Mormon Land

Jan 29 2025 100 ep. 35 mins 767

Mormon Land Podcast artwork

Mormon Land explores the contours and complexities of LDS news. It’s hosted by award-winning religion writer Peggy Fletcher Stack and Salt Lake Tribune managing editor David Noyce.

Religion & Spirituality

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From stake president and temple designer to excommunicated trans woman | Episode 376

Jan 29 2025 34 mins

In 2017, Laurie Lee Hall publicly shared her remarkable journey as a transgender Latter-day Saint. It took her through joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving a two-year mission, marrying and having children, being called as a bishop and stake president, and becoming head architect for the faith’s sacred temples. Transitioning to her “authentic self,”

Understanding the big courtroom showdown in the tithing lawsuit against the LDS Church | Episode 375

Jan 22 2025 25 mins

Tithing has long been seen by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a test, a trial, if you will, of faith. Well, now the practice of donating a tenth of one’s income is essentially on trial — in the courts. Nine plaintiffs are suing the global church, accusing Latter-day Saint leaders of soliciting and amassing these donations by the billions to support

Separating fact from fiction in ‘American Primeval’ | Episode 374

Jan 15 2025 39 mins

Note to listeners • This episode contains spoilers for “American Primeval.” It’s bleak. It’s bloody. It’s barbaric. It’s also the No. 1 TV show on Netflix. But what millions of viewers may misunderstand about “American Primeval” is that it is fictional. While the six-part series is centered around real places, a few real events and some real people — ranging fro

What is happening at BYU and why it matters | Episode 373

Jan 08 2025 38 mins

Brigham Young University has a “unique and compelling faith-based mission to develop disciples of Jesus Christ,” says school spokesperson Carri Jenkins. To that end, the school has long required students and faculty to hold a “temple recommend,” which attests to belief and behavior standards set out by BYU’s owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Under th

New garments, social media stars, temple push (and pushback) and 2024′s other big LDS news | Episode 372

Dec 31 2024 50 mins

While Russell Nelson, the 100-year-old leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is, by his own admission, slowing a bit, the pace of news in the global faith he oversees is hardly letting up. The headlines from 2024 prove it. Temples top the list. The centenarian prophet-president dedicated the church’s 200th temple and has now announced more than half of its 36

NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young says to stop making deals with God | Episode 371

Dec 24 2024 40 mins

Steve Young — yes, that Steve Young, the Hall of Fame quarterback and former Brigham Young University star who earned multiple MVP awards and Super Bowl rings with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers — is talking about love and faith. In 2022, he wrote “The Law of Love,” in part to dispel the idea that love should be transactional. “If I do this, God will love me, or God will

What the Bible and historical records really say about Jesus’ birth | Episode 370

Dec 18 2024 41 mins

Dan McClellan was working full time as a scripture translation supervisor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2023, when he quit his post of 10 years to go all-in as a podcaster and social media influencer. Rather than peddling parenting or workout tips, McClellan, who has a doctorate in theology and religion, has attracted more than 1 million followers with his

Single Latter-day Saints discuss faith, dating and the search for love | Episode 369

Dec 11 2024 35 mins

The long-standing cultural practice of courting, pursuing or wooing prospective romantic partners by asking them out to dinner, a movie, a hike or a play is often called the “dating game” — and for a reason. There are rules, sometimes written but mostly unwritten. There are bad moves and good moves. There are winners and losers. In Utah, this tradition takes on additional twi

All about the LDS Church's rapid growth in Africa | Episode 368

Dec 04 2024 25 mins

It wasn’t until 1978 (after the priesthood/temple ban on Black members ended) that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began sending full-time missionaries in earnest to sub-Saharan Africa. Since then, though, the Utah-based faith has seen dramatic growth on the continent, and now Latter-day Saint chapels and temples can be found in a multitude of African nations. So,

How practicing gratitude can cure road rage and combat loneliness | Episode 367

Nov 26 2024 26 mins

For more than 160 years, Americans have celebrated a public holiday to express thankfulness — whether for a bountiful harvest, a successful business, a happy marriage, healthy children or a welcoming community. And, in 2020, President Russell M. Nelson, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, urged members to flood the internet with messages of gratitude, even