This Global Latter-day Life

Episode 8: Strengthening Families in Nicaragua

This episode features the story of Rosa, a woman from Nicaragua. Having been raised without positive male influences, Rosa has looked to church teachings to form her ideal masculinity based on the Proclamation to the World. MA student Amy Elkins discusses with Amanda Tew, a temporary resident of Niagara, how global LDS women often approach the Proclamation differently to American women. Rather than viewing the principles outlined as restrictive for women, Rosa demonstrates how it can be used to encourage men to live up to their responsibilities.

Episode 7: On the Borderlands

This episode features an interview with Nick, a Mexican American member of the church. Unable to fully claim either a Mexican or American identity, Nick describes living on the borderlands between LDS and mainstream culture, his “Mexican-ness” and “American-ness,” and his mother’s LDS heritage and his father’s Catholic heritage. PhD student Brandon Wilson and PhD candidate Stephanie Griswold discuss Nick’s story and the reality of living in isolation within one’s own community.

Episode 6: Moving to an LDS Community

In this episode, MA student Emily McClean and Dr. Julie K. Allen examine an interview with “Freya", a Swedish student at BYU Provo. Having grown up as part of a religious minority, Freya finds moving to a high-density Mormon community instructive and liberating. Her experiences reveal how Mormon identity is inextricably linked to nationality, while Mormon cultural “norms” are relative to location.

Episode 5: In Search of a "Gospel Culture"

This episode focuses on Shiralee’s story, an LDS woman of multiple ethnic heritages. Not claiming any single cultural identity, and having lived in many locations, Shiralee has adopted a fundamental identity based on “gospel culture”. Yet as she has moved to different states and countries, she has been surprised at the variations of attitudes and opinions between members. PhD student Stephen Cameron and Dr Matthew Bowman discuss Shiralee’s story, exploring the inevitable disparities between members as the church continues to globalize.

Episode 4: Pioneering in Southeast Asia

In this episode, PhD candidate Lori Denning and Dr. Stacilee Ford, professor of history and gender at Hong Kong University, discuss the complexity of LDS identity in southeastern Asia. Their discussion is based on “Claire’s” story, a woman from Malaysia with a multi-faith background. Through her church service and studying at BYU-Hawaii, Claire connects her church membership with unexpected opportunities to gain an education, valuable employment, and develop skills. This episode explores how Asian converts navigate the impact of religion on family dynamics and their social status.