1548: Is the Mormon Church in Decline? An Insider Report (2022)

Recently John Dehlin had lunch with a mid-level Mormon church leader along the Wasatch front who was eager to share insider information regarding the statistical and programmatic health of the Mormon church since the COVID-19 epidemic.   Topics that were covered include: - The pervasiveness of "faith crisis" issues within Mormon stakes and wards.

• The rise of conservative/fundamentalist/"Prepper"/"Trumpers"/anti-vaxxers/Q-Anoners as a source of disaffection from the Mormon church.
• Attempts to increase the involvement of women.
• How post-COVID Mormon apathy has led to a decline in church activity.
• The rise of "PIMO" Mormons (Physically in, mentally out).
• The decline of the Mormon youth programs, with a dramatic decline in young men church participation and mission service.

The leader was willing to share activity statistics within his stake to demonstrate the post-COVID decline.

Finally, the source was willing to share information regarding three significant changes at Mormon church headquarters:

• The dramatic rise in temple building since Russel M. Nelson became the Mormon prophet, and the effect this is having on the temple department.
• A new Mormon temple prep course that will soon be released.
• Significant upcoming changes regarding 1 on 1 youth interviews.

Show Notes:

• Brad Wilcox's Alpine Youth Fireside on February 6, in which he made racist and sexist remarks, and said that other faiths are only "playing church" 
• The Black Menaces denounce Brad Wilcox on TikTok
• "Saying he has been 'corrected,' LDS leader Brad Wilcox again apologizes for his remarks on race," by Tamarra Kemsley, Salt Lake Tribune, February 14, 2022
• Brad Wilcox's apology
• "Alpine Utah Mormon Youth Rescue With Brad Wilcox," on Mormon Stories
• "Top 10 Problems with Mormonism that Brad Wilcox's Speech Unveiled," on Mormon Stories
• "Listeners Call In: Responses to Brad Wilcox's Talk," on Mormon Stories
• "Brad Wilcox showed up at my religion class at BYUI today to say hi"
• "How the LDS Church made $22B during the pandemic," by Tony Semerad, Salt Lake Tribune, February 15, 2022
• Questions From the Closet, with Charlie Bird and Ben Schilaty
• "The Gay Mormon Reformation," on Mormon Stories
• "The Mormon Influences on Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow," on Mormon Stories
• "Ezra Taft Benson and the Making of the Mormon Right," with Matt Harris on Mormon Stories
  Part 1
  Part 2
• "The LDS Church's Coverup of Sterling Van Wagenen's Sexual Abuse of Sean Escobar," on Mormon Stories
• Mormon Enlightenment Facebook group
• Protect LDS Children
• Mormonism Live with Radio Free Mormon and Bill Reel
• "Will Mormons Get Their Own Planets?" A panel discussion on Mormon Stories
• "Cognitive Dissidents: Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and the Damage of Dogma" on Mormon Discussions
• "Experiencing Sexual Assault as a Missionary: Camille and Maddy" on Mormon Stories
• "Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Urges BYU to Embrace Its Uniqueness, Stay True to the Savior," an August 2021 speech in which Holland called for "musket fire" in defense of the school's opposition to LGBTQ+ equality
• "BYU cancels care for transgender clients receiving voice therapy at its speech clinic," by Courtney Tanner, Salt Lake Tribune, February 10, 2022
• "Mormon British Rescue? The Britvengers React" on Mormon Stories
• 21st Century Saints Podcast with Jane Christie
• Ruben Hoyos' TikTok
• "Anastasia Bigun: A Ukrainian Mormon Journey" on Mormon Stories
• Trans, Nonbinary, and Genderqueer Network

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