8 chapters across the catalog
Onosoto won the September sumo tournament and the Emperor Cup in Japan. In Michigan, a man drove his car into an LDS Church, opened fire, set the building on fire with a bomb, and committed suicide. The incident resulted in at least two deaths as investigations continue.
A donor named Tim, a cybersecurity professional and member of the LDS Church, clarifies the relationship between the Mormon Church and Ancestry.com. While the church has a data-sharing partnership for genealogy, it does not own the company. Tim also discusses his commitment to tithing and his recent success in paying off student loans.
Mormon Church and Boy Scouts, Ending Century-Long Partnership
The Mormon Church (LDS) announced it will end its 100-year relationship with the Boy Scouts of America by the end of 2019. The split follows the BSA's policy changes regarding inclusive membership. The church plans to launch its own global youth development program to replace the scouting curriculum.
The Mormon Church (LDS), which makes up 20% of the Boy Scouts' membership, announced it will leave the organization to start its own youth program by 2020. This follows the BSA's policy changes regarding gay and transgender members. Analysts suggest the decision to admit girls is a desperate move by the BSA to replace the massive loss of Mormon youth members.
Evan McMullin, Mormon Church Political Neutrality
A listener provides feedback on candidate Evan McMullin, clarifying that the LDS Church maintains political neutrality and does not fund specific candidates. There is speculation that McMullin, a former CIA officer, is being used to split the conservative vote in states like Utah and Arizona.
Brian Evenson on Mitt Romney and Mormon Cadence
Author Brian Evenson, a former member of the LDS Church who was excommunicated, discusses the cultural markers of Mitt Romney’s speech. Evenson notes that Romney’s cadence and delivery mirror those of Mormon general authorities, which he finds unsettling. He expresses surprise that the media has not more deeply explored the influence of Mormonism on Romney’s political persona and business ethics.
A theory is presented regarding Mitt Romney's refusal to release his full tax returns, suggesting the records would reveal he failed to pay the full 10% tithe required by the Mormon Church. Such a revelation could potentially undermine the church's financial expectations of its less wealthy members.
The Mormon Church faces criticism for the posthumous proxy baptism of Jewish Holocaust survivors, including relatives of Elie Wiesel. Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC reported on the controversy, which also involves the proxy baptism of figures like Anne Frank, Adolf Hitler, and Barack Obama's mother.
