The Latter Day Lens

Welcome to The Latter Day Lens, a weekly faith-based podcast where we explore the intersection of Mormonism, global news, and political science. Hosted by Shawn Record and Matthew Miles, a professor of political science, this is your home for an authentic and nuanced LDS perspective on the world’s toughest topics. Each episode provides thoughtful Latter-day Saint commentary on current events, ranging from Christianity and politics to social identity and economic policy. Whether you are an active LDS member seeking a deeper religious podcast experience or a listener interested in Mormon studies, we apply a "gospel lens" to move beyond the headlines. Join us every Wednesday for LDS perspectives that are faith-promoting, intellectually honest, and designed to help you navigate your faith in the modern world. From Come Follow Me 2026 insights to deep dives into LDS history and doctrine, we tackle the conversations most people avoid.

The Latter Day Lens is a religion podcast hosted by Shawn & Matt, with 182 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Shawn & Matt hosts The Latter Day Lens, a religion show with 182 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  The Latter Day Lens

  Latter Day Lens 180: Why People Leave the Church, Free Market Immigration Reform, & Canceling Public Figures

  Aug 12, 202653 min

  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's research regarding why young women leave the Church (politics, purity culture, powerlessness) vs. individual faith journeys. Radical Immigration Reform: Porter shares insight from working at an immigration law firm to analyze current enforcement, Senator John Curtis's proposed state-level worker visa bill, and a free-market approach to open borders vs. federalism. Public Trust vs. Accountability: Evaluating public figures in high-trust positions—including Ohio Representative Max Miller and broadcaster Tony Romo—and discussing when accountability, leave, or termination is warranted. Government Authority & Property: Debating scriptural precedents (from Old Testament kings to D&C 134) regarding taxation, eminent domain, and government's legitimate role in resource allocation. Chapter Markers 00:00 - Introduction & Welcoming Guest Porter 01:04 - Post-Grad Plans: Work, Law School & Roosevelt 01:33 - Mailbag: What Is Shawn’s Favorite Tax? 03:36 - Tithing vs. Taxes: Matt’s Alternative Proposal 04:39 - Mailbag: Plural Marriage, D&C 132 & President Hinckley 07:24 - Accountability, Law of Consecration & Cultural Misconceptions 09:40 - Jana Reese Study: Why Young Women Leave the Church 10:43 - Data Skepticism, Sample Bias & Sociological Approaches 13:33 - The Individual Nature of Faith Journeys & Exit Reasons 15:51 - Scriptural Foundations vs. Modern Distractions 17:24 - Immigration Policy: Deportations & Sen. John Curtis’s State Visa Bill 18:21 - Porter’s Legal Perspective: Laissez-Faire Borders & State Dept. Barriers 23:07 - Matt’s Perspective: Abolishing Citizenship & Border Realities 25:02 - Shawn’s Pragmatic View: Infrastructure, Federalism & Border Chaos 33:42 - Public Trust & Morality: Rep. Max Miller Allegations & Ethics Investigation 34:18 - Driving Inebriated: Tony Romo Leave & Stephen A. Smith Comments 43:15 - The Big Question: Scriptural Authority on Property Rights & Government Taxes 48:32 - D&C 134, Individual Choice & Final Takeaways Visit our website to join the conversation: Latter-day Lens

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  The Latter Day Lens

  Episode 179: LDS Perspectives on Celestial Polygamy, Book Banning, War Powers, and Property Redistribution

  Aug 5, 20261h 5m

  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 shadow of plural marriage continues to impact young members today. 2. Thought Provoker 1: AI, Job Automation & Tax Policy As artificial intelligence threatens to displace human jobs, current tax codes favor corporate assets and technology over human workers. Should governments equalize or raise taxes on equipment and AI while lowering taxes on human labor? 3. Thought Provoker 2: Utah Book Bans & Local Federalism Bestselling author Stephen King criticized Utah after his book Different Seasons was removed from public school shelves under a state law triggered by local district flags. Is automatic statewide book removal a tyranny of the minority, or a necessary safeguard? Matt and Sean debate expert authority, parent involvement, and local control. 4. Thought Provoker 3 : Presidential War Powers & Standing Armies Following the death of First Lt. Tyler James Feehan , the hosts analyze the constitutional intent behind war declarations. Is it morally wrong for a president to deploy troops into harm's way without explicit congressional authorization? 5. Scriptural Property Rights (Part 3) Continuing their multi-part series, Matt and Shawn examine biblical and Book of Mormon precedents—from Joseph in Egypt to King Solomon and David—regarding government taxation, land reallocation, and divine command theory. Key Takeaways LDS Cultural Views vs. Gospel Doctrine: How cultural assumptions about eternal polygamy differ from canonized scripture and equal exaltation. Economic Incentives for Automation: How tax structures reward replacing human labor with technology and whether "sin taxes" on consumption offer a viable alternative. School Board Dynamics & Expertise: Why group debates without domain expertise can lead to flawed policy decisions in public education. Constitutional Military Separation: The founding principles behind avoiding standing armies and requiring congressional authorization for war. Chapter Markers 00:00 – Welcome & Summer Schedule Updates 01:12 – Communism Theory vs. Historical Reality 03:32 – Is Government Inherently Moral or Immoral? 05:40 – Mailbag: Why Young Women Are Leaving the LDS Church 07:00 – Listener Email: Heavenly Mother & Perceptions of Mormon Heaven 08:20 – Sean’s Take: Equality of Men & Women in LDS Doctrine 11:25 – Culture vs. Doctrine Around Celestial Marriage 14:15 – Listener Mail: The Shadow of Eternal Polygamy 17:40 – Old Testament Examples: Marriage of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob 19:00 – Thought Provoker 1: AI, Automation, & Job Loss 22:00 – Taxing Wages vs. Taxing Business Assets & Equipment 25:00 – Sin Taxes, Consumption, and Incentivizing Human Labor 30:05 – Thought Provoker 2: Stephen King Criticism of Utah Book Laws 31:15 – Federalism, Local School Boards, and Banning Books 33:00 – Expertise in Libraries vs. Parent Preferences 36:50 – The Physics Class Experiment: Debates vs. Domain Expertise 41:25 – Thought Provoker 3: Remembering First Lt. Tyler James Fein 43:40 – Constitutional Founding Principles & Standing Armies 48:00 – Military Contracts, Conscription, and Geneva Conventions 50:35 – War Powers Resolution, Ceasefires, & Presidential Authority 53:50 – Preemptive Strikes vs. Defending against Direct Attacks 56:06 – Property Rights Part 3: Scriptural Precedents on Taxes & Land 57:50 – Historical Conquest, Original Land Ownership, & Native Claims 01:00:40 – Divine Command Theory vs. Human-Initiated Land Reallocation 01:03:38 – D&C Dissonance & Closing Remarks Visit our website to join the conversation: Latter-day Lens

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  Episode #178

  Ep. 178: Mark Cuban, Capitalist Communism, and Scriptural Limits on Property

  Jul 29, 20261h 3mS1

  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 Covered: Mailbag: Navigating church leadership boundaries, unrighteous dominion, and addressing cultural anxieties around eternal marriage and polygamy. Geopolitics & Energy: Who gets to develop nuclear energy? Comparing U.S. policies on South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Iran using Doctrine and Covenants 98 . Accountability & Cancel Culture: Is firing an employee for sending a private racist message the right response, or is there a path to redemption and education? Economic Debates: Mark Cuban claims granting every employee company stock will solve wealth inequality. Is broad stock ownership a free-market solution or a form of communism? The Big Question (Property Rights): What do Old and New Testament scriptures ( Leviticus , Deuteronomy , Third Nephi ) teach about property ownership, God’s ownership, and our duty to the poor? 00:00 - Introduction & Pioneer Day Banter 02:11 - Mailbag: Unrighteous Dominion & Appeals to the Presiding Bishopric 04:45 - Do Young Women Leave Over Eternal Marriage Anxieties? 07:11 - Thought Provoker 1: Nuclear Diplomacy (South Korea vs. Saudi Arabia) 10:00 - Applying D&C 98 to Foreign Policy & Proclaiming Peace 14:55 - Distinguishing Nuclear Fuel Energy from Weapons Grade Enrichment 25:44 - Thought Provoker 2: Racist Instagram DMs & Workplace Firing 28:30 - Third Nephi 18: Restorative Discipline vs. Cancel Culture 32:28 - Thought Provoker 3: Mark Cuban on Broad Employee Stock Ownership 35:00 - Defining Worker Ownership: Proudhon, Marx, and Free Markets 41:00 - Are Modern American Workers Feeling Exploited? 51:17 - The Big Question: Does God Limit Property Rights? 53:15 - Deuteronomy 23 & Leviticus 19: Gleaning, Sickles, and the Poor 58:40 - Land Value Taxes (Henry George) vs. Local Sales Taxes 1:01:10 - Final Thoughts & Episode Wrap-Up Visit our website to join the conversation: Latter-day Lens

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  The Latter Day Lens

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

  Jul 22, 202655 min

  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 role the United States should play in foreign interventions. They also dissect a troubling Gallup poll showing historic lows in public trust toward major American institutions, before discussing political truth-telling in light of Senator Mike Lee’s recent controversial statements. Finally, the hosts kick off Part 1 of a deep dive into the scriptural principles of property ownership, debating the difference between stewardship and true ownership, the legacy of the Shakers, and whether God ultimately owns everything—including our physical bodies. In this episode, we discuss: Why retention rates for young LDS women (40%) lag behind young men (60%) in the 18–25 age group. The role of empathy, gender representation, and leadership in navigating difficult Church topics. Russian oligarch Andrei Melnichenko’s four future scenarios for Russia and the U.S. responsibility in foreign conflict. Declining trust in core democratic institutions (schools, presidency, news) and President Dallin H. Oaks’ charge on defending the U.S. Constitution. Holding politicians accountable for conspiracy theories and misinformation. The Big Question: Gospel principles on property rights, stewardship vs. ownership, and Karl Marx vs. scriptural consecration. Resource Links & References: Website: Latter Day Lens President Dallin H. Oaks on the U.S. Constitution ( Defending the Constitution , April 2021 General Conference). ⏱️ Chapter Markers Timestamp | Chapter Title 00:00 | Welcome Back Melanie & Youth Retention Rates in the LDS Church 00:01:24 | Empathy, Leadership, and Women's Perspectives in the Church 00:03:30 | Listener Feedback: Communist Rants & The Invisible Hand 00:07:28 | The Thought Provoker: Russian Oligarchs & The Ukraine War 00:10:03 | Should America Meddle in Russian Internal Politics? 00:15:33 | Historic Lows in Public Trust: Gallup Poll Analysis 00:17:41 | Latter-day Saint Responsibility to Defend the Constitution 00:26:00 | Political Truth & Media Disinformation: Senator Mike Lee’s Claims 00:31:55 | Character vs. Policy: Voting for Wise and Honest Leaders 00:35:10 | The Big Question: What Do Scriptures Say About Property Ownership? 00:41:35 | Communal Living, The Shaker Movement, and Stewardship 00:44:30 | The Body, Agency, and Eternal Property Rights Keywords & Search Tags Latter-day Saints, LDS Podcast, Latter Day Lens, LDS Youth Retention, Women in the LDS Church, LDS Church Membership Trends, President Dallin H Oaks, US Constitution LDS, Public Trust in Institutions, Foreign Policy Ukraine Russia, Gospel Perspectives on Property, Law of Consecration vs Socialism, Stewardship vs Ownership, LDS Political Discourse, Mormon Theology, Mike Lee Patriot Front, Christianity and Property Rights Visit our website to join the conversation: Latter-day Lens

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  The Latter Day Lens

  Episode 176: Gen Z's Career Dilemma, Declining Fertility, the Temple Steeple Dispute, and Is Church Culture Creating a Retention Gap for Young Women?

  Jul 15, 20261h 1m

  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 & Living Wages: Has society failed a generation that desperately wants meaningful, community-focused work but can't afford to live on it? The Smartphone Birth Rate Slump: Why fertility rates are plummeting across Utah, Idaho, and Arizona—and what it means to follow prophetic counsel in a modern world. The Fairview Temple Controversy: When a city requests a second round of structural compromises on a temple steeple, should the Church give in as an act of goodwill? The Big Question: Examining the statistical retention gap between young young men and young women in religious spaces, and dissecting the difference between true priesthood doctrine and underlying cultural sexism. Chapter Headings 00:00 – Higher Education, Autodidacts, and Porter's Return 01:30 – Mailbag: Dismantling False Dichotomies in the Abortion Debate 08:35 – Has Capitalism Failed Gen Z's Search for Meaningful Careers? 12:30 – Debating Adam Smith's "Invisible Hand" and Sales Ethics 23:55 – Collapsing Fertility Rates: Smartphones vs. Prophetic Counsel 36:30 – The Fairview, Texas Temple Steeple Dispute: Goodwill or Legal Compromise? 43:10 – The Big Question: Why Are Young Women Leaving the Church at Higher Rates? 50:30 – Culture vs. Doctrine: Addressing Sexism and Authority in the Priesthood 58:15 – Finding Worth in Christ: Mission Stories & Final Thoughts Keywords Latter-day Saint podcast, Gen Z mental health, declining birth rates, smartphone impact on fertility, Fairview Texas temple lawsuit, President Dallin H. Oaks, Church retention rates gender gap, priesthood vs culture, religious secularization, modern discipleship, toxic church culture, the invisible hand capitalism. Visit our website to join the conversation: Latter-day Lens

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