The Church announces changes to the structure of sacrament meeting coordination, looping in the entire ward council. Both genders shall now be blessed beyond measure.

What would it mean for the prophet to "lead us astray," and how do we support and sustain the prophet? How do we follow while still weighing things and having open discussion?

LDS Music finally drops for Android. Congrats, world.

A blogger discusses our obligation to Mother Earth, and how we can be better stewards over the great temporal blessings we're given.

Some youth build a replica of the Nauvoo Temple and then it gets destroyed. It's actually a pretty cool activity with a strong message.

Assorted news: a Provo Openshaw family dies in a plane crash; a new member of the General Sunday School Presidency; a guy sets fire to churches because he hates churches! A dying man visits 100 temples before he dies; and a baptist says Mormons are becoming Christians. Yep.

Also, Geoff's suggestions for pregnancy movies!

Links:

* Ward council to plan sacrament meeting

* Stewards of the earth

* LDS Music for Android

* Youth build Nauvoo Temple replica

* Provo family dies in plane crash

* New member of the Sunday School General Presidency

* Church burner

* 100 temples before dying

* Mormons are becoming Christians, says non-Mormon

What's up with Mormons and multi-level marketing? Why are we so attracted to it? Let's talk about this.

There are a number of news items this week, including the Payson Utah Temple dedication, plus the announcement of the Provo City Center Temple dedication. Utah County will want for nothing!

What about Bryce Harper? Apparently he hates BYU. Does this make us love him more? Or less?!

Polygamy is increasingly en vogue in America. Uh oh.

Other news: a Mormon political party wants to "call" Mormons to run; John Huntsman and Mitt Romney are "Mormon rivals;" AMAZING LDS.org stock photos; a Provo church is converted to apartments; a couple has "faith" by traveling; Elder Holland speaks to the British parliament; and some other goodies!

And "As Sisters in Zion" gets a new treatment. A remix! A redub!

Plus: plenty of "South Pacific" references.

Please Click the Following Links to Read More:

* MLMs in Utah. Why?

* "As Sisters in Zion" Part Deux

* Payson Utah Temple celebration and dedication

* Political party to elect Mormons

* Mormon rivals

* Great LDS.org stock photos

* Provo church becomes "luxury" apartments

* Not all athletes who choose to serve missions succeed in athletics later on

* Provo City Center Temple dedication dates announced

* Bryce Harper hates BYU

* Couple has faith in traveling

* Elder Holland at UK parliament

* Polygamy at highest approval rating in US since 2000

* An obviously Mormon church vandalized

* Church pulls plans for Billings meetinghouse

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles passed away on May 30 at the age of 92. He lived a great life and we have much to rejoice in, but we'll still miss him. So let's talk about Elder Perry's influence as well as a little bit of what to expect going forward to fill the vacancy in the Twelve.

We have a surprise mid-show guest: our pal, comedian Steve Soelberg! Steve calls in, talks about his new comedy DVD that EVERYONE IS BUYING and chews the fat with us. Good times.

In other Mormon news (much of which is overlooked this week), a missionary serving in central Georgia was killed in a car accident, and there will be a Pioneer Day concert with a Broadway star!

Also, some thoughts on effective high councilor talks and lessons, how to enjoy a hastily prepared fifth Sunday lesson, and general Mormonness all around.

Links:

* 21 uplifting L. Tom Perry quotes

* Elder Perry's son recounts final moments

* Reuters unfortunate headline

* Elder Perry loved Utah's LGBT law

* 7 Elder L. Tom Perry facts

* Elder Perry's first talk

* Elder Perry funeral details

* How a new apostle is chosen

* Good LDS comedians

* Sister missionary killed in GA car crash

* Pioneer Day concert guest!

BYU-Idaho has notified students that the university's insurance does not meet the minimum requirements of the Affordable Care Act, so students are encouraged to find some sort of gap insurance so as not to be hit with a penalty for not having coverage come September. The question, of course, is why BYU-I doesn't just change its insurance. Or is this due to abortion rights? Birth control? We must get to the bottom of this!

Elder Dallin H. Oaks lets us peek behind the curtain of how mission calls are issued. It's brief, but it's cool, and he cranks out 240 in a day. A DAY. That's one call per two minutes in an eight-hour workday. Madness.

A woman threatens to leap from the observation deck of the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, but the situation is resolved. Al finds the whole thing funny because magicians.

Mormons Building Bridges is once again denied participation in the Days of '47 parade because participants can't be pushing for any form of "advocacy." However, isn't basically everything some form of advocacy? What's your take on this scandal of the century?

Brandon Flowers appears on NPR and talks about being Mormon, a father, and how he still deals with temptation. It's a great segment.

Is Mormon dating broken? An article poses the question, then does not explore it.

In lots of other assorted news: Elder Rasband visits soldiers in Kuwait; the Festival of Colors expands to Ogden to keep Ogdenites contained; a BYU student sells a QR code scanning app to Snapchat, defying all logic; a shooting at an Arizona stake center; couple has 100 "grandchildren;" LCR being phased in; new Temple Square exhibits; and so much more!

Links for the Show. Click Them:

* BYU-I is failing at health insurance

* Woman threatens to jump from Church Office Building

* Mormons Building Bridges denied once again

* Elder Oaks makes mission calls

* Elder Rasband in Kuwait

* Brandon Flowers on NPR

* 100 Grandchildren. Not really.

* LCR phase-in. MLS phase-out.

* New Temple Square exhibits are old elsewhere

* Festival of Colors expands

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Why is judging so rampant in Mormon culture? Surely few of us mean it to be, but it is, and a number of recent articles and incidents speak to Mormonism's difficulty with letting discipleship be personal.

Take, for example, Stirlinggate, wherein Lindsey Stirling, a lovely, outspoken, happily LDS woman wore a dress to an awards show that ruffled a few feathers. We go from praising to vilifying rather quickly.

Or gay rights activist Mitch Mayne, who cannot fathom why it's anyone's business whether or not he has a temple recommend.

Or Bryce Harper, who is seen as too "edgy" in some Mormon circles.

Join us as we talk at length about these stories and how they relate to the way we too often assume everyone else needs to be as perfect as Christ, erring not.

And in other huge news, Boy Scouts of America head Robert Gates (formerly the Secretary of Defense and head of the CIA) says the time has come to do away with the antiquated practice of barring gay leaders within Boy Scouts' ranks. The Church has opined on the matter by saying it will opine more as it the situation develops.

In other news, Mitt Romney pretended to box, we have 10 tips for how to remain faithful to your spouse, we also talk about new LDS.org menu items, temple dedications, and a bunch of other goodies.

So join us, will you?

Show Links:

* Gay Boy Scouts advisers

* Romney and Holyfield cuddle

* 10 ways you are being unfaithful to your spouse

* Lindsey Stirling freaks out lame people

* Mitch Mayne wants you to care more about him and less about a card in his wallet

* Bryce Harper is breaking down Mormon stereotypes

* New LDS.org menus

* Missionaries pulled from Burundi

* 6 lies early-returned missionaries tell themselves

* Córdoba Argentina Temple dedicated

* A history of the BYU Jerusalem Center

BYU-Hawaii gets a new president. Al, our resident alumnus, has his thoughts on outgoing president Steven C. Wheelright and inbound president John S. Tanner.

A youth Sunday School teacher was allegedly released from his calling for using the church-produced essay on race and the priesthood as supplemental material. If this is true, we cry foul. If it's not true, we cry foul on the other guy.

The Los Angeles Temple is not immune to California's drought problems, and the Church has decided to let its vast lawn die in an effort to save water. It's a cool gesture, and Solomon's temple had no lawn.

Christianity is shrinking in the US, according to a new PEW study, and Mormonism is about flat, so we're not shrinking, but nor are we growing.

Also, Mormons have the largest families of all families in all religions in America, shocking no one.

What's up with back rubs at Church? Is it too much? IS THERE TOO MUCH RUBBING?

BYU is now basically paying its "amateur" athletes via some loopholes in tuition scholarship regulations. Will this make them win? No.

Also, Utah eats candy at twice the national average, Heavenly Mother makes an appearance via a BYU art school project, the Church's approach to LGBT issues has improved its favorability ratings, a rad mission prep app that Al hates, and... your mail!

Click this stuff now

* New BYU-Hawaii president

* BYU to pay players

* Rub the backs. All the backs.

* Sunday school teacher dismissed for using Church materials

* Los Angeles Temple dries up

* Utah loves candy

* Heavenly Mother at BYU

* Mormons have huge families

* Christianity shrinks in US

* People like Mormons more when Mormons like gays more

* Mission prep app

Online tithing payment is now officially a thing, but you must be patient with the rollout. Moreover, we should remember that tithing is confidential, so if you are entrusted with tithing knowledge, don't be casual in discussing it.

We've got some great followup to last week's discussion on apostolic health and age, including a podcast from Radio West featuring Richard Bushman and Charles Prince.

The Cedar City Temple gets a groundbreaking announcement, and the Montréal Québec Temple gets a rededication announcement. Huzzah!

So... Baltimore sucked last week. Many stakes across the Eastern Seaboard fasted for peace and renewal of Charm City. What should Mormons do when facing civil strife like this?

The Church donates money to help kids be judges in Israel. Wait....

How can you help in Nepal? Our own Dustin Homer has some ideas.

Assorted news: missionaries to return to Liberia and Sierra Leone; Elder Christofferson attends a religious freedom event in Brazil; the seal of Melchizedek on the San Diego Temple; 8 famous people who became Mormons; and a Book of Mormon spared by fire brings a family to baptism.

* Confidentiality of tithing

* Online tithing!

* Old age and Church leadership on Radio West

* Cedar City Temple groundbreaking

* Fasting for Baltimore

* Missionaries set to return to Liberia and Sierra Leone

* Inflammable Book of Mormon

* Church donates $100K to children's justice center

* Help Nepal

* Elder Christofferson in Brazil

* Montréal Temple Rededication

* Seal of Melchizedek on San Diego Temple

* 8 famous peeps who converted to Mormons

Hi. Welcome to this week's show. We are here.

Did you see Kate Kelly using GoFundMe to buy a personal laptop, then upgrade her laptop needs, then donate proceeds to Ordain Women? It was glorious. So glorious that we are now taking donations for This Week in Mormons. If you love us, donate. Give us money.

Elders L. Tom Perry and Richard G. Scott were both hospitalized last week. It's been revealed that Elder Perry has thyroid cancer and Elder Scott has gastrointestinal bleeding. At the time of recording, Elder Scott was still in the hospital, but he has since been released.

All missionaries are safe in Nepal. It's a pity countless thousands aren't.

The popular BYUtv drama Granite Flats is coming to Netflix, representing BYUtv's first foray into third-party streaming.

There's a new Central Eurasian Mission! Geoff is too geeked-out happy about this, but it's interesting news. Make sure to check out our write up.

Mormons are masters of SEO and social media, and a new piece on Forbes goes into greater detail on Salt Lake's machinations and strategy in the digital space. It's really interesting.

A woman writes a BuzzFeed article in which she laments being 38 and single in Mormon culture, citing how irksome it is to be asked constantly about kids and marriage. Except it turns out she doesn't want kids at all. So...

The US Supreme Court started hearings this week on same-sex marriage laws. A landmark ruling is expected in June. We've got an initial rundown for you.

Other news: The Star Valley Wyoming Temple breaks ground; FHE turns 100 (sort of); USC adds an LDS studies program; is swearing in music worse than in movies? And Utahns are pretty OK with the Church's influence in state politics, unless you ask a Democrat.

* Buy Kate Kelly a laptop

* Go Fund US!!!! 

* Granite Flats on Netflix

* Missionaries safe in Nepal

* How Mormons pwn the Internet

* New Central Eurasian Mission

* Feel a Man's Hand on Me 3(?)

* Apospitals

* Swearing in ...

What are the main challenges the Church will face as it enters its third century of existence? Correlation? Doubt? Female ordination movements? Apathy? Let's talk about it.

How do you deal with profanity and inappropriate language at work? This is a genuine question. We want answers.

Jana Riess says that even though it's wonderful Ms. Virginia proclaims her modesty, aren't beauty pageants in and of themselves immodest? An interesting take.

We are going to have awards this year. Who wants to meet us at the Ramada in Mesquite?!

Other stuff: the story of six missionaries who narrowly missed being on the Titanic; new temple presidents; the world's least religious countries.

 

Links:

* Third century challenges

* New temple presidents

* Beauty pageants are not modest

* Six missionaries and the Titanic

* World's least religious countries

We go through a number of Mormon missionary myths, because they are important. So very important. But really, what myths do you have?

Mormons are the most reliable Republicans. It's shocking.

There's a petition to excommunicate Harry Reid. Let's talk about how misguided this is.

Marco Rubio could technically be the first Mormon president! Take that, Mittie!

The Church has signed a friend-of-the-court amicus brief about protecting the definition of marriage. In a related note, Josh Weed and his wife - the openly gay man happily married to his wife - take issue with their example being used to support the brief, as they do not support it.

Did you know that former Mormons can still be business savvy and make a modest clothing line? It's madness!

A Vivint bro dresses down for Obama. 'cause respect.

Open house tickets for the Payson Utah Temple are now available!

Apparently Brian Williams was "obsessed" with Mitt Romney's garments.

Hey, and there's a great podcast right now from LeadingLDS about active church leaders experience same-sex attraction. Seriously, listen to it.

* Modesty on the Today Show

* Former member launches modesty clothing line

* Mission myths!

* Petition to excommunicate Harry Reid

* Ms. Virginia is modest

* The best wrestler in the world

* Brian Williams loves Mitt's underwear

* Mormons are the most reliable Republicans

* Marco Rubio!!!!!!!

* Amicus brief from Church

* The Weeds are not on board with Church SCOTUS stuff

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