Mormon Land

Picking new apostles is a significant and solemn responsibility for presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After all, any of the men (and, in the patriarchal faith, they must be men) selected for this lifetime assignment could one day rise to the presidency of the global religion. Choosing new apostles also represents a way in which Latter-day Saint prophet-presidents can leave their mark on the church long after they are gone — similar to U.S. presidents when they nominate justices to the Supreme Court. In the mid-1990s, Howard Hunter led the church for a mere nine months — the shortest tenure of any church president — yet the one apostle he chose was Jeffrey Holland, who served for three decades and was positioned as next in line to take the faith’s reins at the time of his recent death. With Holland’s death, church President Dallin Oaks, himself a former Utah Supreme Court justice and barely three months into his presidential tenure, has the chance to name his second new apostle. Whom might he pick? How do church leaders go about deciding? What can we learn from past apostle selections? Were there any surprise picks? Were any notable leaders ever passed over? And what might the naming of new apostles say about the current church and its future? On this week’s show, Latter-day Saint historian Benjamin Park, author of “American Zion: A New History of Mormonism,” discusses those questions and more.

December marks the 220th anniversary of the birth of Mormonism’s founder, Joseph Smith, who was born Dec. 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont. In recognition, we are revisiting this “Mormon Land” podcast about one of the most significant developments in the research surrounding this major American religious figure: the stunning 2022 announcement that a descendant had discovered in a locket what is purported to be the only known photograph of his famous ancestor. The finding led to a nationwide conversation among historians and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those in the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). Historian Lachlan Mackay, a Community of Christ apostle and another Smith descendant, helped analyze the daguerreotype, trace the locket’s ownership and research its likely history. On this show, Mackay answers questions about the photo, the process historians used to authenticate it, and why he’s convinced that it truly is an image of Joseph Smith.

Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP and a prominent civil rights advocate, discusses the historic partnership between the NAACP and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He reflects on the alliance's accomplishments, including scholarships and humanitarian initiatives. Derrick shares his hopes for continued dialogue with new LDS President Dallin Oaks and emphasizes the need for faith leaders to advocate for dignity and inclusivity. He also urges a renewed commitment to combating toxic public policies and celebrating diversity.

Dan McClellan, a Latter-day Saint scholar and author of "The Bible Says So," discusses the significant shift in the LDS Church’s approach to Bible translations. He highlights the move beyond the King James Version, explaining how modern translations can enhance understanding and discussion among members. McClellan also explores the doctrinal impact of changing translation practices, the potential for faith crises, and even the opportunity for improved relationships with other Christian denominations. This shift promises a more informed and engaging scriptural study.

For a decade, Latter-day Saint female officers in the San Francisco Bay Area had joined male leaders in sitting on the stand, facing members, during Sunday services. In the wake of the Ordain Women movement of 2013, it was seen as a small, visible step toward equality and inclusion. Two years ago, an area president, whose jurisdiction included Northern California, abruptly discontinued the practice. In response, members in at least three stakes, or regional clusters of congregations, surrounding San Francisco have expressed their concerns to lay bishops and stake presidents, while also conducting surveys and launching a letter-writing campaign to church headquarters in Salt Lake City to return the women to the stand — all to no avail. Now The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a new prophet-president, Dallin H. Oaks, and he recently said in an interview that the Utah-based faith has “work left to do” on gender equity. Amy Watkins Jensen, who served as a Young Women leader in Lafayette, California, has been leading a Women on the Stand Instagram account since the letter-writing campaign failed. On this week’s show, she explores what positive moves for Latter-day Saint women have happened in the past 24 months and what “work” she thinks remains.

Content warning: We touch lightly on the topic of sexual assault. Please take care while listening. On the December crossover episode between ‘Mormon Land’ and ‘Mormons in Media,' Rebbie and Nicole break down all that has happened over the last month in the realm of Utah reality television. You've got an entire new season of 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,' a docuseries from 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star Heather Gay, 'Dancing With The Stars,' 'The Bachelorette,' and so much more. Let's get caught up and let's discuss.

Sports writer Kevin Reynolds and Tribune columnist Gordon Monson dive into the intriguing choice of BYU recruits Ryder Lyons and Brock Harris to serve one-year missions. They discuss how faith and the new NIL landscape influence this decision and the church's expectations around mission terms. The conversation touches on the physical and mental toll of missions on athletes and the potential benefits for BYU's football program. The duo also examines public reactions, perceptions of privilege, and the implications for future athletes.

If you ask members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints if they know about the “Three Nephites,” chances are most will know the allusion. The story comes from the Book of Mormon in chapters where the risen Christ visits the Americas and chooses 12 apostles. Of those, three ask to linger in mortality until Jesus comes again, ministering to the people. From the time when the book of scripture was first published until today, members have reported encounters with these shape-shifting strangers, who seem to pop up randomly angelic visitors of sorts sent to help people. For decades, Brigham Young University professor William A. “Bert” Wilson, seen as “the father of Mormon folklore,” gathered these accounts. After he died in 2016, the collection went to one of his students, Julie Swallow, a teaching and learning consultant at the church-owned Provo school. The collection now forms the nucleus of a new book, “The Three Nephites: Saints, Service, and Supernatural Legend,” from Swallow and co-authors Christopher Blythe, Eric Eliason and Jill Terry Rudy. On this week’s show, Swallow and Blythe, an assistant professor of folklore at BYU and co-host of the “Angels and Seerstones” podcast, discuss these stories, what they mean spiritually and communally, and why the “Three Nephites” continue to engage and entertain believers.

Quin Monson, a political scientist and professor at Brigham Young University, delves into the significant influence LDS leaders have on member opinions. He highlights a grassroots movement that successfully opposed the MX missile project in the '80s, aided by then-church president Spencer W. Kimball. Monson discusses how the timing and messaging of church leaders can sway public perspectives on hot-button issues like vaccines and immigration. With a look at the evolving relationship between faith and politics, he assesses the potential for future church interventions.

Independent researcher Matt Martinich, known for tracking LDS Church data, joins to discuss the recent announcement of 55 new missions. He expresses surprise at both the quantity and geographic distribution, highlighting a shift away from traditional hubs like Utah. The discussion covers logistical challenges, the rapid missionary growth in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and how new missions will enhance outreach in the Philippines. Martinich also explores emerging trends in Europe, the strategic focus on U.S. population centers, and missed opportunities for language-specific missions.