The Latter Day Lens

Episode 168: Is Zoning Immoral? Plus, Navigating Pride Month as a Latter-day Saint

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2141044/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Matt, Shawn, and Melanie tackle the intersection of gospel principles and complex modern issues. We begin with a debate on the "Marblehead Model" of housing—asking if cities have a moral obligation to provide affordable options or if the free market should lead. The conversation shifts to a nuanced discussion on Pride Month, exploring how empathy and a "Child of God" first identity can coexist with a commitment to the restored gospel. Finally, we dive into the geopolitical landscape, discussing the implications of the 1991 Ukraine nuclear agreement and why political science suggests a growing disconnect between voter satisfaction and election results. Key Topics Discussed: * The Ethics of Zoning: Are exclusionary housing laws a violation of the Law of Consecration? * Navigating Identity: Understanding the distinction between social labels and our primary identity as children of the covenant. * International Integrity: Why past diplomatic promises in Ukraine affect our current credibility in the Middle East. * Democracy and Discontent: Analyzing why 95% of incumbents are re-elected despite widespread dissatisfaction with the system. Episode Chapter Markers * 00:00 – Intro: The Hufflepuff vs. Slytherin Debate * 04:18 – Mailbag: Addressing the $35 Trillion Fraud Claim * 06:36 – The Moral Obligation of Affordable Housing * 09:22 – D&C 104 and the Abundance of the Earth * 14:48 – SquareTwo Essay: LGBTQ+ Identity and Church Membership * 17:50 – Empathy and Pride: Learning from the "Left-Handed" Analogy * 21:30 – President Nelson and the Hierarchy of Identity * 23:25 – Trump, Ukraine, and the 1991 Nuclear Disarmament Pact * 27:55 – Comparing International Aid: Revolutionary War Parallels * 28:40 – Why Incumbents Win When Voters Are Unhappy * 32:12 – President Oaks on Civic Engagement and Making a Difference Keywords  Latter-day Saints, LDS podcast, Mormon news, Christian politics, Gospel perspective. Affordable housing ethics, Pride Month, Ukraine nuclear agreement, political science, President Oaks, identity in Christ. Rexburg, BYU-Idaho, Political Science, LDS current events.

Episode 167: The Morality of Modern Living: Redistricting, Shoplifting, and Lab-Grown Meat

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2141044/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Matt and Shawn dive into the "hot topics" of the week, starting with a provocative thought experiment on the historical context of voting rights. They compare the current climate of racial equality and immigration policy to previous decades, debating the impact of redistricting and detention practices. The conversation shifts to the rising concerns over shoplifting in major cities and the efficacy of new law enforcement strategies. This leads to a deeper philosophical discussion on whether the responsibility for teaching morality lies with the government, public schools, or religious institutions. Later in the episode, the hosts explore the reliability of hypnosis in criminal trials and the moral weight of jury decisions. They also touch on the evolution of BYU sports in the Big 12 era and conclude with a unique look at the ethics of lab-grown salmon versus traditional fishing. Keywords Latter-day Saint podcast, LDS perspective, Voting Rights Act, BYU Big 12, NIL ethics, criminal justice reform, lab-grown meat ethics, moral education, public school ethics, redistricting. Chapter Headings * 00:00: Intro: The Voting Rights Act and Historical Equity The hosts discuss listener feedback regarding the 1965 Voting Rights Act and a thought experiment on historical voting disparities. * 14:00: Who Should Teach Our Children Morality? A debate on the role of public education, sports coaches, and religion in instilling values in the next generation. * 18:25: Hypnosis in Court: The Ethics of the Judicial System Discussing the case of Charles Don Flores and whether outdated forensic methods should be grounds for overturning convictions. * 22:50: BYU Sports, NIL, and the Wealth Gap Examining the Church's relationship with high-stakes college athletics and the moral implications of coach salaries * 26:22 — Coaches and Tennis: Sports as a Moral Ground How athletic mentors can instill "gentlemanly" values and where the coaching system often fails. * 26:57 — Death Row and Hypnosis: The Charles Don Flores Case An analysis of the unreliability of hypnosis in criminal trials and Penn Jillette’s recent advocacy for a man on death row. * 29:14 — Holding the System Accountable: Police and Prosecutors Matt proposes a radical accountability system where legal officers face the same penalties as the defendants they wrongly convict. * 30:35 — The 20-Minute Execution Rule: Jury Accountability A provocative discussion on why juries need to feel the immediate weight of their decisions to ensure justice. * 35:10 — Skepticism of the Jury System Matt shares his personal experience on a jury to illustrate how easily 12 strangers can be manipulated. * 37:34 — BYU Sports and the Big 12: Is Success Good for the Church? Analyzing the PR benefits of high-level college athletics and the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money. * 45:04 — Goldfish, Ponds, and Stewardship A personal story about saving reception centerpieces leads to a broader question: Can fish feel pain? * 47:17 — Stem Cell Salmon: The Morality of Lab-Grown Meat An exploration of new FDA-approved lab-grown fish and whether it is more moral than killing live animals. * 49:13 — LDS Scripture and the Stewardship of Animals Sean cites D&C 89 and Proverbs to outline the religious responsibility humans have toward "beasts of the field." * 52:25 — Creation from Chaos: Organizing Eternal Elements Sean applies Joseph Smith’s teachings on creation to the modern science of stem cell organization. * 55:53 — Free Range Ethics and the Chicken Egg Dilemma A closing discussion on the differences between fertilized and unfertilized eggs in our food supply.

Episode 166 Secret Combinations, the Voting Rights Act, and a River of Regret

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2141044/fan_mail/new] In this high-energy episode, Matt, Shawn, and Marc dive into the deep end of American law and cultural shifts. The trio tackles the Supreme Court’s recent pivot on the Voting Rights Act, questioning whether dismantling 60-year-old protections is progress or a step backward into historical patterns. The conversation heats up as they move to the Middle East, debating the $25 billion price tag of the Iranian stalemate and whether the U.S. is chasing ghosts or legitimate security threats. Finally, the guys bring it back to the Book of Mormon, applying the lens of "Secret Combinations" to modern corporate and political power, and reflecting on whether classic stories of manhood—like A River Runs Through It—can still find a home in today’s digital world. Chapter Markers * 00:00 — The "Big 5-0": Shawn’s birthday and the Pacific Coast lobster debate. * 03:36 — Mailbag: Does democracy require multiple religions? * 06:55 — The Voting Rights Act: Racism, representation, and the Supreme Court’s Louisiana ruling. * 22:50 — The $25 Billion Stalemate: Is it time to pull out of the Iranian conflict? * 30:18 — Secret Combinations: Corporate corruption and the Trump administration through a Gadianton lens. * 40:34 — Literature & Modernity: Could A River Runs Through It be published in 2026? * 46:40 — Disenfranchised Men? Jordan Peterson, Charlie Kirk, and the future of storytelling. Key Takeaways * Democracy and Respect: A deep dive into how religious liberty and diverse viewpoints are a "no-brainer" for a functioning democratic society. * The Ethics of Gerrymandering: A heated debate on whether "racial quotas" in voting districts are a necessary remedy for history or a form of modern segregation. * Geopolitics vs. Domestic Needs: Comparing the cost of military intervention in Iran to domestic programs like healthcare and NASA. * The "Secret" in Combinations: Analyzing if modern corruption is hidden (secret) or happening in broad daylight (public combinations). * Cultural Shifts: Why the "human experience" in literature might be shifting away from traditional masculine narratives toward broader perspectives. Featured in this Episode * Matt Miles: Professor of Political Science and "River Runs Through It" enthusiast. * Shawn Record: The newly 50-year-old skeptic and music lover. * Marc: The historian in a closet with a penchant for Bob Ross paintings and Bruce Springsteen. Follow the Lens: * Website: latterdaylens.com [https://www.latterdaylens.com/] * YouTube: @LatterDayLens * Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts every Wednesday!

Episode 165: Cancel Culture at UVU & the Legacy of Charlie Kirk

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2141044/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Matt, Shawn, and Levi return to the lens to navigate the intersection of public safety, free speech, and the personal transformation that religion is supposed to provide. The guys dive into the recent controversy at Utah Valley University regarding the cancellation of Sharon McMahon's speech following the death of Charlie Kirk. They also tackle the resurgence of measles in the U.S. and whether governments have a moral obligation to mandate health protocols. Finally, the team discusses Matt’s new book, exploring the vital difference between religious "behaving" and religious "becoming." In this episode, we discuss: * The UVU Controversy: Is it hypocritical for free-speech advocates to call for the cancellation of speakers they dislike? * Public Health vs. Liberty: As measles cases rise in 31 states, where does the government's moral obligation begin and end? * Gender Bias in Sports Journalism: The fallout of the Diana Rossini and Mike Vrabel story. * Religious Becoming: Matt explains the "Fourth B" from his new book and why democracy might actually need a variety of religions to thrive. Resources Mentioned: * Latter Day Lens Website: latterdaylens.com [https://www.latterdaylens.com/] * Take the "Religious Becoming" Quiz [http://www.matthewrmiles.com/metrics-of-faith.html] Chapter Timestamps * 00:00 – Welcome back Levi & Wedding Announcements * 01:30 – Who is the GOAT? Sam’s Radio Legacy * 03:40 – YouTube Comments: The Military Draft Debate * 05:45 – Thought Provoker: The UVU Speaker Controversy * 10:15 – Nazis on Campus? Defining the Limits of Free Speech * 15:20 – Shifting the Overton Window * 22:30 – Measles Outbreak: The Morality of Vaccine Mandates * 28:10 – The "Cold Sore" Debate: How contagious is too contagious? * 32:45 – Double Standards: Diana Rossini and Mike Vrabel * 41:40 – The Big Question: Believing, Belonging, Behaving, & Becoming * 52:45 – In-Groups, Out-Groups, and the Global Neighbor * 01:00:10 – Closing Remarks Keywords: LDS Podcast, Latter-day Saints, Charlie Kirk, UVU, Free Speech, Vaccine Mandates, Measles 2026, Political Science, Religious Identity, Overton Window, Critical Race Theory, Sharon McMahon, Journalism Ethics, Christianity and Democracy, Matthew R. Miles

Episode 164: The Future of Marriage and the Ethics of the Automated Draft

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2141044/fan_mail/new]  This episode of Latter Day Lens features a heavy-hitting discussion between Matt, Shawn, and Porter. The trio dives into the complexities of the social contract, starting with the ethics of a military draft and the "lukewarm" nature of libertarianism. The conversation shifts to the digital frontier, exploring whether dangerous AI tools like "Claude Mythos" should be regulated like nuclear weapons. Finally, they tackle the historical and future trajectory of marriage doctrine within the context of Latter-day Saint theology.  In this episode, we discuss: * The Libertarian Dilemma: Is a "hands-off" political approach actually "lukewarm" according to scripture? * The Ethics of Compulsion [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/us/us-military-draft-automatic-registration-war.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Z1A.2TUI.N1HClnM4Oia0&smid=url-share]: A deep dive into the morality of a military draft. Does the social contract justify forced service, or does it violate the fundamental principle of agency? * AI as a Superweapon [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/opinion/anthropic-ai-claude-mythos.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ZVA.t6zg.k71tC87IsDU6&smid=url-share]: With the rise of tools like Claude Mythos, we ask if AI has reached a level of danger that requires government restriction similar to nuclear proliferation. * Line Upon Line: A look at how attitudes toward marriage have shifted [https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/uip/jmh/article/52/2/1/408334/Monogamy-on-Display-Plurality-Behind-the?guestAccessKey=7ba92afb-1adf-448a-ac3f-945be0aaa1c8]—or grown—over the last century and what the next 100 years might hold for Church doctrine. Chapter Markers * [00:00] Welcome back, Porter! Semester updates and AI in the classroom. * [02:20] Is Libertarianism "Lukewarm"? Responding to a YouTube listener. * [08:10] The Automated Draft: Is a military draft ever morally justified? * [10:30] Moroni’s Draft vs. Vietnam: Compulsion in the Book of Mormon. * [18:45] Standing Armies vs. Citizen Militias: What is the more moral path? * [24:50] Claude Mythos & AI Security: Should the government regulate code like nukes? * [33:00] The Free Market vs. Bad Actors: Can the invisible hand stop a hack? * [41:15] Rhetoric and Negotiation: Trump, the Pope, and the morality of threats. * [44:20] The Artemis Mission: Why the space program represents the best of humanity. * [47:45] The Evolution of Marriage: Analyzing 19th-century temple sealings and future doctrine. * [56:30] Line Upon Line: Is our understanding of marriage complete or still growing? Keywords Latter Day Lens, Social Contract, Military Draft, Selective Service, Libertarianism, AI Ethics, Claude Mythos, Anthropic, Captain Moroni, Agency vs Compulsion, Artemis 2, Marriage Doctrine, Polygamy History, D&C 132, Latter-day Saint Podcast.