Political science professor Hans Hassell of Cornell College sits down with us to continue our discussion on the wild and wonderful 2016 election system, how it relates to the Mormon perspective, and how on earth we are sitting in a world with Donald Trump as a viable presidential contender.

Our recent guest Evan McMullin has been in the election for a few weeks, and a new poll was released last week showing him in fourth place in Utah, which is not first. Surprisingly, Trump remains well ahead in Utah despite all of the press coverage about a paucity of LDS support for Mr. Winner.

Also, the Church is building a web page to help members learn how to discuss and defend religious freedom. This is the order of the day, folks! If you want a website about how to improve yourself as an individual and a leader, we recommend LeadingLDS, which is not done by the Church, but whoop dee do.

Why are Mormons susceptible to get-rich-quick schemes? This is an issue that top Church leaders are aware of, and Elder Dallin H. Oaks speaks about the reasons behind it and offers some tips on how to avoid getting sucked in.

Did you see the whole mess with former congressman and perennial mormon Tom Tancredo publishing a piece about how much Mormons are failing by not supporting Trump and how "Mormon leaders" are suppressing democracy? Even the Deseret News weighed in with a scathing editorial.

Links:

* Church develops religious freedom education page

* So far, Evan McMullin is not winning Utah

* Taysom Hill to start for BYU. WOO HOO!

* Elder Oaks on get-rich-quick schemes

* Tom Tancredo is an idiot; Deseret news says so, too

* BYU (and 200 other schools) formally under investigation for how it handles sexual assault cases

* More opposition to those Vermont utopia development plans, even the Church itself isn't into it

 

Recently announced independent US presidential candidate Evan McMullin is with us to talk about his campaign, opposition to Donald Trump, experience in Congress, potentially marrying while in office, and being a Mormon through all of it. Plus, we shame him for his film preferences. Evan is a great sport and it was fun having him sit down with us for a few.

And that's it, kids. No other news. This IS the news! Happy week!

Sorry for the late show this week. We've had reasons. And the next few weeks will be different. Listen in to find out more. Links below!

* Evan McMullin is everything!

* Hillary writes op-ed for Deseret News!

* What about "yeah, but" discipleship?!

* LGBT activities call for Big 12 to bar BYU!

* A stake uses a contract for RMs to keep them on the straight and narrow, then stops!

* Rio cab driver hands out copies of the Book of Mormon to passengers!

* Jamesthemormon and David Archuleta make an anthem!

* Why do Mormons love Pinterest?!

* Taiwan gets a new Mormon Newsroom!

* Church meetings are held every day in Hong Kong!

* Olympians who became Mormons!

* Find your mate in Scandinavia!

Big stories this week! Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson walks back remarks about Mormons allegedly wanting to use religious freedom as justification to shoot people. What he really meant was everyone else wanted to shoot Mormons. Who knows. Just don't vote for Trump.

Utah's Planned Parenthood chapter backs off on its ill-devised plan to distribute "CTR" condoms. Oh yes! And they were going to be free at Sunstone. The real question is whether a certain former Ordain Women figurehead was behind the whole thing.

As science evolves and the possibility of being able to "customize" our genes inches closer, should the Church have a stance on such things? Should we allow ourselves to be genetically modified or do we need to be "as God made us"?

A Huffington Post writer tells her tale of rape, unwanted pregnancy, and the lack of support the Church reportedly gave her. It's sad stuff. Folks, be there for people who endure hardship and remember how much those negative experiences can snowball with other doubts into leaving the Church.

Many of you are likely on or recently had the gospel doctrine lesson about Korihor. How do we reconcile Alma 30's disparate parts? Mormon goes way out of his way to talk about religious freedom among the Nephites, but Korihor is then bound and tried for expressing his religious views. Let's get into it.

A study by a presenter at Sunstone talks about trends among doubters in the Church. The survey methodology isn't perfect, but the results are very interesting.

Also, Al gets drunk.

There are lots of other little snippets of brilliance this week, so check out the show links below and come commingle with us.

Links:

* Planned Parenthood chooses the wrong

* Do we need a stance on genetically modified people?

* The Church told her to repent after getting raped?

* Gary Johnson has a bad week with Mormons

* Korihor, religious freedom, and Mormon as an unreliable narrator

* The Mormonberg defense

* Findings about doubters

* Provo baker wins Cupcake Wars

* Could Utah go for Hillary?

* Volunteers (missionaries) pulled from Turkey

* Analyzing the architecture of the Philadelphia Temple

* Bio on Darius Gray

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In the wake of the Republican National Convention and at the start of the Democratic National Convention, it's time for TWiM's political roundup, including LDS Democrats formally endorsing Hillary Clinton before the Wasserman Schultz fiasco, a Mormon praying to open one of the sessions of the convention even though the RNC got the Church's name wrong, Jeff Flake continues to be a voice of sanity in an insane world, and the Boston Globe apologizes to Mitt.

Do pioneer trek reenactments get it wrong? Should we even do them? Did you know the Church has full-blown guidelines for them and even discourages certain activities, like organizing "raids" and sending the men off to join the Mormon Battalion even though that event happened ten years before the handcart pioneers took to the plains? There's some interesting stuff here.

A developer intends to built Joseph Smith's utopia—complete with robots—even though locals don't seem to want it. Bloomberg has the entire story covered in the most over-described article we've read in years. This thing is a couple of paragraphs short of discussing the specific tone of a man's arm hair.

It turns out the town around the Church's priesthood restoration and Book of Mormon translation site has not benefited much from tourism dollars. These people want buzz on par with what Palmyra gets, but they won't even buy one more fry cooker. Get it together, Pennsylvania.

Other stuff: President Monson subpoenaed over Native American sex abuse case; President Uchtdorf visits refugees, pledges aid; noted biographer Frances Gibbons passes away; and the Church talks about Pokemon Go without ever naming it.

Links:

* LDS Democrats endorse Hillary Clinton

* Jeff Flake is sane

* I'm sorry, Mitt

* Vermont's Mormon utopia

* Francis Gibbons dies

* Church discussed Pokemon Go

* Pioneer Treks are goofy

* Susquehanna history sites are not yielding a tourist boom

* Monson subpoenaed

Should we incorporate applause into our church meetings, particularly after a musical number? There are surprisingly divided opinions on this. Let us take a journey down the rabbit hole.

We have in-depth information on what being a missionary (or "volunteer") now means in Putin's Russia. Crazy stuff.

Per usual nowadays, there's something of a TWiM political roundup, with Orrin Hatch threatening fellow Utah legislators, polls showing Utahns don't want Mormon leaders to endorse candidates, and an open letter to Trump about how Mormons' views on Islam have been shaped by our history.

In a survey of questionable methodology, "researchers" find that Mormons are overwhelmingly uncomfortable with eternal polygamy. While the survey itself is iffy, this is an interesting subject that we don't often spend much time on.

Should returned missionaries get discounts and perks when it comes to college options?

And in lots of random news: Bryce Harper is engaged again, and to the same girl; Moroni tops the Meridian Idaho Temple; Mormons are not God's only children; fast for Turkey; Chicago gets a fancy, new meetinghouse; refugees have a float in the Days of '47 parade; a Mormon family lives on a boat; and Berliners love MoTab!

Links:

* Details on missionaries in Russia

* Applause at Church!

* Utahns don't want Mormon leaders to endorse politicians

* Mormon women fear polygamy

* Trump needs to Church history

* Hatch tells UT delegation to get behind Trump

* AdWeek covers Utah startup scene, Al disagrees

* Fry sauce in Utah is everything

* Refugees get Days of '47 float

* Mormon family lives on a boat

* Berlin loves MoTab

* Elder Stevenson throws first pitch at Angels

* Meridian Idaho Temple gets Moroni

* Bryce Harper engaged

* We aren't God's only people

* Fast for Turkey

*

Lots to hop on this week. Let's get down to business.

Video streaming and filtering service VidAngel files an antitrust countersuit against four Hollywood studios and lays out its case. Very compelling stuff. Why is this for Mormons? Because we have viewing standards, yo!

Is the phrase "without a shadow of a doubt" detrimental to leadership efforts in your ward or branch? Our buddies at LeadingLDS think so, and they have some tips on what we can do better.

Did you know that Pokemon Go can help you live the gospel? It can?

Mette Harrison is upset that people seem to expect her son to serve a mission even though he does not want to serve a mission. So is that on the membership? Should we not expect men to serve missions even when they are expected to serve missions? What are the answers to this? Culturally, sure, there are issues, but should there still be expectations of prospective missionaries?

Former Young Women's General President Elaine S. Dalton creates RubyGirl, a site dedicated to helping girls feel a sense of place where they can ask difficult questions. We've decided Sister Dalton was waved off of such an endeavor while in office.

Church humanitarian services spends $40 million per year, a number that seems weirdly low to some, even if it's still a very substantial number.

The Salt Lake Tribune wants to make a story about evangelicals favoring Trump over Romney within the standard of error and hopes you won't notice the math.

If 2014's boundary-pushing documentary Meet the Mormons left you unsatiated, never fear! New, 30-minute additions to the open canon of Mormon docudrama will soon be available at the Legacy Theater in Salt Lake City. You will forever be able to meet Mormons!

The Church responds to Russia's anti-terror law, and the future is grim.

Random stuff: Senator Jeff Flake won't even go to the GOP convention; LDS Living makes a number of headline snafus on the same article; frightening Donnie and Marie merchandise; FamilySearch hosts a worldwide indexing event; Star Valley Wyoming Temple open house; prophet portrait artist dies; This Is the Place park shows more than Mormon stuff.

Links:

* How to Use Pokemon Go to live the gospel

* VidAngel countersues

* Elaine Dalton creates RubyGirl

* Evangelicals back Trump more than Romney

* LDS welfare averages $40 million per year

* Meet the Mormons...again

* Trib sues BYU to have records released

* Church responds to Russian anti-terror law

* Is "without a shadow of a doubt" hurting your ward?

* Is there a place in the Church for men who willingly forgo a mission?

*

Well, this has been a weird week for all of us, a sad week, a heartbreaking week. While we certainly take some time to talk about Louisiana, Minneapolis, and Dallas, we hope this week's show provides a bit of levity during a time when many of us are weighed down.

In a shocking development, religious freedom is in the news! What are the chances? A lawsuit brought against the State of Iowa argues that the state's anti-discrimination laws are forcing state interpretations of morality on churches. In related news, the parent company of LDSSingles.com agreed to terms in a lawsuit that its websites discriminated against the LGBT population.

Mission healthcare (or the lack thereof)! What were your experiences? Now the Church wants nurses (licensed or not) in each mission. One per mission!

Geoff expresses dismay over the How It's Made tease on the making of sacrament cups, only to see a video of Jimmy making the cups. Inspiration? Well, fine.

Salt Lake City is among the rudest cities in nation, with near-zero explanation!

Sister missionary bikes in New Zealand are stolen, and Al bring his best Kiwi accent to explain it to us.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed that anti-terrorism law that we talked about last week. The law basically bans all sorts of religious discussion and proselytizing, potentially forcing missionaries to hold discussions only in a meetinghouse, among other inconveniences.

And Geoff eats crow on his fight to get the Angels the same level of respect from Salt Lake that the Dodgers do.

Links:

* Jeff Flake is anti-Trump

* Church wants missionary nurses

* How sacrament cups are made

* 10 hopeful tips in times of trouble

* Putin signs anti-terror law

* Missionary bikes stolen

* Quit favoring the Dodgers!

* Iowa curbing religious freedom?

* LDSSingles forced to accommodate LGBT

* Sapporo Temple open house underway!

* SLC is so rude!

What a week for news! So much has happened and we couldn't even get to all of it.

When is it okay not to wear temple garments? Obviously, there are personal choices at play here, and all things should be done through study and prayer, but are there also not clear standards?

Moreover, how does that gel with modesty standards at BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center? There's a dichotomy there, and Peggy Fletcher Stack is not pleased with it. Pure rage. Rage!

Russia's Duma sends a new antiterrorism law to President Putin, which has the potential to curtail religious freedom greatly, including banning proselytizing and even praying outside of a house of worship. Furthermore, religious groups would be subject to government consent, supervision, and even eavesdropping. Just another day in Russia.

Al loves the story of Olive Oatman, the original Tattooed Mormon. For the uninitiated, Olive was a Mormon who was later abducted by Native Americans only to resurface five years later with tattoos atop her face.

Will Mia Love be Donald Trump's running mate? Will she become the lone Mormon who actually supports Trump?

Kentucky is getting a Noah's Ark. We must all visit!

So it turns out President Hinckley spoke out pretty clearly in favor of gun control. Let's all go back to 1999.

A fancy new app lets you basically spy on your kids' web usage. This won't end poorly or anything.

Other news: Brexit hell; Steven Spielberg loves some Mormon family; PBS covers the Church's welfare program; a gay ex-Mormon is the true heir to the British throne; Philly Temple gets a president; how do we fight Church burnout, and an enterprising father takes out a marriage ad for his unwed, 50-year-old son, and it is gold.

Links:

* Tattoo dilemmas at BYU-H

* When is it OK to remove garments?

* Russia moves to curb religious freedom in the name of terror

* Amazing Brexit meme

* Dalai Lama meets with Church leaders

* The British throne's true heir!

* Spy on your kids with technology

* The original Tattooed Mormon

* Mitt's kids want him to run

* Mia Love for Veep?

* Noah's Ark in Kentucky

* Philly Temple gets a president

This week we've got some interesting social media posts by the Brethren, a number of items somehow related to pioneering, and more assorted news.

We're sad to hear that an Oklahoma woman died while taking part in a youth pioneer trek. The 7-mile journey in 95 degree heat might have been a culprit. Either way, it's sad, and now we have to wonder whether regulations are in order for miserable pioneer treks and if they are worth the potential cost.

In Salt Lake? On 23 June at the Assembly Hall there will be a great presentation on Zion's Camp and the Lord's hand therein.

Popular author (or popular "Deseret News" author if you are Jana Riess intended to mollify so-called "TBMS") Fiona Givens has been on a book tour, and she sat down with Riess to talk about something interesting: Joseph Smith giving priesthood keys to Emma Smith. True? False? At least worthy of discussion? Absolutely.

URL the dog hunts porn, and he's apparently not even that great at his job. Get it together, URL.

Elder Holland released a video about depression and mental health issues, framed around his semi-recent General Conference remarks on the topic. It has the feels.

Not to be beaten, President Uchtdorf published a Facebook image talking about how smartphones are basically modern-day seer stones, and who is to say God doesn't have a hand in technology?

Other news: Winston Churchill once investigated Mormon missionaries over concerns they were brainwashing and abducting British women to Utah; the Freedmen's Bureau Project completes; dads have an effect on their kids (wow!).

Show links:

* URL, the porn hunter

* Joseph Smith might have intended to give keys to Emma

* Jeffrey R. Holland on depression

* Uchtdorf loves phones and stones

* Mom dies during pioneer trek

* Upcoming Zion's Camp presentation

* Freedmen's Bureau Project completed

* How dads impact their kids' religious views

* Churchill investigated Mormon missionaries