
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Cardon is joined by Ella Katzenback and guest Leah Tomlinson to dive deep into how Gen Z students at Brigham Young University (BYU) are rethinking marriage, children, and family size in today’s world.While large families have long been a celebrated part of Latter-day Saint (LDS) culture, shifting priorities and economic pressures are shaping new perspectives. Many students now prioritize financial stability and career readiness before considering marriage or kids, reflecting a growing sense of caution and pragmatism. Some women describe prioritizing finding a spouse over academic or professional ambitions, while men share the heavy economic pressures they feel to be providers before marrying.Our conversation highlights the tension between faith-driven ideals and real-world financial challenges, including the rising costs of raising children and the expectation of dual incomes in modern households. At the same time, BYU students share a genuine fondness for family and siblings, with many still aspiring to raise four to six children—though often fewer than the generations before them.Blending personal interviews, cultural reflection, and religious insight, this episode explores the unique crossroads where faith, finances, and modern values meet. While the traditional LDS vision of large families is evolving, the desire for family life remains strong, hopeful, and deeply tied to faith.
By Cardon Ellis4
257257 ratings
Cardon is joined by Ella Katzenback and guest Leah Tomlinson to dive deep into how Gen Z students at Brigham Young University (BYU) are rethinking marriage, children, and family size in today’s world.While large families have long been a celebrated part of Latter-day Saint (LDS) culture, shifting priorities and economic pressures are shaping new perspectives. Many students now prioritize financial stability and career readiness before considering marriage or kids, reflecting a growing sense of caution and pragmatism. Some women describe prioritizing finding a spouse over academic or professional ambitions, while men share the heavy economic pressures they feel to be providers before marrying.Our conversation highlights the tension between faith-driven ideals and real-world financial challenges, including the rising costs of raising children and the expectation of dual incomes in modern households. At the same time, BYU students share a genuine fondness for family and siblings, with many still aspiring to raise four to six children—though often fewer than the generations before them.Blending personal interviews, cultural reflection, and religious insight, this episode explores the unique crossroads where faith, finances, and modern values meet. While the traditional LDS vision of large families is evolving, the desire for family life remains strong, hopeful, and deeply tied to faith.

1,469 Listeners

1,221 Listeners

945 Listeners

1,787 Listeners

1,807 Listeners

2,617 Listeners

10,639 Listeners

983 Listeners

505 Listeners

1,573 Listeners

2,122 Listeners

204 Listeners

791 Listeners

133 Listeners