The Latter Day Lens

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  Why Are Latter-day Saints Breaking With Evangelicals? (episode 184) 16.09.2026 58мин

  Send us Fan Mail Why are Latter-day Saints and white evangelical Christians beginning to look different politically? Matt, Shawn, and guest Clayton examine new polling on Mormon politics, Christian nationalism, American power, and whether the increasingly global nature of the Church is changing the way Latter-day Saints see America and the world. They also ask whether modern politics punishes honest politicians, how to respect a political office when you distrust the person occupying it, whet...
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  Is Cheating Actually a Sin? | ChatGPT, BYU & the Honor Code (Ep. 183) 09.09.2026 1ч

  Send us Fan Mail Is cheating actually a sin—or are some rules just arbitrary? Matt says that even after explicitly telling his BYU–Idaho students how they may and may not use ChatGPT, about 20% still cross the line. Shawn asks a more uncomfortable question: If a professor makes an arbitrary rule, is breaking it actually immoral? That launches a debate about AI, plagiarism, the Honor Code, obedience, honesty, and what actually makes cheating wrong. Matt also confesses that he cheated in high s...
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  Episode 182: Federal Data Ethics, Civilian Harm Reduction, DEI Controversies, and 25 Years of LDS Growth 02.09.2026 1ч 11мин

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Latter-day Lens, Matt, Shawn, and guest co-host Levi open with a personal announcement regarding the future of the show and Matt's timeline for stepping away. From there, the panel dives into four distinct issues spanning governance, ethics, academia, and church trends: Federal Data and Public Good: Following meteorologist John Morales's warning about NOAA budget cuts and lost weather balloon data, the team debates whether the federal government has a m...
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  Episode 181: Poverty in America vs. the World, Democratic Socialism, Are Religious People Conservative? 26.08.2026 53мин

  Send us Fan Mail Is communal property ownership an eternal gospel principle, and are Latter-day Saints commanded to live the Law of Consecration right now? In this episode, Matt, Shawn, and guest Melanie explore the scriptural tensions between property rights and consecration, the unique social isolation of American poverty compared to the developing world, and new survey data breaking down religion by college major. They kick things off by answering a listener question from the mailbag: Are ...
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  Latter Day Lens 180: Why People Leave the Church, Free Market Immigration Reform, & Canceling Public Figures 12.08.2026 53мин

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Latter Day Lens, Matt, Shawn, and special guest Porter dive into listener mailbag questions and examine today's pressing societal and religious questions through a Latter-day Saint perspective. Topics Covered in This Episode: Listener Mailbag: A lighthearted debate on favorite taxes, tithing, and common misconceptions surrounding plural marriage (polygamy) and D&C 132. The 3 P's of Youth Retention: Analyzing Jana Reese and Benjamin Knoll'...
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  Episode 179: LDS Perspectives on Celestial Polygamy, Book Banning, War Powers, and Property Redistribution 05.08.2026 1ч 5мин

  Send us Fan Mail In this deep-dive episode of The Latter-Day Lens, hosts Matt and Shawn tackle listener mail and pressing socio-political questions through a unique Latter-day Saint perspective. 1. Listener Mailbag: Mormon Heaven & Eternal Polygamy A listener and mental health therapist shares why young LDS women are feeling disheartened by perceptions of a male-centric heaven. Matt and Sean discuss Heavenly Mother, the theological vs. cultural views on celestial marriage, and whether the...
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  Ep. 178: Mark Cuban, Capitalist Communism, and Scriptural Limits on Property 29.07.2026 1ч 2мин

  Send us Fan Mail Join Matt, Shawn, and guest Levi as they tackle complex cultural and geopolitical issues through a Latter-day Saint lens! In this episode, the team discusses a listener mailbag letter on unrighteous dominion and eternal polygamy, dives into the nuclear diplomacy double standards between South Korea and Saudi Arabia, debates employee stock ownership vs. free market principles, and explores the gospel perspective on property rights and taking care of those in need. 🔑 Key Topics...
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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 54мин

  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 1ч 1мин

  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 50мин

  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 1ч 1мин

  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 59мин

  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 1ч 5мин

  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 50мин

  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 56мин

  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 58мин

  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 50мин

  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 58мин

  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 48мин

  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 59мин

  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...