through this together while we mock your emails.

Links:

* President Nelson reflects on his time as apostle

* Temple predictions!

* Elder Scott funeral

* October Madness!

* The deep bench for new apostles

* General Conference Mirth Index

* Church History Museum reopens

* Julie Rowe gives up

* Jesus the Christ turns 100

Elder Richard G. Scott passes away at 86. We remember one of our favorite apostles and celebrate his reunion with his dear wife.

In other news, the Church releases a Portuguese language Bible, bringing the total number of LDS Church-produced Bibles to three.

It's also the 30th anniversary of the current LDS hymnal. Four more years, or should we be pushing for Michael McLean and Kurt Bestor to go to TOWN on this thing?

Everyone loves Tanner Mangum until they realize BYU's first two wins were flukes. Our boy Jamesthemormon releases a sweet song that is aptly titled "Dreamin'," which is what BYU fans are currently doing. Bwa ha and ha.

The Priesthood Restoration Site is dedicated by President Russell M. Nelson. It's pretty cool and we hope to get up there.

Assorted news: Elder Ronald Rasband and religious freedom; Mormonism chose me; #EmbraceYourAND hashtag grates Al; a hot Muslim goes to church; and the Manti tabernacle returns!

Show links:

* 30th anniversary of hymnal

* Elder Richard G. Scott passes away

* Portuguese Bible

* Jamesthemormon goes mainstream

* Rasband on religious freedom

* Mormonism chose me

* Priesthood site dedicated

* Manti tabernacle

* EmbraceYourAND

* Muslim BYU student goes to church

Lots to talk about this week, and Al's audio doesn't seem like a disaster.

What is up with all of this apocalyptic stuff and Julie Rowe? Seriously, who is she? Where did this come from? Why do Mormons buy into it?

"Thug Mormons" has to stop, according to one blogger. Al is amused. Geoff is concerned!

Senator and presidential hopeful Marco Rubio is chasing the Mormon vote in Nevada, but will anyone care? Do you? We talk about Mormonism and politics.

We also bring back our Rants segment in which Geoff chastises the "uncorrelated" Mormon world for freaking out about Elder M. Russell Ballard's adulatory remarks toward Utah and Utahns during a regional conference this weekend.

The Church's Sabbath push is getting stronger, with some new articles about keeping our phones stowed away during sacrament meeting. But some wonder whether phones will be outright banned during Church services and if not using a phone at Church will become analogous to President Hinckley's "suggestion" that women only have one piercing per ear.

Other stuff: Mormon men are leaving Church and Mormon women are flooding BYU; Jews in Orange County, California use a Mormon meetinghouse after they let Mormons use their synagogue. And lots of exciting new stuff.

Links:

* Thug Mormons has to stop

* It's the end of the world!!!

* Tons of babes return to BYU

* Marco Rubio chases Mormons

* Stop phoning it in on Sunday

* Will phones become evil?

* Mormon men are leaving the Church more than women

* Jews use Mormon church

It's sort of a BYU-centric episode this week. Al celebrates BYU's stunning win over Nebraska. BYU disappoints us by opting out of the Affordable Care Act, pushing the penalty on students, and a BYU religion professor argues that BYU itself has ruined ancient Book of Mormon studies.

Online tithing is here for Americans. We give it a test drive.

A mission president in Mexico gets shot at a Subway. Thankfully, he'll be OK.

Elder M. Russell Ballard is to offer the keynote at the World Congress of Families, but not everyone is thrilled about it. Why?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland visits Vietnam. Apparently we have Mormons in Vietnam.

Other stuff: Who deserves the Mormon vote? Atlanta offers a great single parent Sunday school class; and the Bern Temple turns 60.

Also, Geoff visits a sex shop for the first time.

Show links. Read them, (we'll know if you did):

* Online tithing is here

* BYU ruins ancient Book of Mormon studies

* BYU opts out of ACA

* Elder Holland goes to Vietnam

* Elder Ballard offers keynote

* Single parent class

* 60th anniversary of Bern Switzerland Temple

* Who will get the Mormon vote?

* Mission president in Mexico shot

We're joined by James Curran, also known as James the Mormon on YouTube. He sits down with us to talk about what compelled him to use original rap songs as his own missionary tool. It's all pretty friggin' awesome.

And because you love other news, other news you shall have:

The Church sticks with Boy Scouts of America, surprising many. You can still get that Eagle Scout... for now.

Also a new series from the Mormon Channel on addiction recovery is real and powerful. We hope you'll check it out and spread the word.

President Uchtdorf dedicates a shopping center at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Also, Marriott builds a hotel on Church land.

The cast of Saturday's Warrior has been announced, and Alex Boyé is playing everything!

Women on Tinder love BYU men. Men on Tinder do not care about BYU women.

Show links:

* Subscribe to James the Mormon on YouTube and keep an eye out for his new album, PMG. Also, follow James on Facebook.

* Church sticks with Boy Scouts

* New addiction recovery series

* President Uchtdorf dedicates PCC market

* Saturday's Warrior cast announced

* Tinder loves BYU

What a weird week. Ashley Madison messes. Stock market dips. Saturday's Warrior: the Movie. Everything we thought we knew has been turned upside down.

Are you drowning in a sea of marriage? Are you angry or troubled that the Church's broader narrative of marriage and family, and how it doesn't account for our growing single population? One blogger is. One podcaster isn't. Find out more.

We have ten ways for you to be totally miserable at Church

Also, are here are nine sins Christians are OK with.

Turns out some doof used his BYU email to get an Ashley Madison account, but the number of U of U accounts is way, way higher.

Germany's two temples will be down for the county, so what does this mean for the rest of us? And what of Geoff's amazing map? What does Al think of it?

Peggy Fletcher Stack is unhappy that there's still a key Church committee without female leaders: correlation. No women. Anywhere.

Other stuffs: a recent widower visits all North American temples in honor of his late wife; the first wave of young missionaries are going back to college; the Indianapolis Temple is dedicated; Julie de Azevedo is a hero; modesty is for real.

Show links:

* 10 ways to be miserable in your ward

* 9 sins a-OK for Christians

* Drowning in a sea of marriage

* Saturday's Warrior movie is real

* No women on correlation

* Old man hits up temples

* Indianapolis Temple dedicated

* Ashley Madison accounts 

* Germany's temples go down

* Universities brace for missionaries

* Mormon Yankees film is filming to be a film

* Priesthood restoration site being dedicated

* The Mormon Internet hates Julie de Azevedo Hanks

We ponder how to combat spiritual and/or church fatigue. It happens. It's real. We're not discounting that. But is a one-year sabbatical the appropriate answer? Let's talk about this.

In major news, the LDS Church has added women to its three primary committees at the highest levels: the Priesthood and Family Executive Council, the Missionary Executive Council, and the Temple and Family History Executive Council. This is big, folks, even if it's already been happening for years.

The Church announces 2016 curriculum, and nothing will change.

A poll states that a majority of Utahns support severing the Church's ties with Boy Scouts of America, but why? And when did this change? We may never know due to a lack of appropriately thorough research.

A woman paints portraits of all of Joseph Smith's wives. We think it's cool.

Single people are not sad and lonely and pathetic, but maybe cuddle parties are not the answer.

Other news: Lindsey Stirling trolls haters; inmates do indexing; a history of Mormons in San Bernardino; new family history center in St. Georgia; bishop carjacked in England in hospital with a coma.

Lisa Valentine Clark and Hailey Smith of the upcoming film Once I Was a Beehive join us to talk about Mormon cinema, shooting their movie, working in improv comedy, and glaciers. They are a lot of fun, so make sure to check out their movie this weekend! It's a good one!

Should you ever say no to a calling? Mette Harrison, as hosted by Jana Riess, argues there are certainly some instances when you should and when you shouldn't.

Also, what about the so-called "uninspired" calling of pianists in the ward? How do you navigate a calling feeling too obvious for you?

Church PR head Michael Otterson gives a lengthy keynote at the FairMormon conference, and there are some solid nuggets of wisdom throughout. We go over our highlights. Check out the video below.

Assorted news: two new temple groundbreakings; one temple going down for the count; and a district is discontinued in Ukraine.

Show links:

* Once I Was a Beehive starts August 14

* Should you say no to a calling?

* The uninspired calling

* Odessa Ukraine district discontinued

* Church PR doesn't go rogue

* Tucson Arizona and Concepción Chile Temple groundbreakings

* Jordan River Temple going down for over a year

The Church publishes images of the seer stone used by Joseph Smith in the translation of the Book of Mormon. Huge news! We didn't even know the Church still had this thing. Yet how many Mormons don't even know the story of the seer stone? Does seeing it affirm your faith or leave you with more questions?

Likewise, the printer's manuscript of the Book of Mormon will be included in updated content from the Joseph Smith Papers. Now you can see the original print in all its glory and compare with the current version. Ch-ch-changes!

Why are Millennial Mormons struggling to marry? Are they just afraid? Could it have anything to do with the socioeconomic plight of said generation? Nope, just fear, according to a writer.

Do Mormons have a persecution complex? Let's talk about whether we do or we don't.

An Episcopal priest sings with MoTab. MoTab allows it. Hearts are moved.

Want to see random trademarks owned by the Church? Look no further!

Also, #ChooseMarriage

Assorted news: BYU is still super sober, but they own it; Mormon moments in Harry Potter; 17 ways you are failing at food storage; stillborn RM programs.

Show Links. Read 'em:

* Seer stone!

* Printer's manuscript of Book of Mormon

* Marriage is scary

* Drop the persecution complex

* Geoff's modesty article is loved

* Mormon moments in Harry Potter

* 17 ways you suck at food storage

* New tool for RMs doesn't exist

* Episcopal priest with MoTab

* BYU is SO sober