In this episode of Mormon News Roundup (Episode 187), I address the legal notice I’ve received connected to my use of the word “Mormon”—and the growing question many creators are now asking:

👉 Am I being sued by the Mormon Church?
👉 Could this lead to jail time or criminal charges?
👉 What is happening to other Mormon-related podcasts and YouTube channels?

We break down what this legal action actually means, what it does NOT mean, and how similar notices have been sent to other creators operating in the Mormon and ex-Mormon space.

• What the legal notice really says (and what it doesn’t)
• Whether civil trademark disputes can lead to jail (spoiler: no)
• How the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is enforcing control over language and branding
• Why podcasts and critics are increasingly receiving cease-and-desist letters
• What this means for free speech, commentary, parody, and criticism
• Which Mormon-related podcasts and creators have received similar warnings
• Why this moment matters for independent media covering Mormonism

This episode is not legal advice—but it is a transparent, good-faith discussion about power, intimidation, and the chilling effect legal threats can have on religious commentary and criticism.

If you care about free expression, transparency, and holding powerful institutions accountable, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

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In this episode:

Episode 186 brings the heat. BYU fans are stressed, the teams are stressed, the coaches are stressed—honestly, everyone at BYU is stressed.Sitake’s contract situation creates waves, both football and basketball find themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, and meanwhile LDX Twitter is exploding over perceived snubs and disrespect.It’s passion, paranoia, and plenty of popcorn.If you love BYU, hate BYU, or just enjoy watching fanbases combust online—you’re in the right place.🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6565569197309952

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃Welcome back to the Mormon News Roundup for December 1, 2025 — your weekly dose of the biggest stories, commentary, and community reactions from the world of Mormonism, post-Mormonism, and everything in between.In this episode:• The latest LDS headlines• Community reactions and commentary• A spotlight on Carah Burrell• Viewer submissions & social posts• Thanksgiving reflections and gratitude messages🔗 Links Mentioned:Facebook Share #1: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17T2kQqQsC/?mibextid=wwXIfrCarah Burrell Clip / PostFacebook Share #2: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16uEBrz...👍 Like, Subscribe, and Share if you enjoy the roundup!🛎️ Don’t forget to hit the bell so you never miss an episode.💬 Join the Conversation:What LDS or ex-Mormon stories caught your attention this week?#MormonNews #LDSChurch #MormonNewsRoundup #CarahBurrell #ExMormon #Thanksgiving #PostMormon🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6565569197309952

This week brought major developments inside the LDS Church, from missionary policy changes to a disturbing criminal case involving the family of a Mormon apostle. We break it all down with analysis, context, and what it means for everyday Latter-day Saints.Stories Covered:LDS Church lowers the age requirement for sister missionaries, marking the biggest missionary policy shift since 2012.Brother of an LDS apostle arrested on child sex abuse charges, raising new questions about transparency and church culture.Saturday evening session of General Conference officially removed, continuing the ongoing restructure of conference formats.Reactions, implications, history, and what to watch next.👉 If you enjoy thoughtful, evidence-based coverage of Mormon news, scandals, policies, and culture, don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications.🎧 Podcast version available wherever you get your podcasts.💬 Share your thoughts in the comments—what story surprised you the most?🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6565569197309952

This week on the Mormon News Roundup (Ep. 183 – Nov 16, 2025), we dive into another wild week in Mormonism:⛪ Apostle Speaks on Callings – Viral clips raise questions about spiritual authority and LDS Church transparency🏈 BYU Athletics Meltdown – Fans, memes, and sports media react to the latest Cougar controversy🧑‍⚖️ New Bishopric Goes TikTok Viral – Is this the future of LDS leadership announcements?🎥 “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” – Whitney Leavitt vs. Jen Affleck drama spills into mainstream entertainment🎁 Giving Machines Return – The PR machine is back for the holidays📺 Heather Gay Exposes Mormonism’s Dark Side – Bravo airs bombshell accounts of LDS control and secrecy🥤 The BYU Stolen Soda Scandal – Yes, it’s a thing📢 New LDS Church Ad Campaign Drops – Big money, big message⛵ Boating While Mormon – A very Mormon viral boating saga🧪 Formula Test TikTok – LDS dietary revelation meets science experiment🏛️ Temple Construction Update – What’s going on with all those unfinished temples?Plus: memes, commentary, and the best (and worst) of Mormon internet culture this week.🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6565569197309952

In this week’s Mormon News Roundup (Ep. 182 – Nov 11, 2025), Dives breaks down the biggest headlines from the world of Mormonism:🚨 Dallin H. Oaks sparks controversy after his latest remarks on faith and authority👕 LDS Church releases a new garments campaign — and the internet reacts🚌 Mormon temple tour draws criticism online🏕️ Boy Scouts settlement stirs debate about LDS Church responsibility⚖️ Tim Ballard claims he was defamed and excommunicated by the Church🔫 Utah Church shooting shocks local congregation👮‍♂️ Former bishop and Utah mayor arrested for decades of child abuse💔 Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds opens up about suicide, faith, and change🎓 BYU controversy resurfaces after sports comments go viral🥤 “Dirty Soda” craze continues — Mormon culture goes mainstreamWatch as Dives unpacks the scandals, spins, and spiritual drama shaping Mormonism this week.👉 Subscribe for weekly Mormon news, humor, and analysis🎙️ Hosted by Dives | Mormon News Roundup Podcast#MormonNewsRoundup #TimBallard #LDSChurch #BYU #DanReynolds #Mormonism #Exmormon

This week on Mormon News Roundup #181, things get spicy! We’re diving into the latest wave of angry Mormon reactions, wild Twitter meltdowns, and the most unhinged rants from across social media. From furious defenders of the faith to the most bizarre apologetic takes you’ve ever seen — we’re breaking it all down with humor, insight, and zero reverence.👉 Hosted by Dives from the Mormon News Roundup🎙️ Featuring commentary, memes, and Mormon mayhem📅 Recorded November 4, 2025🔔 Subscribe for weekly breakdowns of Mormonism’s biggest stories, scandals, and internet absurdities!#MormonNewsRoundup #Mormonism #ExMormon #LDSChurch #MormonTwitter #UnhingedRants🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6565569197309952

Welcome to Mormon News Roundup #179 — your weekly digest of major news affecting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In today’s edition: the passing of President Russell M. Nelson, and a deadly attack on an LDS meetinghouse in Michigan.🔍 Highlights:1. Russell M. Nelson Dies at 101— Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President and Prophet of the Church, passed away on September 27, 2025, at the age of 101 in Salt Lake City. — His leadership era saw major changes in church naming, youth programs, temple expansion, and more. — Church leaders and public figures across Utah and beyond are issuing tributes and preparing for the transition. 2. Shooting and Arson at Michigan LDS Church— On September 28, 2025, a mass shooting and arson attack occurred at an LDS meetinghouse in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. — The assailant, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, drove his vehicle into the church, opened fire, and set the building ablaze with gasoline. — The attack resulted in at least 4 deaths and 8 injuries, with the shooter killed by police in an exchange of fire. — Authorities are investigating motive and whether there is any link to Nelson’s death. 📌 Context & AnalysisThe juxtaposition of a major leadership transition with a violent attack on a meetinghouse poses deep questions about security, persecution, and the resilience of the faith community.How will the Church respond spiritually, administratively, and in public communication during this tumultuous period?What are the implications for local congregations, especially in Michigan and surrounding areas?🔔 Subscribe for weekly LDS news roundups, commentary, and analysis.💬 Comment below: What do you see as the key challenges and opportunities facing the Church right now?Please consider making a donation by joining our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MormonNewsRoundup Email: [email protected] Website: https://mormonnewsroundup.org/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonnewsroundup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormon_news_roundup/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093511869924 X: https://twitter.com/NewsMormon New episodes LIVE every Sunday and Monday nights at 9:30PM ESTPlease like and subscribe and hit the notifications bell. Remember remember, no unhallowed hand can stop this podcast from progressing!The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affilated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In Episode 177 of Mormon News Roundup (Sept 14, 2025), we take a deep dive into the shocking killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University — including new details, the background of the alleged shooter, how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has responded, and how this tragedy is affecting politics, faith, and public discourse.What we cover in this episode:Did Charlie Kirk praise Mormons just before the shooting? Exploring accounts that he complimented the Church and possible relevance (or lack thereof). New York PostLDS Church’s response: official statements, condemnation of violence, messages of compassion, how they’re addressing the public fallout. Church News+1The bigger picture: political violence in the U.S., polarization, misinformation, social media role, and how this incident is being interpreted by different groups. Business Insider+3AP News+3CBS News+3Why this matters: This isn’t just another tragic shooting — it raises hard questions about free speech, public safety, trust, faith identity, political extremism, social media’s influence, and how institutions respond when violence intersects with religion and politics.Resources & Further Reading:Statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the shooting, condemning the violence. Church News+1AP’s fact check on false claims and misleading theories that have circulated. AP NewsCoverage of the suspect’s behavior online pre- and post-incident (Discord messages etc.). People.com+1If you appreciate balanced coverage of faith / religious community reactions, political implications, and human stories behind the headlines, this episode is for you.—🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell so you don’t miss upcoming episodes.💬 Leave a comment: What do you think the Church should do beyond statements? How do we prevent further political violence?#CharlieKirk #LDSChurch #MediaAnalysis #PoliticalViolence #MormonNews #FaithAndPolitics🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6718172234907648

This week on Mormon News Roundup (Ep. 176):Joining us is the one and only Ryan Josiah — The Gay Mormon Jesus! 🌈✝️The Wall Street Journal outlines how the Ex-Mormon TikTok movement is going global.President Russell M. Nelson pens an op-ed in TIME Magazine—what’s his message, and how are people reacting?Temple updates you don’t want to miss.Lively reactions to the controversial “An Inconvenient Faith” document.And so much more Mormon news, analysis, and commentary!#MormonNewsRoundup #ExMormon #ldsnewsPlease consider making a donation by joining our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MormonNewsRoundup Email: [email protected] Website: https://mormonnewsroundup.org/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonnewsroundup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormon_news_roundup/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093511869924 X: https://twitter.com/NewsMormon New episodes LIVE every Sunday and Monday nights at 9:30PM ESTPlease like and subscribe and hit the notifications bell. Remember remember, no unhallowed hand can stop this podcast from progressing!The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affilated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.