The Latter Day Lens

Epizody

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  Episode 177: Why Young Women Leave, Russian Oligarchs, U.S. Trust, and the Scriptural Meaning of Property Rights 22.07.2026 54min

  Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: Melanie returns to the show to add a missing perspective as the team tackles a wide range of timely and complex topics! The crew begins by diving into LDS youth retention rates, examining why young women leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at higher rates than young men between ages 18 and 25. From there, Matt, Shawn, and Melanie examine Russian oligarch Andrei Melnichenko’s warnings regarding Putin and the Ukraine conflict, debating what ro...
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  Episode 176: Gen Z's Career Dilemma, Declining Fertility, the Temple Steeple Dispute, and Is Church Culture Creating a Retention Gap for Young Women? 15.07.2026 1h 1min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Latter-day Lens, Matt, Shawn, and Porter reunite to tackle a fascinating mix of listener mail and heavy-hitting social data. From a deep dive into the nuances of the abortion debate to economic realities facing Gen Z, the team breaks down current events through a unique cultural lens. What We Discuss in This Episode: The Mailbag: Correcting the false dichotomy in political rhetoric surrounding abortion and shifting accountability to men.Gen Z & Livi...
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  Episode 175: Trump’s Crypto Billions, Socialist Shifts & The Future of AI Voting 08.07.2026 50min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Latter-day Lens, Matt, Shawn, and guest host Marc tackle a fascinating slate of highly debated political topics through a unique cultural and ideological lens. The team dives deep into the ethics of elected officials profiting from cryptocurrency projects like World Liberty Financial, examining whether the President should face stricter business regulation while in office. Next, they pivot to global geopolitics to unpack the humanitarian crisis in Venez...
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  Episode 174: Should Government Shape Morality? Post-Roe Abortion Trends, Blind Patriotism, and the Therapeutic Church Myth 01.07.2026 1h 1min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Latter Day Lens, hosts Matt, Shawn, and Levi dive deep into the cultural data and political friction shaping modern society. They unpack fresh 2026 Gallup polling data regarding the state’s influence on personal ethics, trace the real-world statistical fallout four years after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and evaluate contrasting definitions of patriotism as America marks its 250th anniversary. Finally, the team pushes back against a controversial Fa...
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  Episode 173: Predestination vs Agency: What Do Latter-day Saints Believe? Iran, Sports & Religious Freedom 24.06.2026 59min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Latter Day Lens, Matt, Shawn, and Melanie tackle a wide range of topics—from religious expression in sports to international diplomacy and one of the biggest theological questions in Christianity. The conversation begins with athletes expressing their faith on the world stage and whether professional sports organizations should allow religious messages on uniforms. The discussion then shifts to the latest agreement with Iran and whether American leaders con...
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  Episode 172: Are LDS Members Christian? Switzerland's Immigration Cap, Hegseth's Military Purge, and Can Ukraine Win? 17.06.2026 1h 5min

  Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to The Latter Day Lens — your home for unscripted, faith-promoting discussion of current events, culture, and political science through a gospel lens. This week, Matt and Shawn go one-on-one with no guests, digging into a packed mailbag before working through some of the most provocative thought-provokers of the season. Mailbag: Are Latter-day Saints Christian? A listener asks about the Pentagon's recent reclassification of LDS military personnel — moving members...
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  Episode 171: Voting for Character in Texas & California, Trusting the Zoomers, and Celebrating America's 250th 10.06.2026 50min

  Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to The Latter-day Lens, your home for unscripted, faith-promoting discussions analyzing current events, culture, and political science through a gospel lens. First this week, the hosts look ahead to next month’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Most people are unaware that there are two distinct organizational frameworks competing for this national celebration: America250, the bipartisan, non-political commission established by...
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  Episode 170: What the First Presidency Really Said About Voting | AI Lawyers, Virtue, and Political Accountability 03.06.2026 56min

  Send us Fan Mail This week on Latter-day Lens, Matt and Shawn begin by responding to listener feedback about the housing crisis and explore how the 2008 financial crash, starter-home shortages, Airbnb, and government regulations have shaped today's housing market. The conversation then turns to education and whether schools should focus primarily on academics, virtue, character formation, or teaching students how to become lifelong learners. Shawn introduces the concept of the "autodidact" wh...
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  Episode 169: The Myth of "Biological Parents" & Fighting Partisan Gerrymandering 27.05.2026 58min

  Send us Fan Mail Join hosts Matt, Shawn, and Levi for another unscripted, faith-promoting, and lively discussion of current events, culture, and political philosophy on this week's episode of the Latter-day Lens. The guys kick off the hour by reviewing listener feedback (or lack thereof!) and sharing a hilarious breakdown of why every middle-aged man eventually chooses a favorite local TV weather forecaster. Turning to the news, they tackle a recent EEOC lawsuit involving a Chick-fil-A worker...
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  Episode 168: Is Zoning Immoral? Plus, Navigating Pride Month as a Latter-day Saint 20.05.2026 50min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Matt, Shawn, and Melanie tackle the intersection of gospel principles and complex modern issues. We begin with a debate on the "Marblehead Model" of housing—asking if cities have a moral obligation to provide affordable options or if the free market should lead. The conversation shifts to a nuanced discussion on Pride Month, exploring how empathy and a "Child of God" first identity can coexist with a commitment to the restored gospel. Finally, we dive into th...
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  Episode 167: The Morality of Modern Living: Redistricting, Shoplifting, and Lab-Grown Meat 13.05.2026 58min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Matt and Shawn dive into the "hot topics" of the week, starting with a provocative thought experiment on the historical context of voting rights. They compare the current climate of racial equality and immigration policy to previous decades, debating the impact of redistricting and detention practices. The conversation shifts to the rising concerns over shoplifting in major cities and the efficacy of new law enforcement strategies. This leads to a deeper phil...
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  Episode 166 Secret Combinations, the Voting Rights Act, and a River of Regret 06.05.2026 48min

  Send us Fan Mail In this high-energy episode, Matt, Shawn, and Marc dive into the deep end of American law and cultural shifts. The trio tackles the Supreme Court’s recent pivot on the Voting Rights Act, questioning whether dismantling 60-year-old protections is progress or a step backward into historical patterns. The conversation heats up as they move to the Middle East, debating the $25 billion price tag of the Iranian stalemate and whether the U.S. is chasing ghosts or legitimate security...
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  Episode 165: Cancel Culture at UVU & the Legacy of Charlie Kirk 22.04.2026 59min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Matt, Shawn, and Levi return to the lens to navigate the intersection of public safety, free speech, and the personal transformation that religion is supposed to provide. The guys dive into the recent controversy at Utah Valley University regarding the cancellation of Sharon McMahon's speech following the death of Charlie Kirk. They also tackle the resurgence of measles in the U.S. and whether governments have a moral obligation to mandate health protocols. F...
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  Episode 164: The Future of Marriage and the Ethics of the Automated Draft 15.04.2026 1h 6min

  Send us Fan Mail This episode of Latter Day Lens features a heavy-hitting discussion between Matt, Shawn, and Porter. The trio dives into the complexities of the social contract, starting with the ethics of a military draft and the "lukewarm" nature of libertarianism. The conversation shifts to the digital frontier, exploring whether dangerous AI tools like "Claude Mythos" should be regulated like nuclear weapons. Finally, they tackle the historical and future trajectory of marriage doc...
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  Episode 163: The LDS Political Shift: MAGA, Birthright Citizenship, and General Conference 08.04.2026 53min

  Send us Fan Mail In this post-General Conference episode, Matt, Shawn, and Melanie tackle the intersection of faith and friction in modern America. The team starts with a listener's defense of FDR before diving into a high-stakes comparison of religious expression in professional sports. They also dissect the legal arguments surrounding President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship and the 14th Amendment. Finally, the hosts explore recent data showing a historic shift of Latter-...
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  Episode 162: Gerrymandering, The SAVE Act, and the Non-Citizen Audit: Who Actually Controls the Vote? 01.04.2026 1h

  Send us Fan Mail If only 15 non-citizens were found on a voter roll of 6 million, why is the SAVE Act the biggest debate in Washington? This week, Matt and Shawn are joined by David Brown to dissect the "big numbers" of 2026—from the $56 billion LDS Church reserve fund to the microscopic reality of non-citizen voting. We start with Matt’s 50th birthday milestone: a high-altitude, weightless flight that sparked a profound conversation on why "death is not the final enemy." Matt shares a person...
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  Episode 161: Latter-day Stewardship: From Balanced Budgets to Defending the Constitution 25.03.2026 1h 1min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Latter-Day Lens, Matt and Shawn dive deep into the tension between calculated risk and eternal perspective. Starting with Matt's recent dive into the safety statistics of private aviation versus winter sports, the conversation quickly shifts from the physical risks of flying to the spiritual and social risks of how we live our lives. They explore the "theology of the afterlife" through the lens of the film Eternity, debating whether heaven is defined by...
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  Episode 160: LDS Perspectives on Wealth Taxes, Media Trends, Conflict in Iran, and Faith-Based Usury 18.03.2026 57min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Latter Day Lens, Matt, Shawn, and guest Levi Barnes dive into the complex intersections of modern headlines and eternal principles. The conversation starts light with Matt’s upcoming 50th birthday plans—including a discovery flight—and Levi’s bruised attempts at snowboarding. The team then tackles the serious stuff: the shift of major media platforms toward the right and whether a "middle ground" actually exists in politics. They debate Senator Bernie S...
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  Episode 159: Scandal, Fiction, and Faith: The Epstein Files Distraction and Evolving Gender Roles 10.03.2026 1h

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Matt, Shawn, and Porter tackle a series of high-stakes headlines and "The Big Question" regarding the future of traditional norms. Chapter Headings 0:00 – Introduction and Audio QualityMatt discusses the recent technical fixes to the podcast audio and the importance of listener feedback.10:04 – The Epstein Files and Iran Bombing TimingA discussion on the DOJ's missing files and Republican Representative Thomas Massie’s comments on military timing.The DO...
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  Episode 158: LDS Perspectives on LGBTQ Identity Trends and Christian Nationalism 03.03.2026 43min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode Matt, Shawn, and Marc dive into the intersection of identity, executive power, and the economic ripple effects of modern trade policy. From the evolving landscape of LGBTQ identification in America to the unprecedented legal maneuvers of the executive branch, the hosts unpack how these shifts align with—or challenge—Latter-day Saint perspectives. Chapter Headings & Show Notes 00:00 | Mailbag: Wu-Tang, IP Protection, and C.R.E.A.M.The hosts discuss a l...